Are You STALKING!?!?

One of the biggest problems we all find with have autism is not knowing social boundaries or recognising body language.

So far you have been told not to keep butting into conversations, not to stand too close to someone, make eye contact once in a while but now you’ve been accused of stalking!

This is very hard to take in especially when texting, making calls even writing emails worry you because of past experiences of people when contacting them. It’s always been better face to face or to avoid them altogether so how are you a stalker?

Someone you know and get along with, even see regularly, gives you their email or mobile and insist you send them a message and this frightens you but you know this person so sending that message won’t make them hate you?

They reply and everything seems fine but you only contact them when they’ve told you to or, in an emergency, if someone else said you should be ok to contact them.

Of course you still prefer face to face so go to talk to them quickly but since they’re busy you wait until they have finished and then try to catch them, you don’t want them hating you for butting into their conversation.

Suddenly there’s a complaint that you are stalking them and this doesn’t make sense! They say you are waiting for them a lot, texting them too much and are worried that you are going to follow them home!

It makes no sense and you feel like a monster, staying away from them so they don’t feel you are stalking them, but you have lost a friend and you never want to accept anyone’s number again and refuse to wait for people even if they told you to wait for them.

It hurts but you need to tell people!

Contact your disability officer if you can. They can help you sort out what you are going to do from now on and help you recognise when someone thinks you’re stalking them.

Talk to a friend, strange as it may seem not everyone thinks you are stalking them and are fine with the way you contact each other.

If this person is taking legal action then see the Citizens Advice Bureau. It’s a good idea to have someone to get your side across and not to be left to horrible accusations.

Remember, people like their space and there’s no harm checking with them that they’re ok with you but just because someone says you’re a monster doesn’t mean its true!