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lazyflower
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11 Jul 2017, 9:51 am

I have 2 NT friends who I really care for and value our friendship. I just can't help but feel like I'm not "good enough" or perhaps "not enough" for them and their NT needs, since I'm autistic.

I'm constantly worried that I'm either too boring in my communication or get misunderstood. When they're having a hard time, I don't always know how to support them and show them my concern. I just don't know what to say and I feel like what I end up saying is either "too little" or "too much", if there's such thing as caring too much. I want to show them that I care, just the right amount. Not indifferently but not desperately either.

I'm really worried that they secretly dislike me, think I'm too weird, but mostly that I don't mean anything to them, while they mean the world to me. They probably prefer their other people over me, in fact I know they do, while they're the only ones I have and that just sucks.

I know I should be grateful for finally having any friends at all, I used to be very lonely, but this is what's bothering me now. I almost feel worse about myself and more self-conscious now than when I was all alone.



kraftiekortie
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11 Jul 2017, 9:54 am

I bet you are not any of these things. We are often our "own worst enemy." This might be the case here.

I'm not kidding, by the way. I used to think lousy about myself, until I learned about people.



Scheimaa
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11 Jul 2017, 12:20 pm

why not just ask them and tell them what you think?
you see there is different things you get from different friends one may share your special interest and another may share your way of thinking .. etc
so they can enjoy your company even if you are not feeling " enough ", but they may like other things about you that others don't have, and by asking they may tell you why they enjoy your company and want to be a friend of yours



Last edited by Scheimaa on 11 Jul 2017, 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

starkid
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11 Jul 2017, 12:21 pm

You could ask them whether they are satisfied with the friendship.



lazyflower
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11 Jul 2017, 7:23 pm

Thanks for the replies guys! :)



Corny
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11 Jul 2017, 7:52 pm

Well I notice that NT people aren't as cool in my opinion as autistic people. Do you know anyone in person with autism or aspergers?



boofle
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12 Jul 2017, 12:18 pm

lazyflower wrote:
I have 2 NT friends who I really care for and value our friendship. I just can't help but feel like I'm not "good enough" or perhaps "not enough" for them and their NT needs, since I'm autistic.

I'm constantly worried that I'm either too boring in my communication or get misunderstood. When they're having a hard time, I don't always know how to support them and show them my concern. I just don't know what to say and I feel like what I end up saying is either "too little" or "too much", if there's such thing as caring too much. I want to show them that I care, just the right amount. Not indifferently but not desperately either.

I'm really worried that they secretly dislike me, think I'm too weird, but mostly that I don't mean anything to them, while they mean the world to me. They probably prefer their other people over me, in fact I know they do, while they're the only ones I have and that just sucks.

I know I should be grateful for finally having any friends at all, I used to be very lonely, but this is what's bothering me now. I almost feel worse about myself and more self-conscious now than when I was all alone.


before you ask em anything...questions for you...where have these feelings come from? have they said anything to make you feel like this? do they exclude you in any way? why do you doubt their friendship?



kraftiekortie
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12 Jul 2017, 12:33 pm

Never portray yourself as "less" than anybody-----ever!! !! !!



Raleigh
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12 Jul 2017, 3:50 pm

"I am enough."

Write it on your mirror.

Say it 2 hundred times a day.


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Leon41
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12 Jul 2017, 4:53 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:
Never portray yourself as "less" than anybody-----ever!! ! ! ! !


Totally 100% what he said!

You might feel down on yourself but it's probably not true.

There are no 'perfect people' or 'perfect lives' don't compare with others that's a type of brain cancer we must avoid.



sun.flower
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12 Jul 2017, 6:18 pm

I've brought stuff like the original post up with new friends and it went over surprisingly well...try at your own risk of course. I didn't bring up aspergers but I did say I have trouble with small talk and they actually seemed a bit relieved and said I do fine, and they themselves have issues too, and they shared them. Was pretty neat.



