Why can people convince me to do anything?!

Practice defining and enforcing personal boundaries. Learn how to actively manage your interactions. People cannot convince you to do things if you do not allow yourself to be engaged in discussions of you doing things other people want. Therefore, practice the SKILLS of directing your conversations away from requests for you to do things.

You have to start with a clear understanding of what you are looking for, and what you will do when it happens.

Learn to end a conversation when you sense that someone is pressuring you. Politely say goodbye and hang up the phone. Excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and 'forget' to come back when you are done. Or, when you return, start talking as soon as you get back -- on a different subject. Always meet on neutral territory. Visit them at their house or somewhere else, not in your house. That way, you can gracefully leave, whereas it is much harder to throw people out of your house.

Learn how to be firm with people. Learn to look them straight in the eye, and say, "I am not going to discuss this with you any further. If we can't find something else to talk about, I am leaving."

Make some rules for yourself about making decisions.

Time pressure. When someone is pressuring you to make a decisions right this instant, make a rule that you will always say "no. If there isn't time to consider your decision properly, then there isn't really time to do whatever they want done. The safest answer, when there is not time to understand what you are doing, is to always say, "no".

Never give an answer right away. Since you always say, "no" when there is no time to think things through, then there will always be time to answer later for all other decisions. Practice these words over and over. "I'll think about it and get back to you." Then follow up with what I talked about earlier. Personal boundaries. Once you have given this answer, it is time to enforce your personal boundaries and end discussion of the topic. If the person continues to pressure you, then they are harassing and disrespecting you. They are being aggressive, and you can and should be firm in return. Look them in the eye, and say, "I have said I need time to think this over. I am not going to make the decision right now, and I will not discuss this with you any further." Then, leave if they continue to harass you.

Evaluate your relationships. The root problem may be that you are simply spending time with the wrong people. People who harass you and take advantage of you are not people who respect you. It might be better to spend less time with these people who are taking advantage of you.

Bottom line --
1. The default answer is always "no".
2. When someone is pressuring you, get away from them.
3. There is always time to make a decision, so you never have to answer right away. If there is no time, then the answer is "no".
4. If someone keeps pressuring you, stop hanging around them. That is not a friend. That is a user.

There are many different forms of Autism but often autistic people are just very trusting and gullible because they cant pick up on the little emotions. There brain focuses too strongly in logical areas. Honestly I doubt you are autistic or that you are that gullible you will do anything. The whole issue with autism is the lack of emotional connection, ability to function, and differentiate between choices on anything but logic. You seem to function well and you acknowledge you shouldn't have listened to someone. So I think your just a typical teenager.

Just the opposite over here. One stubborn, hardheaded S.O.B. Get me in a routine, and you can't get me out of it.
It's just the way we are, I guess. I think the older we get, and after having been rooked a few times, we get a little more cynical and skeptical.
There's a saying, "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." Live by this.

Because you let them. You need to learn to say, 'Sorry, i can't help you'.
Maybe you think you have to say 'yes' for people to like you--but that is NOT true!
You have to stand up for yourself, increase your self-esteem and learn to simply say 'No".
people who are true friends will like you for who you are--and NOT what they can get you to do for them!

Helping others is great quality! I don't think you're that naive or anything. And the fact that you're asking for help here proves that you're a great personality ;) Do your best to help others. And in case you can't, just say: No, I'm sorry! I can't do that. It's simple and clear :)


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http://anxietywithpanicattacks.com/

naive, gullible and easily led

I am the same way,but just recently got taught a very big lesson on how and why not to even bother helping those in need.Well,not so much to never help those who are in real need,but not to allow anyone to take advantage of my good nature anymore.I had a friend we weren't that close,but close enough for me to try and help her,and especially seeing she had 3 young boys to feed and care for.But,I offered to buy her and her 3 boys food,and I asked her to meet me in a specific location.I called her and told her I was on my way to that location,and she also told me she was also on her way.The total trip to meet one another would have taken only 30 minutes.I ended up waiting over 2 hours...So,that is why I will no longer..or try to at least only help those whom I believe will at least appreciate the help.I never do anything for anyone for notoriety,or anything like that.I only help others,and especially my friends because I care.But,from this day forward(from that day),I will no longer allow myself to be taken advantage of in such a way.So.....since hearing MY story? You too might want to take a lesson from me,and use caution when trying to put yourself out there for everyone.I was hurt when through this whole incident,as I only wanted to help a friend who I thought was in need,but as I later found out she would always play the victim of every circumstance.So,as I said...just try to be a friend,and be there for your friends as a friend only.Good luck to you,and I hope you can find a way to make yourself available to your friends in a more productive way.Take care.

Oh,I meant to add...my 'friend' I later found out..stopped to go shopping.While I waited for over 2 hours.So,just take my story into consideration before offering yourself to everyone all the time.You don't want to end up in the same situation as I found myself in.Again.....take care of yourself first,and worry about others last.