I have someone I call the ultimate bestie who I’ve known for 32 years. Friends come and go but she is the only constant I’ve ever known.

Some things I’ve tried: - look for people who seem more isolated or awkward than me, and try to extend some friendliness their way. Someone told me their mantra is to enter social situations with the mindset “what can I contribute”, not “what can I receive” (even though human connection is a perfectly reasonable thing to seek). - strike up conversations with the venue staff, who are often a) charismatic service people and b) bored enough to chat. - get out a notebook and jot down observations.

It took over 20 years for me to hear my best friend tell me she was my best friend. She assumed I knew, I needed confirmation. I'm ADHD and she's autistic 😐 Good times.

I have my husband, but no friends?! 😔 so I get you, I never had that one bestie at school? I sort of float between groups- also have adhd btw- I feel ya xx

I purposely avoid the term best friends. I don’t like ranking my friends in order of preference. I have friends and I enjoy spending time with them and that’s all there is to it. It used to make me feel pretty awful when I was spending time with a friend and they would talk about their “Besty”i.e. someone else - in my company - so I always felt “less than”. It’s a term we can do away with. I don’t mean to diminish your experience though. It does suck when it feels like everyone else is paired up

ABSOLUTELY!!

Sounds like my life. But I also check the boxes for high masking autism. Most people are kind to me and enjoy little conversations over a meal together, but nobody is interested in being a best friend. I kind of quit trying years ago and just let people like me as an acquaintance.

I had a best friend, someone I could just hang with with no expectations, and he passed away 2 months ago.. now I feel lost. I have other friends, but it's not the same

Horrible feeling being lonely in a room full of friends…