I'm introverted. In addition to having mild autism, I am also naturally introverted. It is not that I do not like people, it is just that constant and meaningless " chitchat" drains my energy.
Some people with autism are very extroverted and I am sure they have their own unique struggles. But as an introverted person on the autism spectrum, I have the "double trouble" of not understanding people and also feeling physically & emotionally " drained" by prolonged social interactions.
I enjoy meaningful conversations with my closest friends { both online & in person} But parties and other such events drain my energy and leave me tired , grumpy and in the worst cases, feeling physically ill. Small groups of people whom I know are tolerable & sometimes even fun but I will never master the art of "small talk".
While introversion is a prized trait in some cultures of the world, but not so much in our fast-paced " Western" culture. Its often the quiet ones who are overlooked in favor of their equally-qualified colleagues when it comes to promotions. Since we introverts do not do well in the " networking" arena, its hard for us to find our {carefully-thought-out}words before an extrovert easily chats up the very person with whom we had hoped to communicate.
Politics of any sort can be a horrible experience for we introverts. Even something as an election to a church governing board puts us at a disadvantage since we are uncomfortable with chit-chat. Best Dude pointed out to me once that people will vote for who they know & since yours truly does not do idle talk very well, not many really KNOW me or my ideas. Of course I have ideas---but since I'm not a talker, I am uncomfortable with sharing said ideas with casual acquaintances.
I'm happy with who I am. But I do wish that the extroverts in my life would realize that there is a lot more to me than they realize.
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