IstominFan
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12 Jul 2017, 10:20 pm

I never feel good enough. While I am liked by people in the groups I'm in, I am not equal to them by NT standards.



boofle
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12 Jul 2017, 10:24 pm

^^^ sigh....says who? seriously, what exactly IS "NT standards?"

you should value yourself more and value the friendships you DO have, more. they are your friends, cos they like you. end of.
overthinking it, you may see shadows where there are none imho.



lazyflower
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13 Jul 2017, 8:00 am

boofle wrote:
lazyflower wrote:
I have 2 NT friends who I really care for and value our friendship. I just can't help but feel like I'm not "good enough" or perhaps "not enough" for them and their NT needs, since I'm autistic.

I'm constantly worried that I'm either too boring in my communication or get misunderstood. When they're having a hard time, I don't always know how to support them and show them my concern. I just don't know what to say and I feel like what I end up saying is either "too little" or "too much", if there's such thing as caring too much. I want to show them that I care, just the right amount. Not indifferently but not desperately either.

I'm really worried that they secretly dislike me, think I'm too weird, but mostly that I don't mean anything to them, while they mean the world to me. They probably prefer their other people over me, in fact I know they do, while they're the only ones I have and that just sucks.

I know I should be grateful for finally having any friends at all, I used to be very lonely, but this is what's bothering me now. I almost feel worse about myself and more self-conscious now than when I was all alone.


before you ask em anything...questions for you...where have these feelings come from? have they said anything to make you feel like this? do they exclude you in any way? why do you doubt their friendship?


They haven't really done anything, other that I'm just not their best friend or first priority. Which is perfectly fine, I think it's just the fear that I mean less to them than they do to me. I'm a bit scared of bringing it up because it's probably just my own thoughts, it's not like they've done something wrong. I guess I just have terrible self worth.
Something to work on!



boofle
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13 Jul 2017, 9:05 am

lazyflower wrote:
They haven't really done anything, other that I'm just not their best friend or first priority. Which is perfectly fine, I think it's just the fear that I mean less to them than they do to me. I'm a bit scared of bringing it up because it's probably just my own thoughts, it's not like they've done something wrong. I guess I just have terrible self worth.
Something to work on!


pretty much what i figured, not that i don't understand it.

listen chick, as you have already noted, you need to work on yourself. my above posts sums up what i would want to say to you as well. work hard on valuing yourself more, value that they are your friends/their friendship...but keep it in perspective...neither over-value them nor under-value them...the best way to manage that ime is to have a firm sense of self worth.
the more you develop your sense of worth, the more you will find your value increases with others (not just them) - the more relaxed you are with them, the more you may find you grow closer.

it would make things awkward if you asked them about stuff that might not even be in their heads and suddenly what wasn't on their minds is put there, by you! lol

try and stay calm and don't overthink it.



lazyflower
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13 Jul 2017, 9:43 am

boofle wrote:
lazyflower wrote:
They haven't really done anything, other that I'm just not their best friend or first priority. Which is perfectly fine, I think it's just the fear that I mean less to them than they do to me. I'm a bit scared of bringing it up because it's probably just my own thoughts, it's not like they've done something wrong. I guess I just have terrible self worth.
Something to work on!


pretty much what i figured, not that i don't understand it.

listen chick, as you have already noted, you need to work on yourself. my above posts sums up what i would want to say to you as well. work hard on valuing yourself more, value that they are your friends/their friendship...but keep it in perspective...neither over-value them nor under-value them...the best way to manage that ime is to have a firm sense of self worth.
the more you develop your sense of worth, the more you will find your value increases with others (not just them) - the more relaxed you are with them, the more you may find you grow closer.

it would make things awkward if you asked them about stuff that might not even be in their heads and suddenly what wasn't on their minds is put there, by you! lol

try and stay calm and don't overthink it.


You're right, this actually makes a lot of sense. Having low self-esteem and being an avid overthinker is not a good mix but I'll try to work on it. It's because it's literally ingrained into my mind that I deserve no one, am not good enough for anyone and stuff like that. Been like that pretty much my entire life so it's difficult to change but I'll try my best. Might try therapy too. Anyone got experience with that?

Also, does anyone have any further tips on how to increase your self-worth, confidence, etc? I feel like it's a problem many autistic people might struggle with (unfortunately)