I think I am socially ostrasized, what should I do?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨someacnt_@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

Hello. For context, I am in a university. I do not have any friends, and it feels like colleagues talk bad about me. This makes me quite hesitant to join any circles or attend seminars. I am not sure it is everyone who thinks bad about me though, I fear about asking. Yet I plan to do research, so I should attend seminars to learn current trends and stuffs. May I ask what I should do in such a situation? Are friends necessary, or not really? Also should I stop being in this environment and get a job instead? Thanks for reading lengthy paragraph, I would love any comments or advice for this.

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InvisibleShoe@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you are neurodivergent, it might be worth looking into Rejection sensitive dysphoria and Social phobia.

It may feel like others are judging/bad talking you but that may not be the case.

Speak to a GP or psychologist, they can help with these types of issues.

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- protist@mander.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  Psychotherapy does not particularly help patients with RSD because the emotions hit suddenly and completely overwhelm the mind and senses.
  
  Hard disagree from me, dawg. Rejection sensitivity is a super common target behavior in psychotherapy treatments like DBT and RODBT, and it’s super treatable with those modalities. This article saying “only drugs work” is uninformed and misleading
  
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  - InvisibleShoe@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Thats why I said to speak to a GP or psych. In Australia, the GP is first line for diagnosis who then refers you on to psychologist or psychiatrist. I’m just suggesting that based on what OP said, RSD could be a possibility and they should see a doctor for help if they are serious about improving their mental health etc.
    
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- scarabine@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  This is what springs to mind for me as well. OP, you should try to remember this: the people around you are not as concerned with you as they are their own lives. And their own lives are probably pretty intense for them to deal with!
  
  Understanding other people’s lives might have intensity you don’t know about or understand is empathy. Displaying empathy will help you establish bonds with others and this is a good place to start.
  
  Say they do ostracize and dislike you. So what? Can they really even do anything about it? Should you even care? Probably not. It probably doesn’t matter at all. So you’ll have to deal with it for now, but they’ll move on and so will you.
  
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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Oh, does RSD symptom include the illusory hearing about badmouthing? That aside, I do think only some actively participates in badmouthing behavior, and many might be ambivalent. I am not sure about this, though.
  
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  - InvisibleShoe@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I don’t know about illusory hearing as related to RSD but I do know that I had similar issues most of my life.
    
    I used to think people were looking at me, talking about me and sometimes thought that they could hear/guess my thoughts. Started when I was a kid. Found out it was ASD-1 and a brain tumor causing alot of the issues.
    
    And the only way I found out about that was by going to the doctor. I really do recommend speaking to a doctor about these issues and you might be surprised with what they find and how much better you feel once you can get the right therapy.
    
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ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Everyone, just like you, are thinking about themselves. Nobody is thinking about you.

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monsterpiece42@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you’re autistic, there’s a good chance that autistic masking is the root cause here. If you have social anxiety especially, your mask will kick in automatically (subconsciously) and come off as fake to most people, and they will not like you for it. A quick test for this is, are you good at making a good first impression or short time of friendship and then it kinda falls off with time? If yes, masking is likely in play. I highly recommend the book Unmasking Autism even if you’re not autistic. It applies to others as well and it is excellent.

The short term (maybe long term…?) solution is to make autistic friends. They’ll understand “the weird” and it should be much simpler. Try searching around your local area for autism or neurodivergent clubs and see how you feel around other similarly-minded people.

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- aeki@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  A quick test for this is, are you good at making a good first impression or short time of friendship and then it kinda falls off with time? If yes, masking is likely in play.
  
  Can confirm. This is my entire life.
  
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  - monsterpiece42@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Might be time to do a little research my friend.
    
    The extremely oversimplified and short version of it is, a trauma mask is something that kicks in automatically to protect you. Autistic masking is a form of trauma masking and it is fully automatic and usually not known to the person that they are doing it. We learn the skills to get through most normal social situations, but beyond that there is little development. So we do all the neurotypical things to blend in and it works until people realize that it’s fake, and then they feel like they’ve been deceived and they don’t like us.
    
    The fix for this is, as you go on a journey of self-discovery and learn how to stop masking you will present yourself as your authentic self, and attract the right kind of friends. It is a difficult journey, and especially because almost always we don’t realize that we’re doing it at all. I don’t know if you believe that your neurodivergent or autistic, but I also believe that there are other neurotypes that are able to trauma mask similarly to autistic masking. You may find good company in an autistic community because they will understand how that works. There’s also something oddly comforting knowing that you’re in a group of “weird” people and it will help you get your real self out.
    
