I can't seem to connect with anyone here...

Post Reply New Topic

Ok, so for some reason I became a firefighter/paramedic which is quite possibly the most difficult career for an aspie. I seriously sweat bullets and shake like a leaf for the first 3 or 4 hours of my shift. On top of that, I can't connect with anyone it seems. It's like I give off an awkward/weird vibe that repels the entire station. As you've probably already guessed, my interests are quite different from the rest of the guys and I don't participate in the same activities as them. I do love my job though. Fire and dead people i can deal with all day, it's the live ones who give me trouble.

Your situation reminds me of the four months I'd spent working at Wal-Mart. It was at night and I spoke to no one. I could hear what they were talking about, though, but none of their topics interested me enough to jump in. Needless to say, it was a long and torturous four months.

Nursing is the same torture, but because you're so busy, you don't even have the time to talk to anyone anyway.

ah, another medical person here. my time at Madigan was very lonely, nobody to talk to despite a building full of people. nothing in common with any of 'em.

I have the same trouble, I want to connect with people and I try pretty hard but I have felt the exact same feeling like there's an invisible force field around me repelling everyone invisibly.. I recently decided to study medicine, but I'm feeling so crushed by the idea that I won't be able to learn how to interact with people so what's the point of learning the medicine? I've never been diagnosed with any kind of autism, and my mom is psychologist (she might just hate the idea I don't know) but I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? It honestly just makes me feel a little better to have found this little community and to know I'm not the only one who feels this way... it hurts when you feel like no one understands.

^^^welcome to WP you'll find good people here to talk with.

During my EMT training in the process of becoming a firefighter (I have not gone to the fire academy yet) I did some shifts with local firehouses. During my brief experience, I met people of different kinds. I met a gamer or two, some macho guys, an elderly-ish, wise, and loving man. I even met a real life female.

Firefighter appealed to me because the way shifts work. An hour or two of work, followed by either minutes, or possibly hours, of downtime. I wonder if you felt the same way, but I digress.

There were more macho types than anything else, but my community has a large Mexican population, and the culture for men in Mexico is very macho. I can see that a lot of firefighters might be this way everywhere though, so I understand that you may not relate to your coworkers.

However, I don't understand why you're trying to get to know them if you don't like them. During calls, there's no time for small-talk. When not on a call, you can almost always keep to yourself alone. (spectrum preface) Most of us like to be alone when we can, and promotions in most departments are strictly (online)test and experience based, which is perfect for us.

I can tell you must be very rugged to do that job.

As the only volunteer under 18 where I work, I naturally find it hard to connect with older women aged 30-60 years old.

I get along decent with the other male I work with, a 50 year old.

I do try to be polite and smile, and engage a bit in small talk, but they've notced I'm generally quiet.

I don't seem to give off an awkward vibe though and the ladies have even said I'm 'very mature' for a 17 year old and appreciate the fact I just be quiet and get the job done.

^^^