Since living on my own over seven years ago, I have worked with finding friends that are healthy for me. It has been a long journey. But it has gotten better because I have chosen to find people who are healthy for me. I also understand the boundaries that I must keep. Having friends that I can be in contact with not only helps me. It also supports the other person. They need the support mutually.

Yes, it can be hard to make those first moves towards befriending someone. It takes getting to know someone and understanding them. It also involves knowing if they will carry a healthy amount of energy. They should be there for you when they can and need to be. There has to be a healthy level of give and take. This ensures that there is value in the friendship. This way, it can be a healthy one.

It can be hard for us to see if a friendship is good for us. There will come a time when we realize it is not beneficial. In such cases, we have to let it go. If it does not serve us well, then we just need to find what helps us. Friendships have been valuable to me. They offer someone to just vent to and share the struggles that you are facing. It takes finding the right people who totally understand things and comforting you in the ways that they need to. A true friend will care for your mental wellbeing and make sure that you are safe and respected.

It can be understandable to say no to things that are just too much for you. Understanding that there has to be some respect for both parties in a friendship. It is equally important to be routine but not overbearing in contacting with each other. it can be difficult for autistic people to recognize when I friendship is overwhelming and toxic.

When someone is overbearing or toxic, it can be hard to develop the boundaries needed to protect yourself. This is because you just want to have someone to connect with and be there for you. When many issues arise, they become noticeable to others. At that point, you have to learn to let it go. I know firsthand that it can be hard to lose connections with someone. Still, in the end, you feel better. You can work on meeting someone else and make healthier and stronger friendships.

It can take a lot to find the right friendship for you and there is no shame in that. I personally had to learn that my mental health was more important than anything else when it came to friendships. While it took time to find my grounding, eventually I understood the social nuances better. I built the right friendships in due time. Having them kept me motivated. This was a piece in keeping me mentally well.