Hey everyone,
I'm looking for some advice. I'm 33 and have been pretty isolated for the past 8 years due to a difficult event in my past.
The truth is, I don't think I ever really learned how to socialize properly to begin with because of a rough childhood and being on the spectrum.
I genuinely want to connect with people now, but whenever I try, it feels like my old "childhood programming" takes over. I get stuck in my head, things get awkward, and I end up feeling a lot of shame.
Can anyone recommend some low-pressure environments to practice socializing? I was thinking about volunteering with the elderly or maybe finding a group for autistic adults. Are these good places to start?
Thanks for any help.