Help Your Neurodivergent Loved One Find A Peer Support System With These Tips
Helping a neurodivergent person find support from their peers is a wonderful way to help them boost their communication skills while caring for their mental health, but it can be challenging without the right resources. Whether you’re helping a child, teen, or adult, it’s crucial to keep several things in mind when it comes to building their support system. Some neurodivergent individuals may have trouble reading body language, for instance, or they may have a hard time starting a conversation with someone they don’t know well. That’s why communication skills are a priority. If you’re unsure of where to start, take a look around
suzycarbrey.com for helpful tips and tools that will be useful to the process.
Here are a few tips on how to help a friend or loved one make connections with their peers:
Look for online networking resources
If you’re helping an adult form social contacts, it can be helpful to start with old friends. Name changes can make it tricky to track down schoolmates after graduation, but there are school search engines that will help you find just about anyone if you know their basic information, including their graduation date. Because meeting new people can cause anxiety for many neurodivergent individuals, it may be helpful to start reforming connections with people they already know. You might suggest reaching out to an old friend or acquaintance and setting up a lunch or coffee date at a location they’re comfortable with and know well in order to reduce feelings of stress. This is a great way to form stronger connections as well as to network in a professional capacity.
Utilize social media
If your friend or loved one isn’t ready to meet up with someone in person, they might start by making connections online. Social media can provide a safe space for an individual who is neurodivergent to communicate on their own terms, without the pressure of face-to-face conversations. You might suggest that they find online groups specifically made for people who are interested in the same things your loved one enjoys; not only is this a great way to meet like-minded friends, but it’s also a good way for them to get involved in a hobby or activity that brings them joy.
Suggest role-playing
Another fun way to get your neurodivergent loved one to feel more comfortable with building relationships and social skills is to suggest role-playing. They might enjoy joining a Dungeons & Dragons group with their friends, or you might offer to help them strengthen their communication skills by role-playing a scenario with them. For instance, if they’re preparing for a new job, it can be extremely helpful to practice starting conversations with coworkers or customers. You might also look online for suggestions on how to handle disagreements in the workplace and work out certain social situations. Take a look around suzcarbrey.com for more information on how to help your friend or loved one boost their skills.
Help them manage their feelings
Whether a neurodivergent individual is connecting with an old friend or starting a new job, it’s important that they have the tools available to help them get through different challenges. If they get overwhelmed at a lot of activity or have trouble making eye contact, for instance, this can affect their ability to connect with new people who don’t understand their body language. Some individuals have trouble managing a lot of sensory input at once, which can leave them feeling isolated from their peers in social situations. Help your friend or loved one find the tools they need to manage their feelings in the moment, such as noise-canceling headphones, as well as accessible work tools that will help them stay focused and stress-free. Helping a neurodivergent friend connect with their peers and find support can take some time, but by using the right tools and finding old high school friends to reconnect with, you can make the process a smooth one.
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