It seems to be that AS = extreme introversion?

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To be more accurate, social exhaustion is when you get exhausted BECAUSE you are hanging out people. I can get tired of someone but it doesn't mean I have social exhaustion. It usually means that that particular person is a super annoying person to be around. I can get completely exhausted to the point of physical collapse from spending time with people that I absolutely love spending time with because it's the energy that it takes to do the actual act of socializing that my brain cannot manage.

I don't want to stir the pot more. Just want to point out that autism is a spectrum and most people don't have all the traits. If introversion is applicable they would have put it on the list, right?

I personally have been both introverted and extroverted. I had nearly classic autism when I was little. Very shy and quiet and didn't play with others. Spent all the time by myself, lost in my imaginations. I drew pictures all the time and the subject was always the same. When people talked to me I hid behind my mom and didn't answer. As I grew, ways of self expressions were opened to me. First I learned to read, then writing followed. I started taking art classes, and joined a choir and dance group, and made friends with smart people. Around age 10 some sort of explosion happened inside me I guess and I became quite a chatterbox. I was energetic, social and talkative as a teenager and mostly still like that in adulthood. Sometimes I do miss being introverted. The adult me can not focus deeply or think deeply. Life is complicated and trying to fit people into stereotypical boxes is over simplifying things.

I'd feel pretty dumb if I keep saying "I can't believe ***** can exist." when such a thing is right before my eyes.

That’s exactly what I meant: being exhausted because of the nature of hanging out with people…..nothing to do with how I feel about the people.

I believe there are many autistic adults who are not identifying as such. Therefore it does not surprise me that many would identify as introverted. I think we don't have to be introverted to be seen as introverted. People don't understand we don't socialize because it is difficult for us and think we just don't want to socialize.

I'm an actual ambivert.

Sometimes socializing just puts me into a booster, sometimes it just drains me.
Not a lot of data because my thresholds are so high, even for the near constant negative interactions.

I don't even know why or which situation -- except for cluelessness and helplessness, which often happens when I got no EF to afford to act upon intentions and think beyond said helplessness and cluelessness...
Or by being too emotional. I hate being emotional.

There's a serious reason why I prefer novelty over something that's happening over and over...

That's not the only seemingly paradoxical trait I have as a person.

It's not even based how much of a positive or successful of an experience I had with people during the moment or whole day.

I barely ever mask. The heaviest mask I got is practically playing secretary, which I do enjoy than feel awkward over.
And my main mask isn't even for playing nice NT (I don't even have to), it's more voluntary yet failed poker facing because I'm fricking too emotional and 'predictable' -- even if it's appropriate and true, I hate it.

Even how I process emotions -- sometimes I best do it alone in my own space. And sometimes, frustratingly, have to do it with other people.

I think ambivert is a category that should be explored and talked about much more. I imagine that whether you fluctuate more towards intro or extro would be determined by your energy levels at any given time? Is that how it works for you?

Half the time it's how much boredom I have.
But otherwise I'm mainly open to receive any form of communication than avoid it.

In my own case, I don't feel loneliness -- I'm asocial.
It's like my social drive is replaced with boredom, and the human instinct for human companionship is replaced by curiosity.
I do wonder what it'll be if it wasn't the case.


And the other half does based on my mood, state of mind, energy levels, how stressed I am, if I'm already focused elsewhere, etc... The less predictable half. Sometimes it craves more, sometimes it just wants to end things as soon as possible.
The half that I painstakingly try and usually fail to manage let alone predict.

Ironically, it's the more predictable part of me for those who are observing me on the outside.
I hate it.


There's another mode of ambiversion; it's called omnivertion.
Where one swings in extremes of introversion and extroversion depending on the situation or whatever variable.
Ambiversion is a more balanced and a more stable version of the two.

In my own case -- the former part of the post is what makes me an ambivert. The latter part makes me an omnivert.
Now that's another layer I have to deal with.

If I ever find a way to manage or even control most of my internal variables (which is mostly self regulation and homeostasis), there won't be much of an onmivertion for me anymore. I'd just be a happier ambivert.

this is true,
I would never have the balls to create a YouTube channel like they do

Just because an Autistic person has a youtube channel doesn't mean that s/he is extroverted. Most of the Autistic youtubers I know are actually introverts. In fact, the Autistic youtuber that I know the best, the one that I know intimately well personally, is a true introvert.

