Is social interaction the main area of disability for AS?

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I know there are many symptoms but I never feel "disabled" at all...until I'm surrounded by people I have to interact with. Then I feel ret*d and I hate it. I've told some friends about my AS but I don't think they have any idea how hard just hanging out is for me sometimes. I'll have to elaborate on thatXD

It is not social interaction to be exacted. It is more towards social cues and facial expressions what most people with AS have a few kinks in.

nope, just the most visible one...

I think it'll vary between individuals. Social skills are what a lot of people are most concerned about but for some people the main problem may be sensory, a need for routines or even obsessions.

Recognizing facial expressions, body language, thats easy for me. It's making conversation, it's my brain to mouth filter, it's being aware of my own body language, that's whats hard for me. It really differs for everyone. I have no problem with metaphors; in fact, I use them more than most people do. and most people I talk to don't understand them lol. NTs are weird like that

My main problem has always been sensory overload, closely followed by obsessions and executive dysfunction. Social skills are deficient; but because I'm what they call a "stable introvert", I'm not all that affected by my social clumsiness--I'll just apologize and go on; and I figure people just have to deal with the fact that I'm eccentric. Social rejection doesn't affect me nearly as much as a change in routine or being informed that I've done something wrong or broken a rule.

I can at times pick up facial expressions, but because I don't make a lot of eye contact I don't notice it. The whole starting and keeping a conversation going is what's hard for me.
I noticed though that some people are easier to talk to than others, and I can talk better to one person rather than 2 or more. I usually feel on edge when there's a lot of people in a room anyway.

Back to the original question: social interaction is probably my main disability. I really can't speak for anyone else because we're all affected differently, and some are worse than others.

And I sometimes feel 'ret*d' when I have to be around other people. This can even be buying a few items from the shops. I just feel so awkward.

For me, AS is mainly a sensory processing issue--way too much coming in way too fast, without any way of quickly determining what to ignore and what to focus on. All my difficulties stem from that.

Social interaction is definitely my worst area. Along with executive dysfunction.

I also did not realize that not preferring to be 'sociable', what ever that is, was a disability.

I have a hard time with conversation, most of the time I just want a conversation to end. I can live with the stimming, and I don't mind that at all. Hate sensory issues with sound, I was at Tim Horten's today and they were doing construction outside that was so noisy awful that I actually felt sick. I do have some visual sensory issues, and food issues. Wish I didn't have any of the sensory issues, but I do love the fact that I have very sensitive hearing. Unfortunatly I don't process my hearing very well, and often can't make out what people are saying, especially if they have an accent. The social end is what kills me the most. I long to have rewarding social interactions, but I get more out of people story telling, and doing so in return. I want to be able to carry on a conversation normally, without the pain of wanting it to end. I don't want to be alone on my path of life, but that feels inevitable.

I don't know if it's the biggest problem, all I know is it's the only thing I can't do without and still live a moderately satisfying life. Not being good at sports and Spatial Geometry is one thing, another is not being able to hold down a job, raise a family, ensure some human cooperation.

It isn't. Inability to execute to some minimal standard on the otherhand....

I don't know, like pakled said I think it's the one that tends to really stick out. To the point that for some where it is the 'preference' Gary mentions could look more like a disability when it isn't.

Your message brings to mind a question, and I wonder if anyone here has the answer. It concerns social hierarchy dynamics in GROUP GATHERINGS. When I am around that kind of atmosphere I always ask this general psychological question to myself....*when I notice a 'social hierarchy' and find myself in one*....THE QUESTION IS......HOW does *everyone* AUTOMATICALLY UNDERSTAND what that hierarchy is, WHY does the group AUTOMATICALLY accept it, and WHAT causes them to KNOW HOW and BE MOTIVATED to maintain it? What is the key to being in a social hierarchy? What makes a person be *top* of the pecking order, and what is it that puts another at the *bottom* during group social gatherings? What is that QUALITY? or lack thereof that predicts where a person will be in the hierarchy? Can you put a name on it, and describe WHAT EFFECT is at work creating and maintaining these various SOCIAL HIERARCHIES?

Sola

I remember being with my ex-bf and he was talking with his friends for hours and I just wanted them to go home. They were talking utter crap about people I didn't know.
I have sensory issues with sound, I couldn't stand the sound of two skateboarders skating on gravel today. My friend walking with me didn't notice. I think my worst sensory issue is touch, some times I can't stand the feel of my own skin. I have sensitive hearing too. I once said 'answer your phone' and my sister was like 'er what?' and I said I could hear the neighbours phone ringing, and she said she couldn't hear anything.

Yes, and no. My biggest area of problems is social dysfunction and general cluelessness, but the worst problem for me is the comorbid anxiety disorders I've managed to get over the years as a result of too many social failings. Second is probably how stressed how I am about going about the basics of life--washing clothes, cleaning my room, doing my homework, going to the cafeteria to eat, ect. I'm not sure if it's executive dysfunction or a part of my anxiety. Third is sensory and social overload.