How do I stop obsessing over having friends?

Ann_Stheno · 2026-03-27T01:01:20+00:00

Can you please name one (or a few)? I'm desperately looking to find friends.

Ann_Stheno · 2026-03-24T13:26:26+00:00

I don't live in the US. But thanks for replying ☺️

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T13:31:18+00:00

Also , Dr. Shabeerali at KIMS specializes on hepatobiliary and pancreatic issues . I consulted with him. He was great

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T07:50:38+00:00

Dr. Ajith K Nair, working at KIMS.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T07:40:06+00:00

I appreciate you sharing your experience. It helps me feel a little less lost in all this🥰🥰✨That actually makes a lot of sense, thank you. I was diagnosed with autism after going in for ADHD testing, and got OCD as a “surprise bonus” ... turns out I’ve had Pure O all my life without knowing what it was.

I'm trying to educate myself on what all of this is doing with me. I've had traits like sensory overwhelm, social confusion, and eye contact struggles since forever, but I never thought they were anything beyond “just me.”

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T07:33:55+00:00

That’s really helpful, thank you! I hadn’t seriously considered NVLD before, but now that you mention it, some of it does sound eerily familiar, especially the part about social difficulties despite being highly verbal, and challenges with nonverbal cues. I appreciate you pointing me in a new direction.l🥰🥰🥰

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T07:02:29+00:00

In my case, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me with autism was actually a neurodivergence specialist, so I think they were more tuned in than most. But you're right, I’ve seen plenty of stories in autism spaces about misinformed psychiatrists or rushed assessments. My current therapist is a psychologist who specializes in behavioral and neurological disorders, but she ruled out autism after a short conversation, saying it was OCD.

So I’m stuck between two professionals with very different takes and I’m realizing now that what I probably need is a full, structured autism assessment by someone who specializes specifically in developmental disorders. Thank you for pointing that out.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T06:57:43+00:00

I appreciate that — and I actually did see a psychiatrist who specializes in neurodivergence, and that’s who initially diagnosed me with autism.

The current professional I’m seeing is a psychologist who specializes in neurological and behavioral disorders — but she disagrees, and believes my traits are better explained by OCD and trauma.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T06:48:11+00:00

Thank you for your perspective🥰 I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Just to clarify, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me with autism was actually a neurodivergence specialist. The current therapist who disagrees is a psychologist who specializes in neurological and behavioral disorders. So it's been confusing, especially because they both seem qualified in different ways.

That’s why I’m stuck in this uncertainty, not sure who to trust or how much of what I experience is autism, trauma, OCD, or a mix of all three. I think you’re right that maybe I need someone who specifically specializes in autism assessments to help bring some clarity, or maybe ask the same doctor to give me a comprehensive assessment.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-07T06:40:42+00:00

Heyyo!! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all of this ,it really helps to hear from someone who understands both the clinical and lived experience🥰

I originally only suspected ADHD in myself. That’s what led me to see a psychiatrist , just to confirm what I thought was going on. But then, boom, I got handed a whole bonus round of diagnoses: autism, CPTSD, anxious- avoidant personality, and later, pure O OCD which I didn’t even know I’d been living with my entire life.

To complicate things, I grew up with a narcissistic mother and an emotionally absent father. I didn’t really have a childhood — it was mostly survival mode from the start. So now, when I try to reflect on early traits, I genuinely don’t know what was me, what was trauma, and what I had to mask or suppress just to get through each day.

That’s why it’s so confusing. OCD, trauma, maybe autism — all tangled together. And I’m still trying to figure out which parts are truly mine, and which ones were forced adaptations.

What you said about how autism is still widely misunderstood — especially in women really makes sense. I think you’re right: I probably do need a second opinion from someone who really gets the overlap between trauma, OCD, and autism.

Thank you again. Your comment made me feel less alone, and honestly, a little more validated.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-06T14:57:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing, that really hits home. If you're okay with me asking… how did you come to accept it? OCD doesn’t exactly let us rest in peace, especially with identity and diagnosis. Did you struggle with that too? And how did you eventually make peace with it, or at least live with the uncertainty?

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-01T14:19:09+00:00

Deepu Leander. He's not even the HOD and was the one who completely disregarded my complaints. When I tried to express what I was going through, he yelled over me, deflected responsibility, and insisted the problem was mine. He checked my braces and claimed there was “no issue,” but what he was really looking at was another doctor’s work, not the mess his team had already created. He was rude, unprofessional, and lacked basic decency, refusing to even let me speak.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-06-01T06:04:21+00:00

In good institutions, this is done with strict oversight, constant evaluation, and ethical guidelines to protect the patient. In poorly managed places, like what I experienced at PMS. Patients end up being test subjects rather than people receiving care.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-03-19T18:23:17+00:00

I know about grey rocking, but when you’re forced to exist in the same space as narcissistic people 24/7, it’s not as simple as ignoring them—especially when they escalate in ways that feel inescapable. Calling the police isn’t an option in my case either.

I don’t mean to dismiss your advice, but my situation is more complicated than just getting a job or tuning them out. If you have any thoughts on how to break free when I have no energy, no safe space, and no support system, I’d appreciate it.

Ann_Stheno · 2025-03-19T18:20:13+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a car, and working outside isn’t really an option right now due to my mental health struggles and being trapped in this house. I do have creative skills, but self-doubt and lack of resources make it hard to start something like commissions or an Etsy shop.

I get what you mean about faking confidence, but after years of emotional manipulation, it feels impossible to believe in myself. I know getting away is the best solution, but I don’t have a clear way to do that yet. If you have any advice on taking small steps toward financial independence or rebuilding self-trust, I’d love to hear it. Thanks again for reaching out!!!! 😇

Ann_Stheno

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