memes

Lol, no. We'll all just suffer quietly thanks.

I will just say, having gone through a real rough year, it's not always black and white. I be vulnerable with the boys and ask for help, but I need time to process first, and to do it in the way I want and the time I want.

In the meantime, I am often sending memes for that small comfort of friendship while I process.

Cool, cool, cool...

Are there any other options tho?

If only that worked for me. I've been in a depressing place for 5 years, and I both opened up to my homies and brother... Crickets.

My wife keeps me sane and grounded.

Yes. That's the healthy option. ...Not gonna do it.

The boys can't do anything. They're broke and hopeless too.

CDC data demonstrates that men account for over 76% of suicide deaths in the United States each year. The CDC also found that there are 3.3 male suicide deaths for every female suicide death. In contrast, in research studies, women are two to three times more likely to discuss thoughts of suicide than men, and there are approximately three female suicide attempts per every one male suicide attempt.

Women attempt more, but use ineffective strategies like overdose. Men attempt less, but use more effective strategies than women do (like half of successful attempts are with guns. It’s actually really hard to OD on purpose - tried it at least three times lol)

It’s not a “men have it better than women” or vice versa thing. It’s more about cultural presentations of suicide and suicidality.

No worries, we all deal with stress in our own ways.

It is hard on both accounts, yes.
And also: it's okay to accept people who don't want a deeper relationship. You can have different friendships at different levels.

I guess there is more than one way after all

It also opens buds to help you if they’re up for it.

My experience has been that being emotionally open tends to make people withdraw. Should it be that way? Of course not. Should I get better friends? Yeah, that would be cool, and I wish that was as easy to do as it is to say. I've found that many relationships and friendships end up being somewhat transactional; people are there for the good times, but aren't interested in the emotional labor when shit gets real. I try to be there for people when they're going through shit, but that doesn't seem to be reciprocated.

If I sound bitter, well, I am. And cynical.

A lot of people I had thought were friends ghosted me when I failed to complete suicide and had a 72 hour hold. My ex-spouse held me in utter contempt because I was struggling emotionally. A lot of people I had known for a decade or more ghosted me when my ex-spouse and I were getting divorced; in fact, I only got to keep one friend in that divorce.

I suspect that this is part of the experience of being on the autism spectrum.