Alex's Answer

I wish I was like other kids

Your Question

i wish i was like other kids everyone else my age im 15 they all smoke or steal alcahold and drink it and go to discos and have sex and stuff but i dont do any of that its not that i want to i dont i just wanna be normal i have severe autism and i mask alot so i am never actually myself even when im alone i just want to be like everyone else i hate myself i just wanna be normal

Answer

Hi there and welcome to Ask Alex.
 
We understand it can be difficult to open up about what’s going on for you, so thanks for reaching out with your question.
 
So, you’re saying that you wish you were normal, and that you feel you are never yourself, and hate yourself. It sounds like you’re having a very tough time at the moment.
 
You say that you hate yourself, and we’re sorry to hear that. Every young person has the right to be happy and safe. Have you spoken to anyone about how you are feeling?  Speaking to an adult that you trust can be really helpful and makes sure we get the support we need. What would you tell a friend who was feeling the same way you do?
 
What are some of the activities that you enjoy? Making sure we engage in activities we like can help us feel better about ourselves and can increase our mood.
 
You mention that you want to be ‘normal’. We believe that there is no ‘normal’ for young people; everyone is different and unique, with their own talents and strengths.
 
You also mention that you have autism. Having autism can mean that you see the world in a different way from others, and understanding how autism can affect you can be really helpful in managing day-to-day activities and life situations. You can find out more about autism here asiam.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Autism-Tenn-resource-digital.pdf.
 
You can also contact us here at Childline if you’d like to talk some more about this. We offer a free, non-judgmental listening service 24/7. You can contact us by phone on 1800 66 66 66 or by Live Chat at childline.ie.
 
We would love to chat to you some more about this.
 
Take care of yourself. Know that you don’t have to go through this alone. Childline is here for you, any time, for any reason,
Alex

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