How I keep contact with te people around me.

Sometimes I lose contact wit the people and animals I care about. I'm totally self centered at those times. Making contact is very difficult for me, because I tend to live in my own world by times, due to distress by noises, smells and other things.

I had a horse called Avalon and for some days I had lost contact with him, and also with his owner. Avalon suffered a bit by my lack of contact. When his owner told me so, I felt lost and sad. I didn't want to lose contact, but it had happened again. I was in my own world, my own mind.

I did something about it by talking to and grooming/ working with Avalon. I tried to put my mind open to the things, people and animals around me. It did cost me a lot of energy, but I have managed it.

I like contact, it doesn't make me feel  so lonely, but it is hard for me to maintain it. In the past I have never taken initiatives to maintain contact. That was before I was told that I had ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). After they told me, I tried harder en asked help to make and keep contact with people around me. 

I'm very afraid to be rejected, but people don't have time every time you need them or want to spend time with them. It makes me unsure and afraid. The best way to spend some time with other people is to make an appointment for a day and time.

Appointments are the best way for me to cope with stress that comes with social interaction. 

For example: - Every Monday I'm on the telephone with my mother

        - Every Tuesday I'm at my neighbors for a chat and something to eat and drink.

        - I try to cal my sister once in a while, but I have to put my mind to it, to do it. That                             makes it a bit difficult. I also chat with her via Facebook and that is easier for me.

        - My brother and sister in law are also regularly on Facebook and that's the way I                             keep in contact with them

My friends and family know how I am and are willing to take the initiative to make contact and spend some time with me and sometimes I have the courage to take the initiative myself! That makes me very proud of myself and self secure.