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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Considering my high school life, it was kind of opposite - I had handful of friends then, but they went different path and it became hard to keep contact with. Others basically hated me, making fun of me and borderline bullying me.
  
  I did become isolated in uni, I think I did stay away from others. Was too scared of making a mistake.
  
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  - monsterpiece42@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    How likely is it that the people you were tight with were neurodivergent as well? Looking back, I had a huge friend group of probably 25-30 in high school (though I was only close with like 2 of them, and cordial/friendly with the rest) and this left me “off the scent” of discovering my Autism until my 30s. Looking back, I would be surprised if a single person in t hat group wasn’t Autistic or ADHD at least, if not several other things too. We were just lucky enough that we all found each other and didn’t judge. We considered each other “The Island Of Misfit Toys” or the “weird” kids, which I believe tracks well.
    
    I also found myself to be very polarizing. Either I was super friendly with people or I was literally openly mocked with little in between.
    
    I also had an isolating phase when I joined the military. I had maybe one to two friends at the best times, and none through most of the rest of the time.
    
    Later in life (late 20s), I “perfected” my mask and got back on the social side of life but I wasn’t happy. Only recently have I learned what Autistic masking is and how to stop doing it, and I’m fairly close with about 6 people now, which is the most real friends I have ever had.
    
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- birbs@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Clubs are a good call. Look into societies at your university, find something that you’re interested in or think you could be interested in. Societies are social in a way that seminars and other course activities are not. Don’t worry if you don’t “click” with anyone immediately, keep attending and do your best to engage in conversations.
  
  I also recommend seeking out a university counsellor. Most universities will have them and their advice can be valuable.
  
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- jadedwench@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Autistic and neurodivergent people are the only ones I can even begin to relax enough to have a conversation. I have a lot of baggage and being undiagnosed in school was extremely damaging. I love to talk, but I make people uncomfortable. So I usually just sit quietly somewhere, move seats/tables as bigger groups want the space, and eventually leave once the anxiety/torture becomes too overwhelming.
  
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gencha@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Not sure if this works for you, but when I’m in a socially confusing situation, I involve people. If you think someone is talking bad about you, ask them about it. Ask for guidance. If you ask someone for help, they will often remember it positively. It takes courage to ask for help, as it’s a sign of weakness, and people usually respect that you trust them with your request.

Ideally it will turn out to be a misunderstanding, or you get some constructive criticism, or you get a confirmation that people are actually talking bad about you. At least you will have more clarity. If there wasn’t really anything bad going on, now you’re still in a conversation. Even if you say thanks and end the conversation, you’ve broken the ice with that person.

Friends are very much necessary. You need people in your environment, other than your family, to exchange ideas with and talk about things that are on your mind. Don’t try to substitute friends with online relationships. It will never be equal. Finding local people with similar interests online is fine if that helps you to reach out. You can’t force making friends, it’s a waste of time. Start with making one friend. Quality over quantity

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- Tyfud@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  This is good advice. I was going to type something up, but this pretty much covers it. Listen to this person please OP.
  
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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I am too scared to do this in classroom…
  
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  - lovely_reader@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    What have you got to lose?
    
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lady_maria@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

it feels like colleagues talk bad about me.

What makes you say that? It’s pretty likely that’s just your anxiety talking.

I’m not exactly the most social—or even socially competent—person, but I know friends are important to have, especially if you don’t have family you can lean on. Friends can balance you out and provide alternate perspectives when you need them, and we all need them sometimes.

Also, I’m pretty sure having (good) friends is beneficial for your mental health. Having no friends can be detrimental to it.

Regardless of what you decide, I suggest putting yourself out there. Start slowly, and ask people about themselves. It can very difficult and stressful at first, but it does get easier over time.

It might be a good idea to make a pros/cons list for staying/getting a job; I’m sure there are other important factors to consider aside from the social climate.

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I feel people are badmouthing me since I am hearing words like weirdo, freak, or disabled. It can be illusory, but I do think I hear them. It’s that my parents and psychiatrists say it cannot be real, so I might be mistaking something.
  
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  - kionite231@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    you are hearing voices and believe that people are talking about you. It’s symptoms of schizophrenia. Don’t take it as medical advice rather talk about it with your doctor.
    
