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Best Of
Re: I did it (TW)
We are all really proud of you too @Rose113. What seems to be helping?
Re: Felt my autistic struggles were dismissed
@Creativeboy23 i'm so sorry this has taken me so long to respond to! firstly, thank you for being so open with me about how you've been feeling, that was probably difficult to do. It sounds like you've been going through a rrly hard time and your emotions regarding everything are totally understandable and reasonable considering u keep getting dismissed and invalidated by ppl. It must also be super annoying having ppl telling u how u should feel when ur autistic and also having not many ppl understand what that must belike for u, i was just thinking, is there any groups online or even in person that u can join with fellow autistic/neurodivergent ppl, it may help having more ppl around u who can slightly understand ur feelings more, not sure if you'll have anything like that near u as i have one where u just meet u, go for food etc! I rrly hope speaking to autism alliance helps u, and also u definitely deserve to take care of yourself and i know that can be hard to hear and believe (as someone who struggles with their self-image too) as it's often easier to accept the mean things we think about ourselves than listening to the kind things other ppl say to us! Sending lots of love ! 
Re: Feeling invalidated
Hey @Creativeboy23, thank you for reaching out and sharing what you've been going through. It sounds like you're dealing with a lot of emotions, and I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling so low and unsupported. It's so important that we all feel heard, validated, and understood, especially when we're struggling.
It must be really frustrating and hurtful to feel judged and not taken seriously, especially when you're opening up about something as personal as your self-image and mental health. It sounds like the experiences you've had with the volunteer and therapist left you feeling dismissed, which can be so disheartening when all you want is to feel seen and supported.
Your feelings are valid, and it's okay to want more from the people who are supposed to help you. Sometimes, people can jump to problem-solving because they want to help fix things quickly, but that can feel invalidating when what you really need is for someone to sit with you in your emotions and truly understand where you're coming from.
We're here to listen to you, and we won't rush into solutions. If you want to talk more about how you're feeling or what you've been going through, such as sharing more around your feelings on your self-image, we're here for that. If you're not sure what you need right now, that's okay too. Your feelings matter, and you deserve to have them acknowledged and explored in a way that feels right for you.
I'm aware you've mentioned you've been having some suicidal thoughts, can I check in to ask if you're feeling like you can keep yourself safe?
If you are ever unsure about your safety, there are lots of lovely services you can reach out for support:
Keep going, we're here for you.
It must be really frustrating and hurtful to feel judged and not taken seriously, especially when you're opening up about something as personal as your self-image and mental health. It sounds like the experiences you've had with the volunteer and therapist left you feeling dismissed, which can be so disheartening when all you want is to feel seen and supported.
Your feelings are valid, and it's okay to want more from the people who are supposed to help you. Sometimes, people can jump to problem-solving because they want to help fix things quickly, but that can feel invalidating when what you really need is for someone to sit with you in your emotions and truly understand where you're coming from.
We're here to listen to you, and we won't rush into solutions. If you want to talk more about how you're feeling or what you've been going through, such as sharing more around your feelings on your self-image, we're here for that. If you're not sure what you need right now, that's okay too. Your feelings matter, and you deserve to have them acknowledged and explored in a way that feels right for you.
I'm aware you've mentioned you've been having some suicidal thoughts, can I check in to ask if you're feeling like you can keep yourself safe?
If you are ever unsure about your safety, there are lots of lovely services you can reach out for support:
Crisis Messenger (24/7) | text THEMIX to 85258
Samartians (24/7) | call 116 123 | email jo@samaritans.org
Papyrus (2pm-midnight) | call 0800 068 41 41 | text 07786 209 697 | email pat@payrus-uk.org
Supportline (hours vary) | call 01708 765 200
Childline | call 0800 11 11
Keep going, we're here for you.
Gemma
2
Re: Future?
@Rose113 im glad you found a work around to getting to the next steps of your education. i hope you get the photography placement and im glad you found a photography course that youll be doing.
Re: Circle
Hey @Chloe234, apologies we've been low on cover in the staff team over the bank holiday weekend so this is why the emails haven't been sent out yet. I'll be replying to them this morning 
Gemma
1
Re: Is it to late for me to make friends?
Hi, It's never too late to make friends. At 19, you have an abundance of opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, whether through hobbies, social activities, or even online communities. With an open mindset and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone, you can build meaningful connections and overcome feelings of isolation. Remember, the most important thing is to start taking small steps today towards expanding your social circle.
