is reading body language what makes you tired?

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Is the main reason why aspies are tired from socializing cause they need to read body language intellectually?
are there other things that contribute?

What makes me tired is the energy that I put out to make myself interact with others. The fact that I have to constantly watch my own actions to be sure I do not do or say something that will make me look different, as well as that I do all the things that are correct and polite also wears on me.

I never had any problem with tone or body language. I just worry that I will say something wrong or offensive.

lol...by different I mean:

* not caring to talk to other people in the first place, unless they share a common interest
* talking excessively about things that people don't care to hear about (like my interests)
* talking about things that are abstract to most people, but seem perfectly simple to me (like talking about science to almost anyone I know)
* being so wrapped up in my surroundings that I don't notice others
* blurting out things that one shouldn't normally say to another
* analyzing and pointing out the intricacies of human interaction (in other words, by most people's standards "over-thinking everything")

That's the short list...

When I was young I found myself feeling very defensive and putting up a front, so that people would leave me alone. As I grow up I developed other ways to avoid dealing with reading people. I learned that no matter what others think, the only thing that matters is those I love the most, and of course -my self. When I walk though the mall for instance, on my way... I go directly to where I need to be and I look over the heads of everyone I walk by; to avoid them. Thats how I roll. I'm usually on a mission.
I love nature, my children and my dog, so out and about they are the center of my outer world.
Paying attention/connecting to my children is tiring! But then again all parents get emotionally drained sometimes.
Most mornings I hate going down to the bus stop with my youngest. I don't know what the hell to do.
I find myself staring, or talking endlessly as though I need to entertain them. I just humor myself and let everyone else now that I'm an awkward person. One good thing is, I have some awareness of the fact that I miss social cues. When people do give me odd looks; which is most of the time - I don't notice or I'll notice and then return to my own inner world without a care; and thats a good thing! I'm not here for them! I'm here to enjoy life!

I guess I should answer your question.
Social things that tire me out:
~Dressing for the occasion or even appropriately for weather etc... and then, the clothing is uncomfortable!
~Paying too much attention to myself... I'll focus on my walk, worrying about eye snot, the size of my butt or other features. I used to hold myself stiff and upright around people- I don't worry too much about my posture anymore unless I find it really necessarily.
~Changes in plans
~not being ready, others not ready in time.
There's more, I just can't think of them at the moment.

There are so many things about socializing that make me tired.

Trying to follow social rules and be polite and do what is expected of me.
Trying to read body language.
Trying to pay attention to my own body language so that people will be less likely to misinterpret it.
Faking facial expressions (like smiles) to put people at ease or appear more approachable or less bored/sad.
Trying to follow up with what's going on.
Trying to participate in social chit chat or coming up with something to say.
Trying to be ready to respond to both predictable and unpredictable comments or actions of others.
Dealing with sensory issues (lights, smells and sounds mostly).
Dealing with various emotions that surface in social settings.
Dealing with people's mean, rude (to me) or inconsiderate behaviors.
Being on alert about a possible meltdown (social situations sometimes cause me to have meltdowns and I'd rather leave before it happens than have a meltdown there).

The whole thing can be very exhausting, draining and unpleasant for me. I do okay with one on one, but the more people there are, the harder it gets for me and the more exhausting I'll feel afterwards.

(Insert thing about 'autie not aspie' here despite not believing in the division, I just have a hard time somehow answering to 'aspie' when that's not the most general term so it doesn't include me and etc.)

For me what's tiring is the words. The words themselves. Using them is hard and understanding them is harder. I often just shut down on language entirely, and then what happens is I do perceive the body language and tone and stuff, which is easier for me than the language itself because it doesn't involve, well, words.