Testing revealing my nature to friends
Last night at play rehearsal, a friend offered to give me a massage. I politely declined, and she asked why. Up until now, I've only discussed my belief that I'm an Aspie with my wife and a couple of family members, mainly because I don't have an official diagnosis yet. However, I figured I have to start talking about it at some point, so I confided in her and a couple other friends/fellow actors that were sitting with us.
I covered the very basics, mentioned why I hadn't talked about it, and described the sensations I get from being touched. They were intrigued and had a couple of questions, but for the most part it was pretty simple and I brought up all my self-taught coping techniques. However, later that night, one by one, each of my friends came up to me and apologized for any time that they had touched me and made me uncomfortable in the past. I assured them that they hadn't at any point.
However, not I feel like I've made them uncomfortable to get too close to me, for fear of causing me undue stress. That was the last thing I wanted. Anyone else experience this? What have you done differently?
I am uncomfortable with hugging people.
People have commented occaisionally and there was a time recently that I'll share...
My friend, we'll call him John. He always greets people with a hug - I don't share enjoyment in this, but I go with it so as not to offend.
So, one day I met with my friends and John came in for the hug, I did my usual and just sort of half hugged him and our other friend commented on it saying that it was as if I was trying to be 'macho'.
...I then explained that I just wasnt comfortable with hugging and explained a bit about it...
It was good to discuss it, but I was just afraid to bring it up before this.
...John still greets with a hug, but he knows the situation now and is a lot more 'accomodating' (I guess is an expression that could be used).
DemonAbyss10
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Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,492
Location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania
skin on skin contact if not desired at that point actually causes physical pain for me somehow.
But yeah, I told my friends about the DX ages ago, and they could care less. The response was basically a big whatever, and still treated me as per the usual.
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