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[–] 13 points 1 year ago* (5 children)

Internet Dad here,

Kiara, I just want to tell you that you are wonderful just the way you are, and while you might not like the sound of your voice, to others out there, it's a beautiful melody. Mark my words.

I'm glad you have your network of support, but I also understand that doesn't solve the battle with loneliness that you're confronted with.

I'm not very good with advice, but I'm wondering if the world needs a chance to get to know you. If you're often in that room, that might be an obstacle.

When you can, go out and take long walks. You might need to force yourself a little to do that. Dress the way you want. Also, try to smile even when you're not in the mood to smile. Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but I like to think happiness is just in front of us but we need to reach out to grasp it. That reaching out requires effort. And in our grief at times, we feel a lack of motivation to apply that effort. But I'm asking you to do so.

Take walks, take deep slow breaths, drink water, and know that you are loved.

Your Lemmy family is looking out for you. Keep us posted.

Also, if you have time, there is a protest starting shortly - No Kings 2. It might be helpful to be with a crowd of people who tend to have a lot of empathy.

Sending virtual hugs, keep your Lemmy family in the loop, we're rooting for you!

EDIT: grammar correction.

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  • [+] [S] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    No Kings is in the US but there may be something similar in Germany. Avoid going to any right-wing rallies, lol!

    Even just doing grocery shopping can give you practice using your voice so that when it comes to making real conversation with potential friends you'll have one less thing to feel awkward about and can concentrate on bringing your thoughts together.

    If you're not already, try using voice training, there's several available online options. Or you might find an in-person teacher in your area.

    Remember, other people are going to be much less judgemental about your voice than you are to yourself. You don't go around hearing strangers and thinking "I hate their voice," do you?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Hi again, Kiara! I'm so embarrassed that I just assumed you live in the USA. I'm not a very smart guy, let's just put it at that. And I'm glad you're dressing comfortably in the way you want for two years now. I'm just catching up with all the posts in this thread and I'm glad to see the interaction with others here.

    I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but would it be helpful to get on a dating app for the purpose of meeting others, and perhaps individuals that might be compatible with your fine qualities? (Somebody, please jump in if I'm giving dumb advice - thank you!)

    I also wonder if there are events in your area that are trans-friendly.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    Hi,

    full disclosure, am cis middle aged man. IE another internet dad. maybe we should all get in contact and have a Kiara dad's BBQ before it get's cold.

    However I did spend quite a lot of my life feeling isolated, sh, and suicidal. So while I cannot relate to your transness, I do feel most of what you said.

    the whole "it get's better" is BS, it only get's better if you manage to change, even a bit. every bit counts. Friends wise, I am sure every person who will reply here is open for you to chat whenever you please (DM's open, but I am assuming you would much rather chat with a peer your age). I know "offering advice" to people in trouble is some neurotypical sin but that is BS as well and you explicitly asked for advice.

    something that really helps is to find IRL communities. I do not mean go to school, or church (unless that is your thing), try to find communities that do things you want to do with what you like. and meeting in person does make a huge difference.

    Have an interest in something specific? look for local groups that do that. The current state of affairs is putting you down (i mean, look around), check out local civil rights groups, grassroots political parties (joining a local socialist group has really helped me), clubs. Want to do a specific sport even though you are terrible at it, join a club, they love newcomers.

    Also, keep in mind first meeting will be awkward, second as well, third maybe. just keep going until you skip the "new girl" faze. (but also keep an eye to red flags, maybe they are the ones who suck).

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  • [+] [S] 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    I found some local boardgames clubs and knitting clubs that are quite chill :) [and most people playing board games are either not neurotypical or introverted, so it’s a good place to start having minimal interaction]

    On a similar note, being social is a skill we learn over time. Usually, while we are teenagers, we do a lot of social faux pas because we haven’t learned yet how to interact. Since you say you spend a lot of time in your room, it’s normal that it would take you a little training before becoming more of a social butterfly. Don’t be discouraged!

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Excellent points - thank you so much for sharing your much-needed wisdom!

    And this was excellent and had me laughing:

    maybe we should all get in contact and have a Kiara dad’s BBQ before it get’s cold.

    Totally, yes!

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)

    Your f𝖾𝖾lings ar𝖾 valid. F𝖾𝖾ling lon𝖾ly is truly painful.

    1. L𝖾arn to b𝖾 cont𝖾nt wh𝖾n alon𝖾.
      B𝖾ing lon𝖾ly and b𝖾ing alon𝖾 ar𝖾 not th𝖾 sam𝖾 thing. You'v𝖾 sp𝖾nt quit𝖾 a bit a tim𝖾 in your room alr𝖾ady in the last f𝖾w y𝖾ars - p𝖾rhaps r𝖾fl𝖾ct on this tim𝖾. You choos𝖾 how long your alon𝖾 tim𝖾 is.

    2. Improv𝖾 your s𝖾lf-confid𝖾nc𝖾.
      B𝖾ing surround𝖾d by p𝖾opl𝖾 and b𝖾ing sociabl𝖾 with aquaintanc𝖾s do𝖾sn't prot𝖾ct p𝖾opl𝖾 from f𝖾𝖾ling lon𝖾ly. This m𝖾ans if you plac𝖾 yours𝖾lf in a crowd, your lon𝖾lin𝖾ss f𝖾𝖾lings may still b𝖾 pr𝖾s𝖾nt.
      To combat this, you shouldn't b𝖾 worri𝖾d about saying the wrong thing wh𝖾n you speak in a group. If you mak𝖾 a mistak𝖾, forgiv𝖾 yours𝖾lf.
      Validat𝖾 your own str𝖾ngths ("I am b𝖾autiful, I am smart, I am kind," 𝖾tc), and validat𝖾 yours𝖾lf fr𝖾qu𝖾ntly.

    3. S𝖾𝖾k out a f𝖾w clos𝖾 fri𝖾ndships.
      You'r𝖾 going through a wond𝖾rful and 𝖾xciting tim𝖾 in your lif𝖾, probably a hard transition, but 𝖾xciting. Share it. I'm happy for you.
      Making fri𝖾nds is hard. Say h𝖾llo to strang𝖾rs. Risk b𝖾ing op𝖾n and vuln𝖾rabl𝖾 again. Hav𝖾 2 minut𝖾 conv𝖾rsations with peopl𝖾 you'll n𝖾v𝖾r m𝖾𝖾t again.

    Non𝖾 of this is going to b𝖾 𝖾asy, but you hav𝖾 support. You say 𝖾veryon𝖾 who knows you is supportiv𝖾 - l𝖾an on th𝖾m. And us l𝖾mmings will b𝖾 h𝖾r𝖾 if you'd lik𝖾.

    Edit: Lov𝖾 & support from non-LGBT l𝖾mming.

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    [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Idk how your situation is but my siblings helped a lot with it. I felt like I was able to talk way more about my issues with them in comparison to my parents.

    Just stuff like asking my brother if I can just hang out in his room when I felt lime shit and just being there, sitting somewhere and just not being that alone. Either staring into my phone or into nothingness

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    [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Also btw we have a matrix chat group at #196-blahaj:catgirl.cloud and you could join :) we talk about lots of stuff, whatever interests us. i'm from austria btw so if you live close to vienna we could also meet up some time.

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    I'm not sure what could help you. I have found friends in a weekly meetup where we talk about politics, the weather, and anything that interests us. It's called "young socialists" and yeah ... it's pretty cool :)

    Though idk what would help you or whether that exists where you live.

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