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  - SorteKanin@feddit.dk ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Hearing things that other people say is not real is a serious problem. Please speak to a medical professional.
    
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sumguyonline@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Get a degree, get a dog, make art not friends.

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NaibofTabr@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Are friends necessary, or not really?

Unless you are independently wealthy, you will need the support of other people in your life. This is not avoidable - you must learn to live and work with other humans, and hopefully also enjoy their company.

The good news is that social skills are a thing that you can learn like any other skill. There are books about it, but the trouble with that is (1) advice in the book is cultural context dependent, and therefore most applicable in the time and place where the book was written, and (2) reading a book is an inherently non-social activity, and therefore not really contributing to developing the skill.

The best way to learn social skills is through observation and practice - which means that you will have to put yourself in situations that feel uncomfortable, until you learn enough that you become comfortable. This is a lot like learning to ride a bike - you feel clumsy, unsteady and slow at first but if you keep doing it you learn to stay balanced, and eventually it feels natural. You have to push yourself past the point of discomfort.

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- RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  you must learn to live and work with other humans
  
  That is not anywhere near the same as being friends with them.
  
  I think whether or not friends are necessary depends on the person. People who are extroverted will feel like friends are a necessity. Meanwhile, introverts like me, are perfectly happy to be by themselves. Some introverts may want to have friends but only minimally or in small amounts, others are fine without them at all.
  
  Introverts do not always lack social skills, its just that social interaction is exhausting. Telling someone to push past this may not be possible. Not everyone needs to be an extrovert, the only people that say that or think that way are extroverts. And, unfortunately for us introverts, the majority of people are some level of extrovert.
  
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Deceptichum@quokk.au ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Hi, are you neurodivergent by any chance?

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Yeah, I suspect I am both mildly autistic and ADHD.
  
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  - BackOnMyBS@lemmy.autism.place ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    !autismplace@lemmy.autism.place
    
    !autism@lemmy.world
    
    !audhd@lemmy.world
    
    ❤️
    
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  - Deceptichum@quokk.au ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Okay, well I’ll try to answer your questions as directly as possible.
    
    Attending seminars to learn about current interests is a very clinical approach, that won’t ever really capture what those trends are and you will appear to be even more of an outsider imitating the ‘insiders’. I personally wouldn’t recommend it, maybe try looking to find a group hobby that you can do with other people (DnD, walking, photography, book club, sports, etc).
    
    Are friends necessary, or not really? Necessary is subjective. But at least for me I find having some social connections I can talk with helps, and is overall a net positive on my quality of life. Also good friends can end up being with you for life, certainly a good investment.
    
    Also should I stop being in this environment and get a job instead? That depends, why are you in University? If it’s purely for academic learning, just focus on your studies. If it’s to gain life experiences as well, go out and seek people. If it’s neither, and you can’t think of any other reason to be in such an environment than maybe a job would be a good change.
    
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BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Are you a boring person ? I’m in a similar situation and prety much figured out that his was the issue

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- DivergentHarmonics@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  “Boring” people often have a good time with other “boring” people. So it’s maybe just a case of looking in the wrong places?
  
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orcrist@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
What is your background? Did you have friends in high school? How long have you been in university? Are you studying on campus? How do you know people are ignoring you? What country,or at least what general region?

Details matter. Provide whatever you feel comfortable providing.

Also, attending classes and circles are how you make friends. So if you are running away from the solution, expect the situation to stay the same.

Building community is important for most people, but it can be done at university, or elsewhere, or both.

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LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
You do not need friends to attend seminars no. In first world civilized countries most people snicker behind your back and behind closed doors but they will not actively do anything to break the peace.

Normies will ostracize you for everything that does not fall within extremely rigid highly defined bounds of acceptable, it does not matter if you are nice or not, once you have become the subject of jokes it’s all it’ll ever be. I’ve been on both sides of this equation.

I am neurodivergent and LGBT and I have learned the hard way there is no fitting in with normal people and even if you did - there is no trusting them, it’s best to not concern yourself with them and simply carry on with your work. If you feel like you must have social connections it’s best to find people who are similar.

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Azzu@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you’re autistic: social settings have a plethora of unwritten rules that you have to follow to not seem weird to non-autistic people. Without knowing exactly why anyone would be badmouthing you, it’s likely that you already violated dozens of them without knowing it.

