I can't stress enough the improvements I have made since joining them, even just for the sense of community. I do not use ASD focused support groups though, instead I use ones for substances, especially NA, since there is a huge amount of infrastructure behind them, they do things like throw events/parties, plan camping trips, ect.
Despite that though, groups like AA and NA tend to be hard for people with ASD I imagine, it's not always easy for me, but I fortunately do not have any real communication problems talking to people. Some very intense, and traumatized people go to these places… just as the tip of the iceberg of some strange experiences, I've been offered free sex by a woman going through a psychotic episode in her car before... and I turned her down, because I had a bad gut feeling about it.
I do not know of any public ASD support groups in my area, unfortunately. I basically have a defacto one with fellow NA members that are also ND, but I would definitely check them out if I knew about them, just to see what they're like. I bring this up because I was super isolated before going to them, and wonder if anyone has any ideas for support groups that others can go to, that perhaps don't have the same sharp edge as substance support groups. People can and will take advantage of you there sometimes, especially if you're particularly vulnerable. The problem is though, I do not know of any in-person meeting that's focused on people with ASD. If there is one, it's probably all the way in the city, not saturated in virtually every town at churches or wherever rent is cheap. I take advantage of what's offered, basically, and work around it. But, I also have a long history with substance use, so I can keep up with even the worst of addicts there, that could be why I'm particularly successful there.
09 Jul 2025, 5:08 pm
