Wow, this is almost more conversation than I've had in a week. The lovely thing is that you care. I am divorced, long time, and while there are people I can talk TO, I never get much by way of reply.
starkid, I quit the job because it was nights and short-staffed and I ended up doing night after night with not enough recovery sleep in the day, and it was a living death dragging me down into a very weird mental state. Fortunately the doctor agreed I was 'going down' and signed me off, so no problems with the DWP.
I lost my husband due to the Asperger's, no doubt about that.
And, no; there isn't much time left for me work-wise as I am knocking on the door of 60 and have to take what I find or live in penury on what the DWP gives me.
But I do feel better just having the label. I am not going mad. I have something that is recognised and I can live with it now it has a name -- like wondering why you can't go upstairs and then someone points out you've only got one leg!
I can't deal with people because of a brain malfunction. I accept that and I will get on with living without friends, and not fretting myself into paranoia about it.
Volunteering is on my list to look at, dantac.
Thanks all