A Companion That Gives You Confidence

[deedledee90]

I was curious to see if anyone else had a friend, family member, or partner that gave them more confidence to go out in public or to social events.

I am extremely fortunate that my husband is my best friend and has stuck by me through my best and worst times. He gives me confidence that I could never achieve myself. For example, I often have to attend art show openings where I have to approach people and speak to them about my work and even encourage them to buy it. It's still terrifying but I could never do it at all if I went by myself.

When I attend certain events that my husband's office holds, I am fairly good at small talk amongst his co-workers as long as he is by my side or near me but once he steps away (bathroom break, etc.) it's like I clam up and have to sit down myself, probably smiling like a goof in an attempt to look social/approachable, until he comes back.

Even simple things like shopping etc. I usually avoid going anywhere alone because I just become a bumbling mess. It's kinda funny actually

Does anyone else experience this?

 

[toothless]

my support cat;mr shadow [in avatar]my tropical fish,and my two rabbits make me function in society,without them i wouldnt see a point in living as i do not connect with humans.

they give me the strength to go out then when i get back and i am extremely overloaded [information, sensory, communicatively, socially etc] my boy mr shadow calms my behaviors down and i lie on the sofa under my mega heavy weight weighted blanket and my staff turn the bubble tube on.

i think its important to have someone to spur you on.

 

[Questella]

my support cat;mr shadow [in avatar]my tropical fish,and my two rabbits make me function in society,without them i wouldnt see a point in living as i do not connect with humans.
they give me the strength to go out then when i get back and i am extremely overloaded [information, sensory, communicatively, socially etc] my boy mr shadow calms my behaviors down and i lie on the sofa under my mega heavy weight weighted blanket and my staff turn the bubble tube on.

i think its important to have someone to spur you on.

Are you allowed to take your cat to places with you? I've always wanted to be allowed this, I see it often with dogs but I detest dogs.

 

[xudo]

My husband, @VenomousAlbino. I pretty much never go out alone, but even if it's with someone else (for example, my sister) I don't feel as at ease as I do when I'm out with him.

 

[deedledee90]

my support cat;mr shadow [in avatar]my tropical fish,and my two rabbits make me function in society,without them i wouldnt see a point in living as i do not connect with humans.

they give me the strength to go out then when i get back and i am extremely overloaded [information, sensory, communicatively, socially etc] my boy mr shadow calms my behaviors down and i lie on the sofa under my mega heavy weight weighted blanket and my staff turn the bubble tube on.

i think its important to have someone to spur you on.

Pets are the best! I can't imagine what I would do without my dog and cat...They just know when I need comfort.

 

[WereBear]

my support cat;mr shadow [in avatar]my tropical fish,and my two rabbits make me function in society,without them i wouldnt see a point in living as i do not connect with humans.

they give me the strength to go out then when i get back and i am extremely overloaded [information, sensory, communicatively, socially etc] my boy mr shadow calms my behaviors down and i lie on the sofa under my mega heavy weight weighted blanket and my staff turn the bubble tube on.

i think its important to have someone to spur you on.

I think it is awesome that you have a support cat and the other animals.

I have long been very attuned to animals and currently live with four cats.

 

[VenomousAlbino]

My husband, @VenomousAlbino. I pretty much never go out alone, but even if it's with someone else (for example, my sister) I don't feel as at ease as I do when I'm out with him.

That's because I am, quite frankly, the best.

 

[deedledee90]

That's because I am, quite frankly, the best.

Haha, love the confidence.

 

[Nemo]

my support cat;mr shadow [in avatar]my tropical fish,and my two rabbits make me function in society,without them i wouldnt see a point in living as i do not connect with humans.

they give me the strength to go out then when i get back and i am extremely overloaded [information, sensory, communicatively, socially etc] my boy mr shadow calms my behaviors down and i lie on the sofa under my mega heavy weight weighted blanket and my staff turn the bubble tube on.

i think its important to have someone to spur you on.

My dog encourages me to walk him (otherwise he poops on the floor) and when I'm overwhelmed I lie down and he will lie on top of me. I guess it's like a weighted blanket thing?

