u/mylittledumpster

I have heard several stories about neurodivergent students not being able to obtain a diagnosis from GPs or the psychiatrist from the university clinic, or accommodations other than extra exam time. The policy on extending deadlines for assignments is also very strict.

I’m not sure if different provinces have different regulations on getting a diagnosis on mental health conditions. In where I used to live, people could get a diagnosis for many common mental disorders or conditions from GPs with some assessments except ASD. Here at the university clinic, it was either letting me visit the psychiatrist for humiliation, or visit other psychiatrists but I will need to pay probably two grands out of my pocket. In my previous school, it was quite easy for students to request extensions for burnouts or other temporary mental difficulties without a medical note. I never needed that but I thought that’s common in universities.

In my previous school, it was also pretty common to have students with adhd, depression or some other non-aggressive mental health conditions without well-known stigmas related to social interactions. Many people were open to disclose their conditions, and other students were completely fine with them. However at uwindsor, I’ve only told some people about my least concerning condition, and most of them immediately started to treat me like I’m a crazy psychopath. It’s not like my behaviour has changed after telling them or something. I’ve only told people I was closer with or sometimes my group members because it’s difficult to explain why I would have difficulties in something without disclosing my conditions. When I first started school here, before I mentioned anything about my mental health, I also noticed others acted hostile towards me and thinking I was seeking attention when I started to have a chronic non-contagious health condition. Yes it could be scary if I show my symptom in front of people, but the only time it actually showed at school was when I was in a corner of leddy without anyone nearby, and I made it myself to the nurse without anyone.

I don’t know if anyone else has experienced something similar here. I have met 2 or 3 nice acquaintances at uwindsor from other faculties so far, so I don’t want to think badly about this school.

I moved to the other side of the country for school. At first I thought the social scene wouldn’t be too bad because most people I’ve met here are from other cities and countries. However, I’ve been here for almost a year now and I still don’t have any friends. Now I also don’t want to be friends with anyone I’ve met here.

I’ve tried to socialize with many different people before, but none of the interactions went well. According to some people, a lot of ppl in my program did/do not want to talk to me because they can’t tell what ethnicity I am and I look too pretty. I don’t know if that’s true or not because that sounds ridiculous to me. I’ve always lived in big cities back then, and I was always in the average or below average range. In the last two semesters, I also got stalked by one of my classmates and harassed by some guys on social media. I had to see a therapist again because I was scared to go to my usual spots and go to classes.

With my closer acquaintances back then, either I pulled back because of I found out something they did our some of their traits that are unacceptable to me, or they pulled back for reasons I don’t know. So far I’ve stayed away from people who are racists, sexists, did something fucked up and dragged me into it, let me pay for everything , etc. There was a group of girls I socialized with for a semester said I was their friend, so I felt safe treating them as my friends. Later on I felt questionable about our friendship because they were always late, canceled plans last minute, and got denied entry for two places because they didn’t care abt the policies. I also realized that they would only initiate conversations with me outside school if they need me to help them with their school stuff, and sometimes I felt they also discriminated one of my conditions. Recently, I found out they’ve been spilling my secrets and other ppl’s secrets to people I didn’t know before. After I found out, they’ve been staying away from me and trying to isolate me, and I stopped talking to them at all as well.

I have moved around a few times in my life, and I think this is the only time I have some difficulty adapting. I miss where I lived a lot even though my old friends and I slowly stopped talking as well. I do think I was a floater friend to many people in the past though. My closest friends back then are either depressed for having a full time job or can’t find a job at all.

I don’t think I’m a boring person, or I significantly lack social hobbies. I like working out, outdoors, gaming, food, clubbing, and movies. I also like art and crafting even though I don’t normally have time for those anymore because of school. Although a lot of people say theres nothing people can do in this small city, I do think there are quite a few fun places besides usual hangout spots. There are beaches, nice parks, bowling alleys, arcade centres, archery, indoor golf, art and craft workshops and a lot more. However, no one I’ve met is into anything besides food (sometimes), and I went to most places by myself.

I think after a school year and half way through my program, I can accept the fact that theres no one I can click with here, and I think I should stay away from a lot of people I know. I have always been genuine to everyone, and I just want a genuine and reciprocal connection with people, not even on a best friend level. With people I wanted to stay away, I would talk to them about our conflicts first, and then pulled back because no one here is open to this kind of conversation except my one and only friend that moved away from the city. I have a lot of things to do or I want to do in my free time, but I still want human connections and friends. When I think about that, I feel lonely. I start to think about that more, and feel even more lonely.