Birthday wishes thank you reply
The story
so, i'm 24 now and this year was a bit different for me. i always found birthday wishes kinda overwhelming. so every year my mum used to help me reply to all the family members who send their good thoughts (she's super organized with it). but since moving out last year, it's something i have to manage on my own.
being autistic makes social interactions tough sometimes (it's like trying to follow too many conversations at once). when people send birthday messages, especially those long heartfelt ones, i just don't know how to respond without sounding awkward or ungrateful. it's funny though because these are all people i've known my whole life (you'd think that would make it easier). they've been sending nice wishes since forever!
i tried writing back individually this time. i'm keeping it simple and genuine but every message feels like a huge task. some replies seemed off (or maybe that's just in my head)? anyways, i'm hoping they appreciate the effort even if it's not perfect. communication takes practice i guess.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
yo, i totally get where you're coming from. replying to all those birthday messages is like fighting a losing battle sometimes; who's got the patience for that??? but hey, do you really need to reply to each one? can't you just send a group "thank you" msg or something easy like that??? saves time and stress man. communication may take practice, but no one should have to go through hoops just for birthday wishes. what do you think would work better for you next year?
It's absolutely commendable that you are taking on the challenge of replying to birthday wishes yourself, despite the inherent difficulty posed by autism!!
What you described about social interactions being akin to managing multiple conversations concurrently perfectly encapsulates some of those challenges; Your story resonates with how communication often requires intention and patience, especially when it feels overwhelming. Remember, though perfection isn't necessary (your friends and family very likely value your sincerity more than the words themselves). Consider finding a structure or template that eases this process: maybe jot down key phrases or sentiments beforehand so it feels less daunting each time. With practice, you'll become more comfortable and even develop your own unique style of expression 😊
I'm with you on birthday message stress. I used to dread them too because I felt like each response had to be perfect. One year, I decided to send quick voice messages instead of typing replies, and it actually took some pressure off. People seemed to appreciate hearing my voice, even if it was just a short "thank you!" It's worth experimenting with different approaches until you find what feels best for you!
maybe they'll understand? :)
They probably do! Don't worry too much!
one time i tried to do something similar for an event, thinking it would be easy since it's just typing out simple thank yous, but omg it was exhausting like a marathon of social overload 😂 people don't realize how mentally draining these seemingly small tasks can be, so i totally get the struggle.
i totally get what you mean, dealing with all those messages can feel like a full-time job! my cousin's on the spectrum too and finds it super overwhelming when people reach out on special occasions. i think people appreciate any reply way more than no reply at all, so even if your responses aren't flawless, they still matter a lot to everyone involved... plus, figuring out how to manage this stuff is part of growing up (and trust me, it's never easy for anyone!). communication is definitely something that takes some practice but you're doing great just by making the effort.
Sounds like you're doing the best you can with what you got, which is cool. Tbh, people will usually appreciate any reply more than no reply at all, even if it feels awkward to you; plus, it's not easy being bombarded with messages and trying to keep up when social stuff isn't your thing. Keep it up! 😊
social interactions can feel like walking on a tightrope, can't they? i totally get that trying to respond to all those messages feels overwhelming. it's not just you, even neurotypical folks struggle with this stuff sometimes. the fact you're making an effort means a lot; people appreciate authenticity more than perfectly crafted responses. when it comes to replying, focus on being yourself rather than worrying about how "perfect" each message is. in time you'll find your groove for handling these things!
oh man, i totally feel for you :(
You know, maybe it's okay to be a little awkward in your replies because the people sending you these messages already know and love you for who you are; the more natural and true to yourself the message is, the more they'll appreciate it!
just say thanks ;-)
Exactly! Overthinking only makes it harder.
Man, I feel you on the whole birthday message thing. It's like a never-ending task list that doesn't really get easier, huh? I've always wondered if people notice when responses are super short or simple... do they even care??? Honestly, I've found sometimes just a simple emoji can do the trick. People seem to love those little faces! Do you think they’d appreciate it if we kept it that casual?
I get you. I'm autistic too and had similar struggles when I had to write wedding thank yous alone for the first time (used to have help from my sister). It felt like an endless task but most folks were understanding and kind about it.