Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/autism/comments/1vq7wxa/growing_up_as_a_neurodivergent_loner/

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/autism by /u/never_enough_surely on 2026-08-16 20:36:40+00:00.

Bottom of the social hierarchy in school, mainly kept to myself. Experienced a lot of bullying for being weird and socially inept.

On top of that, I was just kind’ve slow? Everyone in class would learn something instantly and I’d constantly need guidance from a teacher or someone. It was humiliating. I was always the only odd one out who was to follow basic instructions or blend in socially.

It destroyed my self confidence, and no one had any respect for me as a result. My parents told me to just be nice to everyone and the teachers and things and be respectful and by the time I reach college, I’ll find my clan and everything would be so much better socially.

I went to college and put in so much effort in terms of approaching people, joining clubs, even got a part time job. Though I made some good friends, I felt like it was only really on a superficial level, and I could feel myself slowly drifting apart while everyone else’s social circle’s strengthened. And it felt like I was being left behind. Getting any relationships was basically impossible, no one seemed interested was getting paired off so that made the isolation even more unbearable. Now it’s been a couple years since I’ve left but that loneliness is still there and I feel like I’ve wasted so many years. I’m so tired, I don’t want to self improve anymore or follow any of these generic platitudes that people like to give. Three years of psychotherapy and meds and it hasn’t been very effective.

It just all feels so hopeless, can anyone relate?