Is anyone on the spectrum comfortable being out in crowds such as an event or maybe out shopping? If so, is your social discomfort only when you are one on one with someone or maybe with a couple of people when the situation requires conversation such as out to dinner, riding in a car, or maybe taking a walk with someone? Are there any other symptom that effect you when out socially?
I don't know what I am (no diagnosis, my biggest suspicion is Aspergers) but I'm actually perfectly happy with big crowds. I mean, they're annoying sometimes (Christmas shopping being the worst of the worst) but I'm comfortable with them - it means no one is concentrating on me, I'm just another human in a sea of humans and so ironically, get some nice "alone" time, do whatever I'm doing, take photos if it's a trip, that kind of thing. But I can see it bothering people who feel loneliness a lot.
Any situation where I feel there is too much attention and expectation on me is where I'd sometimes freeze up with like a type of stage fright. In many cases I'm good at putting it out of my mind, but for example if someone knows I can be quiet and is trying to "bring me out of my shell" that's probably the worst for me. That's usually the sort of thing that happens in smaller groups.
I don't know what I am (no diagnosis, my biggest suspicion is Aspergers) but I'm actually perfectly happy with big crowds. I mean, they're annoying sometimes (Christmas shopping being the worst of the worst) but I'm comfortable with them - it means no one is concentrating on me, I'm just another human in a sea of humans and so ironically, get some nice "alone" time, do whatever I'm doing, take photos if it's a trip, that kind of thing. But I can see it bothering people who feel loneliness a lot.
Any situation where I feel there is too much attention and expectation on me is where I'd sometimes freeze up with like a type of stage fright. In many cases I'm good at putting it out of my mind, but for example if someone knows I can be quiet and is trying to "bring me out of my shell" that's probably the worst for me. That's usually the sort of thing that happens in smaller groups.
