mentally exhausted interacting with other people

I was diagnosed last year at the age of 40. I am still very much in the process of figuring everything out and trying to understand. I only recently learned about shutdowns which has been a real eye opener. As a child when I felt overwhelmed I would often shutdown to protect myself. I had no idea until recently what was happening. The best way to describe it is to imagine a tortoise going into its shell, it literally felt like I shrank down inside my own body, which then became a protective shell. My body would almost run on autopilot while I was safely tucked away inside. Almost like being in a trance. 

As an adult I haven't experienced that for many years but I regularly need that time to shutdown and be alone, usually most days. I need time to switch off completely and kind of pretend the world doesn't exist outside my bubble. There are times that (especially when I used to be in a relationship) I would have a day out somewhere and by evening time I would be absolutely physically and emotionally exhausted. Even if I hadn't done anything strenuous but just had a relaxing day. I think that being around people and stimuli for hours at a time is what exhausts me, like my mind is always working overtime just to be sociable and responsive.

As I said, I am still in the process of learning all of this. I think this is something a lot of autistic people experience to some degree. I am so much more comfortable and relaxed living alone and being able to have that alone time whenever I need it. 

I was diagnosed last year at the age of 40. I am still very much in the process of figuring everything out and trying to understand. I only recently learned about shutdowns which has been a real eye opener. As a child when I felt overwhelmed I would often shutdown to protect myself. I had no idea until recently what was happening. The best way to describe it is to imagine a tortoise going into its shell, it literally felt like I shrank down inside my own body, which then became a protective shell. My body would almost run on autopilot while I was safely tucked away inside. Almost like being in a trance. 

As an adult I haven't experienced that for many years but I regularly need that time to shutdown and be alone, usually most days. I need time to switch off completely and kind of pretend the world doesn't exist outside my bubble. There are times that (especially when I used to be in a relationship) I would have a day out somewhere and by evening time I would be absolutely physically and emotionally exhausted. Even if I hadn't done anything strenuous but just had a relaxing day. I think that being around people and stimuli for hours at a time is what exhausts me, like my mind is always working overtime just to be sociable and responsive.

As I said, I am still in the process of learning all of this. I think this is something a lot of autistic people experience to some degree. I am so much more comfortable and relaxed living alone and being able to have that alone time whenever I need it.