It’s possible to learn it though, I did it through reading about it and carefully observing soap operas scene-by-scene, watching every movement they make, every way they express themselves, guessing the purpose and seeing the effects.

The quickest way to learn is by having someone with the necessary skills observe you and giving you pointers, but this is hard to do apparently since you have no one you can trust?

I could help, but to help you, one really needs much more and much more specific information about your situation.

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xmunk@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Ostracized and isolated are two very different things, do you think there’s an intent that’s actively excluding you or are you welcome but personally uncomfortable forming social bonds?

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  That’s the issue, I don’t know if they are actively warding me off or are just ambivalent. At least I am not welcome, that is for sure.
  
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SexualPolytope@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Getting a job won’t make things easier. Most people need human connection and friends to live a fulfilling life. I think you might be imagining that people dislike you, as we socially awkward people often do. Just try talking to people, and you’ll surely make a few friends. I’m socially awkward, but make it a point to attend many social gatherings outside of classes/job so that I’m basically forced to talk to people, no matter how hard it is. There will definitely be people who will appreciate your personality, just give them the chance to get to know you.

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someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I just read the rules, does this post break rule 3? Where is the better place to ask this question?

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- neidu2@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Don’t think so. I’m not a mod on this board, but if I was, I’d say it’s OK - you ask a genuine question about approaches to a social situation, which should be all good.
  
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muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Ur not a snitch are you?

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  No
  
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  - muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Well guessing by ur username ur a fellow aussie pm me what uni and if its the same one as i then id be more than happy to have some beers and a yarn and introduce u to my friends.
    
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Sundial@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
What kind of things do you like? Why don’t you find some clubs or groups that you would find interesting?

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someguy3@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
It never hurts to read “How to win friends and influence people”.

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- compcube@lemy.lol ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I have to say, this book didn’t do much for me.
  
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some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I don’t know about the rest, but I will say that having friends is absolutely worthwhile and worth pursuing.

Whether to stay at school or get a job, it sorta depends on your circumstances. What are you majoring? Are you interested in it? Are you taking on massive debt in the process? Will your education likely lead to career opportunities? You don’t necessarily answer here, but these are definitely questions worth asking yourself.

Depending on circumstances, staying at university may be highly advantageous. It may be a place where you develop life-long friendships or meet people and network in ways that are later career-advantageous. It could also suck you into unnecessary debt without much perceived value when you’re done. It’s difficult to say, but worth considering before acting on a whim. Good luck!

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half_built_pyramids@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I recognized I went a little crazy last week with some acquaintances. I’m going to ask them next week if it was ok. It’s hard to ask, but you just gotta do it and own it when it’s on you to improve.

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neidu2@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
What gives you the impression that others are badmouthing you? In cases like this, O have come to realize that it mostly boils down to indifference. People have their own lives and social circles to pay attention to, and as such their interactions with you would be neutral, which can seem cold.

If the above is the case, you’re not ostracized, you just haven’t found anyone to connect with (yet). I suggest you attend events, and hopefully you’ll get to know someone better.

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  It comes from that I hear people talking bad about me. Like, saying that I am a freak (or similar).
  
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  - neidu2@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Unless you can think of what could’ve caused this, I suggest you attend the seminars. If someone there doesn’t like you, that’s their problem.
    
    You won’t like everyone you’ll ever meet. And not everyone you meet will like you. And sometimes there will be actual dislike in the mix. It’s just how life is.
    
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tailiat@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Please don’t give up on making friends - you just haven’t found your group yet and it may or may not be the same people you’re with in University. See if there’s a group nearby that shares an interest in an activity you enjoy. Give yourself a goal of trying 3 activities/groups and attend a few sessions. It’s sometimes tempting to bail after a single session, so I’d try to stick with it a few times (unless you’re absolutely certain you will never enjoy it).

As others in this thread have said, most other people are too busy and involved in their own lives to think that much about anyone else, so I suspect your concerns about people talking badly about you are very overblown. Don’t let your insecurities fill in an imaginary void of what other people are thinking.

Being social is a skill and it takes time to hone, just like any other. You have to put in the time and be willing to put yourself in the vulnerable position of being around new people and accept that you’re going to click with some better than others.

Friendships are vitally important to our mental health and I hope you don’t give up on forging them. You just haven’t found your circle yet, so keep trying!

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- someacnt_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I am basically autistic with ADHD, so I personally doubt that would work…
  
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