Introverted or Reclusive?

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I don't have many friends. I like to spend my free time at home reading or playing video games. I hate crowds and will do anything to avoid them. I've always thought that I was introverted but today I had lunch with my parents and they told me I was being a recluse. Is that true? When does introversion become reclusiveness?

I would say that if you are comfortable with your little social life, then you're an introvert.
If you limit your social life to an uncomfortable level (for any reason) then I would call you a recluse.
AFAIK American culture has very little understanding for introversion, so your parents may not understand.

I just happen to be both. I have a very small circle of friends I keep at arm's length, and do not socialize very much. I pretty much stay locked in my bedroom, and don't come out, except to make meals and use the toilet.

Introversion is a natural inclination to keep oneself to oneself, but does not preclude social interaction; Introverts just don't typically initiate social contact, but they don't necessarily avoid it. Introverts may range from mildly antisocial to simply shy. Introversion is a broad personality type.

A Recluse avoids social interaction of any kind, and even the possibility of inadvertent contact. A Recluse shrinks and hides from others of their own kind and cowers behind walls (literal and metaphoric). A Recluse may react to social contact with fear or open hostility. Reclusiveness is a form of mental illness.

A Recluse is also slightly different from a Hermit, in that a Hermit may eschew social interaction, but Hermits generally are not hostile to, nor fear human contact, but abstain for personal reasons, such as religious devotion or meditation, or freedom from stress, etc.

The danger with too much reclusive avoidance of social interaction, is that at a certain point, it begins to feed upon itself, driving others away, and reflexively shrinking into itself as it interprets the silence as rejection.

One eventually comes to realize how utterly lonely one is, yet may have lost even the minimal requisite skills for establishing contact with others. It's an invisible prison.

My family worries about me that's I'm becoming too reclusive.

For me, I am not hostile towards people, I have no problem with talking to people, but I have no idea how to do so. After a lot of bad experiences, I just don't want to anymore unless the person takes an interest in me. I've become pretty good at sensing if people want me around or not. If make a social gaffe, screw up, or faux pas I will likely I avoid the person(s) as it's hard for me to shake off embarrassment. Sounds dumb but I deleted my account on a message board and left because I made an ass of myself and the thought of even going back was too humiliating to think about.

I've come to find I enjoy my own company better, no worries about not making on eye contact, accidently stimming (wringing my hands mostly), or doing something I'm not supposed to(I guess). Honestly, I just enjoy the solitude anymore getting into middle age.

Recently, I have come find sharing too much information can bring trouble, having others in your business, or people worrying too much. It can also get people mad at you, If I had kept my mouth shut in a few circumstances drama would have been averted.

I wish I didn't have to work, this seems to bring me the most stress. Not the job but the people, boss's, expectations, and politics of the workplace. At 45 I've had enough, but I know I have keep going.

So I find it's best for me just to be alone. Solice, no drama, no one yelling at me for being me, and no unpleasant situations.

As far as aspies go I was pretty extroverted. I don't mind crowds. I can eventually summon the courage to approach anyone.
Yet as soon as I had a solid relationship I started withdrawing.
Having spent the last 20 years with no neighbours I think my extroversion has atrophied, and although I still enjoy a crowd, I now need a good reason to approach anyone.

Regarding "shaking off embarrassment", at one stage I couldn't live anywhere more than 2.5 years.
That seemed to be how long it took for my accumulated embarrassment to reach the point that I had to change communities.
I'm wondering how much of my ability to stay isolated from my community allowed me to extend my duration in this place to 25 years.

I guess I would be considered an introvert, I don't know how to interact very well with most people and do enjoy having time alone to let my mind wander freely. I also enjoy being around some people and find that interacting with them makes me and my soul happy. I hate crowds, but if I wear my noise cancelling headphones and listen to my music I find that crowds no longer bother me. In fact, sometimes they can be amazing. I went to a local street fair in town today and saw children running around and playing, being happy. I had to take off the headphones and pause the music. The sound of their joy and laughter soothed my old soul for a moment or two, then I eventually put the headphones back on and life's soundtrack goes on.

I don't know, I like being alone but sometimes hate it at the same time if it becomes too long without without human interaction. Good human interaction, not the bad stuff. The bad stuff can just stay away, I have no time or patience. I know people who want more than anything to be able to go out and live in a cabin in a PNW forest, both male and female. I would love to come for visits but wouldn't like to live there. I like take-out food too much.

I figure in the end it is what makes each of us happy and at peace with our lives, and (swear word) the jerks who don't support our choices. Many NT people I have come to realize don't or can't fully grasp why others who are different are that way, and there is really not too much that we can do other than try to explain our perspective and hope they listen and comprehend. If they can't, well that is up to each of us as to what we must.