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AS or introversion?

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I'm on the waiting list for an assessment. At the moment I don't feel I identify with being on the spectrum but this on/off pattern is something which has been with me for a few years now. I asked my GP to refer me.

I know some aspies are introverted, I know some are extroverts or ambiverts. I've been reading up about introverts and also highly sensitive people. So I can identify with being an introvert and also HSP, but the sticking point which I can't seem to get to the bottom of, is social communication. I think I mask very well but I know I have problems with communication and conversation. I feel this is a different strand to introversion and HSP. I know they can all cross over. But I haven't found anything which suggests a highly sensitive person could have difficulty with social interaction (other than sensory factors having an impact eg in a noisy environment). And being an introvert doesn't mean you have difficulty having conversations, it's more a preference for how you spend your time and how your energy is expended.

Can anyone offer any ideas or thoughts? Thank you.

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  • Thank you for the replies. I think what I am trying to say is, what do my difficulties boil down to? It could be a number of things. 

    The other day I had a video call with someone I've never met but we know of each other. It was work related. I was fine when we were talking about work things but when it was general chit chat I felt I struggled as general chit chat wasn't the purpose of the meeting. However, as we both had to get to know each other, I know that chit chat is necessary.  She wouldnt have noticed I was out of step. There were some things which just required a normal response but often i laugh or go "that's good" or "oh no". Maybe like boiler plate responses. Because i dont know what to say sometimes. She gave me time to fill in with more stuff after these little responses but i didnt have anything else to say. Its a bit like my brain was working harder than usual by speaking to this new person so that left less capacity for other things. Often only I notice these things but I know it's there. Also, some bits of our conversation were implied and I struggled with that; I'm used to people being very direct. Also she went quite fast and I felt that I needed time to process what was being said and how it related to my situation. When the meeting finished I still felt some things I did not know but I shoukd have done. Nevertheless I made a good impression and got what I wanted out of it. 

    I know introverts who are chatty; they just need to be in the right company.

    Apologies if I offended you by using the word ASPIE. I know this is no longer classified but thought it could be used interchangeably and most people know what was meant.

  • in reply to ...

    I think also what I'm trying to say is, perhaps introverted people, even if they didn't like a social situation could still follow a conversation (or more than one conversation) and be able to participate. 

    It's been commented when I have attended the few work do's I've been on that I was quiet. The people saying this said it with surprise, a bit. In work,  knowing my role, I am not quiet. But in a more free social situation I am because I can't follow things like others do, don't know how to respond sometimes, don't know when to come in, what's relevant etc.

    If it was down wholly to being an introvert, would it not be a case of being quiet at social do's AND in work....

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  • in reply to ...

    I think also what I'm trying to say is, perhaps introverted people, even if they didn't like a social situation could still follow a conversation (or more than one conversation) and be able to participate. 

    It's been commented when I have attended the few work do's I've been on that I was quiet. The people saying this said it with surprise, a bit. In work,  knowing my role, I am not quiet. But in a more free social situation I am because I can't follow things like others do, don't know how to respond sometimes, don't know when to come in, what's relevant etc.

    If it was down wholly to being an introvert, would it not be a case of being quiet at social do's AND in work....

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