I spend too much time thinking about how I should act around other people.
I won’t say that all of us on the spectrum have this characteristic, but it often plagues those of us who have been labeled by neurotypicals as “high functioning.” Putting those labels aside, I think socializing, in general, is difficult for all of us on the spectrum. Speaking for myself, I loathe being in a crowded room where mingling and small talk are not only expected, but are the norm. It’s not that I don’t want to interact with other people, it’s just that I can’t seem to get out of my own head.
Let me explain.
When I know I am required to fraternize with the masses, I try and prepare myself by rehearsing a number of conversations in my head. All of these conversations involve some type of small talk. I have to put together these types of chit chat because small talk doesn’t come to me naturally.
I have never possessed the ability to discuss random topics such as the weather or the latest neighborhood gossip. I would much rather discuss something I want to talk about that has more depth and meaning. Now you might think I’m a narcissist. If that were the case, which it is not, (although narcissists don’t think they’re narcissists
