What's the difference between social anxiety and aspergers?

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How would you describe the difference? How to spot it? I have trouble considering which one of the two categories I belong too. I was diagnosed with aspergers. But I'm not sure if it's not just social anxiety. Maybe it's just wishful thinking since social anxiety is something that you can get 'rid off'. On the other hand the aspergers diagnosis takes pressure away from you since it's just something thats part of you that you can't change.

The thing that makes me sure that I don't have social anxiety is the fact that I really don't care that much what people think of me (but I don't want to hurt them). I get anxious in social situations because I don't always know how to behave, problems reading social cues etc but it's not out of fear of others opinions of me.

It's confusing though because whenever I read about social anxiety or introvert people, it always says things like "unsure of what to do in social situations, would prefer to stay at home instead of attending a night out, feel exhausted after socialising, don't like small talk, etc", and they are all autism traits even though what I'm reading is not to do with autism and doesn't even mention autism.

You could argue that people with social anxiety are still interested in other people and making friends and can read non-verbal social cues, but I'm Aspie (with social anxiety) and I like people, I'm interested in people, I do like socialising and getting emotionally involved and I am interested in things like small talk and gossip. But I still have Asperger's because I was a social outcast as a teenager and had no friends, and having no friends is unusual for a teenager but is common in Aspie teenagers.

Repetitive begavoirs, sensory sensitivities, Aspergers is pretty much life long.

The outward appearance may look the same, but the source is different. Autism is a processing disorder so someone with just asperger's would have a hard time following conversations or be too engrossed in something else to notice social cues appropriately. Someone with just social anxiety has a psychological block to being around others, possibly from past experiences or other factors. A lot of people with asperger's also have social anxiety because interactions with others are so challenging, but a lot of people with asperger's don't have social anxiety.

I don't have Social Anxiety per se, i just find it hard and tedious and so draining to keep up so I avoid it.
but I honestly would love the ability to partake

I don't have social anxiety, I'm just a social screw up

I have autism but not social anxiety
I don't care at all what people think of me cos my mind naturally doesnt think that way and so am not wired that way at all.

I am me and thats who Il ever be.

I have social anxiety and am waiting on an ASD assessment. I think if it's just SA then once you get past the fear of interacting you have a naturally fair to good idea as to how to socially interact . Throw Asperger's /ASD into the mix and you'll have more trouble socially interacting even if you are not actually afraid of interacting with others. Take away the fear of interacting and you'll still have difficulty interacting .

^ You've had your hair done

The hair's just a little greyer/whiter. Stepdaughter's comment on Facebook was I need a haircut! As I don't like to go to the barber's she says 'Cut time' and accompanies me there. She does the small talk with the barber.

It looked like you've dyed it. I haven't been to a hairdresser for decades , I hate the experience ( sensory issues ).

Not dyeing. Old age !

As long as you're not dying of old age

You are a silver surfer now.

Peaches to pears.
Or to be more exact: a single peach to a whole orchard of pear trees.

Social anxiety is just fancy schmancy word for "shyness".

Okay. Maybe it isn't exactly the same thing as shyness but both are a just one personality trait.

Aspergers is a whole bunch of traits which may, or may not, include anything like social anxiety or include shyness.

Focused interests, sensory issues,social impairments, many other things.

I am an aspie, and introverted, but I go to parties, and dont get super anxious about it.