Reddit mentions of Women From Another Planet?: Our Lives in the Universe of Autism

Have you asked your friend about these questions? As with NT's, every non-NT is unique. Aside from that, I see people as all deep and valuable and trustworthy, until proven otherwise. When people are false, I see the mask, but don't know how to interact with them because I don't know how to converse with the mask. Interaction only makes sense to me when I can talk to the real person, because the signals are confusing, and I only can be myself or be silent.

I hope that makes sense >.< You might benefit from this list of traits, and from reading books about women with autism.

Assuming OP is female, sorry if that's incorrect. Here are a few relevant resources to check out:

• Women From Another Planet? (book)
  
• Spectrum Women
  
• Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
  
• Deciding when to disclose
  

I'm so very sorry that she's going through such a difficult time :( I can't imagine the pain you must feel as a mother seeing this happen, wanting to help but not knowing how.

Does she have any interest in art or writing? A lot of people who have trouble expressing themselves or dealing with pain can find an outlet in an art form. Art therapy is a specific option, but just regular art expression is very therapeutic and helped me cope with my own pain.

Art activity can also lead to finding an art community, and really, a connection to people who share a passion is the most important thing for her to find, whatever that passion is.

Anxiety medication did wonders for me, as did running regularly (despite being the opposite of athletic). I also find a lot of comfort in reading about other's experiences, because it helps the lingering loneliness of being misunderstood. Women From Another Planet was especially good, and there's many similar books on Amazon too.

One thing I wish I could have done at that age was start taking adult level classes in my areas of passion, like at a community college.