I do believe AS is extremity. I am just a touch towards extrovert. I am not sure if that is by nature or by necessity. My support groups are about 50/50 introverts and extroverts. It does seem people adjust to circumstances more than anything.

I have a theory that half of autistic people are female (start with 1/3 if that's easier). In my family Autism presents in the women but has been misdiagnosed and continues to be. My Autistic mother reported that I was normal (relative to her --- of course at five months old I sat on the carpet and played for hours by myself sorting rings, what baby wouldn't?), I reported my daughter as normal (relative to me, of course she sits only on my left hand side when we read and we've been planning for her to sit on my right on her birthday - she's so very flexible, if she were rigid, we wouldn't being having that conversation would we?) Nobody asked us what our normal was. My daughter's evaluation noted how her communication with me (her mother) was fairly reciprocal - it didn't note that studies indicate that Autistic-to-Autistic communication is more likely to be so than Neurotypical-to-Autistic communication. So disappointed. In my family of five Autistic females, two are diagnosed with Autism despite multiple attempts. Just 2 of 5. I would bet the ratios for diagnosis are better in families where Autism present in the males (up to 4 of 5). Kind of like not finding women with disease, or at least with "standard" symptoms.

You want to hear something REALLY funny?

I recently started watching a christian series, called "The chosen". It is basically the Christian Gospels, and maybe even the whole New Testament. They are only half done with their primary goal.

Anyway, Matthew struck a chord in me, and I was trying to describe that common set of mannerisms, and I finally PEGGED IT! He came across as a stereotypical "AUTISTIC SAVANT"!

I'm thinking WHAAAAT? NAW, It CAN'T BE! I asked some people that watched it, and they said he was introverted because so many hated him because he was a tax collector.

Well, I watched videos from the producers, etc.... The "Autistic Savant" stereotype was what they were going for because he had to abandon all of his friends, was detail oriented, and really great with math. OH, and the actor playing him seems 100% NT normal!

Here he is talking about the experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-veXCXOzPE4

I bet MOST introverted people are introverted because they really CAN'T handle being extroverted. I told someone I was extroverted, and how it affected me, and he said his WIFE is an introvert. I think he is likely right. Of course, being a woman, and a married one at that, with now FOUR KIDS, she doesn't have to worry much.

If you feel you are protected, sheltered, or don't think about it, OR if it is an innocuous topic and you are careful, it is EASY to be a youtuber, EVEN if you are introverted. I have spoken to crowds that are even over 100 people. And I am an introvert!

An EXTROVERT, as far as I am concerned, is one that can comfortably go up to a stranger and socialize, ONE ON ONE, or with a small group. You can NOT do that on youtube! It isn't made for that. You can NOT do that as a presenter to a large group in a presentation. It is improper, and could be a mess.

You can only do it with the right software, like zoom, or as a member of a group talking on par with them.

BTW Not all introverts are autistic, but it could be said that all autistics are effectively introverts. The main distinction, that is common with all autistics is that they have disabilities in socializing.

Here it is at the beginning of 299.00! From: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

^^^^^^ THAT specifies BIG disabilities with social interaction, and it is the ONE common element, and a MAJOR one!

That said, I CAN talk my head off about Computers, Electronics, Languages, etc.... but that is a bit different.

BTW ANOTHER example of what I am talking about is RIGHT HERE! We are effectively talking to one another, but without direct feedback, and having to react to whatever, and choosing our topic, everyone is pretty free to talk back and forth. NO PROBLEM. But that does NOT mean that ANY of us are extroverts!

No problem. I can do that too.

I'm not sheltered, I'm just socially apathethic and reckless.
I care so little about 'rules', that being scalded by rejection doesn't make me "learn" whatever stupid lesson are showing me.


But as I said before -- introversion and extroversion has nothing to do with social fears or even awkwardness. Or heck, deficits in social communication.

Not the part where autistics uncertain around people due to social and communication issues.
Introversion is not because of how unpredictable humans are, nor merely because of years of slip ups and negative associations with socializing.
That happens more to any bullying victims who are never able to figure how to get out of that pit of humiliation, in which circumstances doesn't care of one's personality or neurology.

Introverts in general are easily overstimulated and therefore drained around people -- that aspect is what would effectively make most autistics 'introvert'.

AS/HFA can be extroverted. I know some introverts who understands social rules pretty well, and they have a lot of friends.