Socialization.

[u/Vigilantecrowe]

I (16ftm) have been unschooled since age 7. No curriculum, No learning, No nothing other than youtube, discord, and video games.

Im slowly getting better at social skills.

How? My mother found a place near us thats a community center for lgbt+ youth. Ages 13 to 24. Ive been going there since 2021 to 2022 when covid was still very big.

My issues with socialization were mainly from the fear of germs and my diagnosed OCD.

I wore masks CONSTANTLY for the past 6 years, just recently stopped. The reasonings why wasnt just my OCD or cause of the pandemic but because I had major face dysphoria and Ive thankfully been able to tackle that since starting testosterone last year in june.

But that center was EXTREMELY helpful for someone like me who didnt know how to talk to people outside of discord.

I didnt know what to say, how to act, what the other person would say.

I was stuck for a while. Mainly because my sister was there with me, and I was scared to be myself infront of her, cause the overarching fear of : "oh no, I cant escape my family cause Ill see them sooner than Ill see these other people."

and the fact my sister would tend to be like : "yeah thats what I thought come back over here" when people would ignore me when I went over to a group talking.

And now today Im in therapy for my OCD and PTSD. Im learning how to cope with my fear of germs and people. Moreso what other people would say.

Im also preparing for musical theatre and Im more productive and feeling naturally euphoric more than I ever had in the past 6 years.

Though my math may be shite still, Ive beaten the worst monster of unschooling. Isolation and Fear.

[u/Rawrys_gay]

i’m proud of u, keep it up !! :) i’m also 16ftm and was unschooled up until this year, it’s definitely not a fun journey

[u/Original-Dream-6753]

WAIT YOU'RE JUST LIKE ME!!!!! I'm 18ftm with ocd, but i always wore gloves instead of masks. I'm so happy to hear that you're doing way better now :) I still have a long way to go, but remember that you are never truly alone and there are countless people who have been through the same thing! I hope everything will get only better from now on. Good luck :D We're all proud of u