Aspie Pre-Thanksgiving Nightmare

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This appeal to anyone???



I just got back to my office from an industry Thanksgiving luncheon with SEVERAL THOUSAND of my "colleagues." This is one corner of the room, which was as much as my camera could capture -- I was seated at Table 303!! !! ! I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into. I hid under the table for about 10 minutes and then left!

ohmigod!

As I've said here numerous times, my boyfriend is extremely social, so I get dragged to large functions (500 - 1000 people) two - five times a year. I hate it, but I manage - largely because I know well in advance what to prepare for. If I psych'ed myself up for a 200 - 300 person thing and got there to find it was huge, like this, I'd be pretty much in shutdown mode until I left - which would probably be 10 minutes after I got there.

Gott im Himmel - thankful it's over, no doubt. I cannot imagine. The sheer decibel toll.

This year we managed to break off to be just us [nuclear 3] for Thanksgiving. I get antsy with about eight in the room.

GAH!

My brain starts to throb just THINKING about the noise.

Did something like this a few times, but it is so tiring.
Hearing all those conversations and trying to be sociable...

When I can avoid these kind of situations I gladly do. Even if it means lying.

Standing at the side of a room, with some people I know can make it tolerable (barely). But I still hate these meetings.

And I didn't even tell you about the buglers on stage calling everyone to sit down!! ! It sounded like the Kentucky Derby was about to start.

I could never handle something like that.

Utterly terrifying... Thats my two words for this. I would not last there! Especially if they were like the people I knew. I guess cos I'm in secondary school doing GCSEs I should be used to lots of people and desks but this? I couldn't stand this. Not for one minute. I feel sorry for you having to go to this thing.

ARRGH! Kill it! kill it!

I would at first be overwhelmed but then settle down when I pull out my phone and play Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
That's my latest calm down method. Quite entertaining too.
No doubt I'd as awkward as hell and full of anxiety.

Wearing the suits seems bad enough.

I couldn't handle formal dress (as a woman I would be expected to wear a dress and my sensory sensetivites prevent me from doing so) or the crowds.... even with my service animal. I just wouldn't show up or would just leave.

First that dreadful psychologist diagnosing you after a tortuous three hour interrogation, and then you went to THAT travesty? It's crazy, totally crazy. I'd come in, run around grinning at people like the Mad Hatter greeting them so they could say they'd seen me there, then break away and make my escape as soon as I'd grinned at all the people who knew me. If anyone asked why I wasn't there, I'd claim I was there, I was just walking around the room socializing the entire time. Heh heh.

were you hanging from a chandelier when you took this photo?

I get restless already looking at all these people. To much potential dangers.

I agree, something that large is quite horrible... unless there's a kind of stage show, so people STFU and you can concentrate on that, I could maybe be there for an hour or so before needing at least a smoke and a breath of fresh air.

At these large arrangements, I rarely talk to people that much because I have to focus on shutting the noise out. It especially sucks if there's also loud music, as I have to focus a lot on the people talking to me to hear what they're saying.

Believe it or not, there were three "tiers" (like balconies) of tables overlooking the main floor. That's the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria BTW. It's like an airplane hanger (only lots bigger). And, as you suggest, it's got lots of (creepy) chandeliers!