Do you feel "normal" when no one is around?

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Oh, definitely. I'm an introvert and I'm always at my best when I'm alone. You guys, and the other people on the other forums I participate in, are actually getting the best possible quality of social interaction I can give, because there's no worrying about body language and interpreting speech while you're thinking about what you're going to say. Plus, in private, I'm in a controlled, predictable environment; so I'm much calmer and I've got access to much more of my brain power than I usually do.

Everything everyone has said on this thread makes a lot of sense to me. I live in the countryside & work on my own most of the time, so whole days can go by where I feel entirely together & competent (except for the way I can put off making a phone call for hours). Then I'll have a day where I'll have to talk to some customers, or go out & do a job in someone else's yard, & they'll make perfectly amicable small talk to me & I won't know how to handle it. I'll even start moving in an awkward way.

I can relate. I feel normal when I am alone. I also feel normal when I smoke, but I can't smoke anywhere anymore.

Man, I never noticed before, but I do feel normal when I'm alone.

I feel normal when I am on my own.

I am certainly different when I am communicating with people.

Once I am used to someone I can communicate pretty well one on one with that person.

Some people are easier to relate to than others (much easier to talk with other Aspies as they don't try and catch your eye and look expectantly into your face - I stare at the floor sometimes if I really want to concentrate on what someone is saying).

I like to say I am at the colourful end of the spectrum. I am artistic, bohemian and unpredictable. (read psychologically unemployable, untidy and chaotic).

Some Aspies tend to share my sense of humour. Ironically in the group I attend the *staff* joke about things and the Aspies look at each other like "what does that mean" then the Aspies joke about stuff and the *staff* look totally bewildered!

Larger groups of neuro-typical people make me uncomfortable because I know there is a chance I will slip up and pull the wrong face or nod at the wrong time or something will simply go over my head and I don't want to explain to every single person I meet that I find it hard to communicate in medium size groups because I have AS.

Okay I don't quite fit in and tend to hide behind my partner or kids where possible.

I get tired more quickly and literally can't be bothered with trying to smile and be polite.

I no longer lose my temper to mask this though, so I guess in thirty years I have move on LOL.

And, I used to think I was weird.

I now think my behaviour is perfectly normal for an Aspie.

Therefore I think I am normal all the time

That's an excellent way of putting it: "Normal when completely alone".

Being alone and fasting from the smorgasbord of life is the only way I know that gives me that "at peace" feeling and, at the same time, makes it possibe for me to get back into being my "normal" self.

I'm normal when I'm alone because I am normal.
But I do feel a bit anxious, slower and less understanding around people.

I feel the 'best' when I'm completely alone but I generally feel 'normal' even when I'm around other prople as to my way of preceiving the world I am the only normal person in it and eveybody else is abnormal except other people who actually are abnormal and then they appear to be normal to me.

I always feel normal when I'm alone, but I'm getting more comfortable and normal feeling around others too.
But, what is "normal?"

I'm normal, the rest of the world is crazy .

it depends becuz sometimes i forget to close the toilet lid and i dont feel normal if s**t is lingering in the air

Well, i'm just me.

I think like I think, and act the way I like without judging myself. Its nice having someone who isn't judgemental

I also feel normal when I'm alone,especially when I'm at home.One of the differences that
manifests itself when I step outside is my method of walking.At home I move in an
effortless and relaxed fashion. When I'm out,even on my own,it suddenly becomes a task
just to put one foot in front of the other !

I don't know what "normal" feels like. Maybe I feel normal sometimes, but would I know it if I felt it? What's a "normal" thing to feel?

If you're asking if I always feel comfortable when alone, no. Am I more likely to feel comfortable when alone? Yes. There are also some other people I can feel quite comfortable with, though.