Healthy Communication is Like Safe Driving
The things that drivers do to stay safe and keep others safe, are the same types of things that go on in healthy relationships.
Category: Social
The Many Paths to Social Comfort
There are many parts to the internal work that we do to get reasonably comfortable with people. Here are some common ones.
When You Want Friends…and Don’t
Do you have conflicting thoughts about the idea that self-acceptance can actually work as a way to have better relationships?
Accepting Yourself as A Path to Social Comfort
Self-acceptance is a nice ideal, but how does it practically get you friends?
Why Most Socializing Strategies Don’t Work
Strategies to increase socializing by dealing with the anxiety, or improving social skills, aren’t bad ideas, but they produce limited, short-term results. Here are two reasons why.
What Social Comfort Looks Like
A brief, imaginary dip into what “being reasonably comfortable around people” practically looks like.
People Are Scary
If your default mode is that people are scary, mean, and tiring, but you still long for good friendships and better relationships, I get that. I’ve been there. And there is hope.
Shifting Negative Thought Patterns
This phrase has helped me gradually shift from a negative outlook on sensory issues, socializing, and myself, to a tendency toward looking for the good.
Why Job Interviews Are So Difficult
There are good reasons why job interviews are such strange experiences. Here are a few.
Why Sensory Stuff Matters to Social Stuff
I talk a lot about body feelings, like noticing your hands. But what does that have to do with making friends?
Why Social Skills Training is A Waste of Time (If Not Worse)
Socializing isn’t primarily about social skills. In fact, that’s the smallest factor, and the last thing to work on.
Social Skills, the Autistic Way
Social skills can be learned. Yes, even by autistic people. But they aren’t often taught to us autistics in the way that autistics learn them.