 

[toothless]

Are you allowed to take your cat to places with you? I've always wanted to be allowed this, I see it often with dogs but I detest dogs.

not legally,no, any animals that come under the 'emotional support' category are only considered support animals unofficially in terms of legal stuff.
however mr shadow also sits on me when i have seizures [tonic clonic],he taps me with his paw and looks at me if im having any challenging behaviors etc, he is more than a emotional support cat.

i have a full on thick dog harness to take him places him with me but the outside world overloads him so i take him to my dads a lot to get some time out with biscuit [my family cat,18 year old uppity madam] and thats it.

 

[toothless]

Pets are the best! I can't imagine what I would do without my dog and cat...They just know when I need comfort.

i totally agree,even better that you have got a dog as a dog gets you out into society,she/he forces you there when you dont feel like it, but its like having protection when your out with a dog, i used to walk dogs a lot before i got my spinal nerve injury and i found them so comforting to walk beside.
the only thing about dog walking that might be a bit off putting for aspies/auties is the social factor-you usually attract other people with dogs as they see you as 'safe' and not some random pervert roaming the area.
i used to get stopped constantly while walking my three dogs [owned by three different people] but being non verbal at the time i just zoned out and let my support staff take over the social stuff.

I think it is awesome that you have a support cat and the other animals.

I have long been very attuned to animals and currently live with four cats.

thankyou werebear!
you are very much like me,its a affinity that many of us with autism get.
you are rescuing cats arent you? id love to do that,i tried to home a fiv cat but they didnt have any at the rescue i went to, so i got mr shadow-who has special needs-his immune system is fighting itself and causing allergies to absolutely everything,he is on atopica liquid and he used to be on regular human piriton but that gave him a big seizure,the atopica makes him anorexic though.

my aspie auntie [RIP,died couple of weeks ago] was a cat rescuer- had twenty indoor and outdoor cats at one point but had to get some rehomed as she was struggling,local people gave her cat food and money to look after the cats.

My dog encourages me to walk him (otherwise he poops on the floor) and when I'm overwhelmed I lie down and he will lie on top of me. I guess it's like a weighted blanket thing?

it means your fella is strongly intune to you and knows when you need a bit of extra support,some animals like humans are extra perceptive to [if thats the term im looking for].

 

[Questella]

not legally,no, any animals that come under the 'emotional support' category are only considered support animals unofficially in terms of legal stuff.
however mr shadow also sits on me when i have seizures [tonic clonic],he taps me with his paw and looks at me if im having any challenging behaviors etc, he is more than a emotional support cat.

i have a full on thick dog harness to take him places him with me but the outside world overloads him so i take him to my dads a lot to get some time out with biscuit [my family cat,18 year old uppity madam] and thats it.

I have harnesses for my cats. My old girl has always gone places with me ill take her on car rides and we'll take her to wooded areas in the park but I don't take her places with people, people especially kids freak her out. I always wondered if i had been allowed to take her more places if she would be more tolerant of other people.

 

[Judge]

A Companion That Gives You Confidence? Ahhhhhh....you mean a "wingman".

Nope. It's just me.

 

[Molly]

Sometimes, alone is the best state to be.

My two 'wing men' are my dogs, (their hair after I cut them and formed int hearts lol are my avatar). They keep me well socialised and as fit as a fiddle. They are quite flamboyant in looks and gait and nearly always commented on when I take them out, so there's absolutely no escape from talking to people, unless I hide behind a tree which I have done several times, so @toothless, I can totally relate. They are a huge comfort, animals aren't they? Wow, that's a lot of cats. At one point I had 3 dogs, 5 indoor cats and 3 outdoor (semi feral cats who were used to living in our shed) and that was more than enough. I just have my two dogs now, but I find they are more than enough.

Oh yes, I had a harness for one of my cats and took her out a lot.

I totally relate to cats and dogs picking up our moods. Mine seem to know if I am distressed; and when I cry they are both right beside me giving me comfort. They seem to be the ones looking after me lol.

I cannot relate to most humans I meet, but with animals, I seem to be on the same wavelength.