All of sudden, everything in being social is hard.

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It began few months ago. Before that, I could start conversations whenever I wanted, I had no problems in joining a group of people etc., but now... I just can't! I've started no conversations in long time, because I don't know what to say. Small talk about weather and stuff feels more useless than ever, and even if I try it, words just stuck in my mouth. All kind of "real-time" converstion has become thing I fear. It worries me, because I've never feared it before. All of my old buddiess have started to seem so distant. As if it would be hard for me to get that I can be a friend with them. I've been depressed more than before. I can't manage my relationships, even though I want. I'm losing my interest in important things like high school, mostly because I feel uneasy to be with other human beings. I'm afraid this is going to be one hell of a meltdown.

Do you have one good friend who understands Asperger's? Could they help "facilitate" conversations for you? Kind of help you SLIDE back into socializing?

Kris

I was like this really bad, I went on medication to help anxiety. Now i'm gradually getting better.

Maybe you just need more things to talk about. Music and TV are always good. If you don't listen to music already, start, people love talking about music. TV Shows are the same, try watching some good sitcoms like scrubs or the office. Read the Arts & Entertainment section of the newspaper if you want more ideas.

Perhaps I should talk to my therapist about this? I've been in treatment for depression now since july because I was getting fed up with a lack of socialization...and especialy dating.

Still I don't know if it's more the anxiety of talking to someone or not because I have been putting forth the effort lately but the problem seems to be a lack of social opportunities in my area.I made somewhat of an a** of myself yesterday by flirting with the ladies down at Starbucks who told me NOT to try to socialize with them in the future so now that's one less public place that I feel coomfortable with trying to meet & make new friends.

If they can't condone socialization between staff & customers then I don't think they'll condone customer to customer socialization all that much either.

I think am in a similar situation to you. For you see i was getting quite sociable with people my age and felt a bit more at ease whilst talking at school.

Then however i moved schools and ever since i've moved i've barely said a word to anybody from my new school. I like the school and i don't think i'm absolutely horrible at communicating buti just can't seem to socialise with anybody.

I had a similar problem several months ago. I had a sinus infection for two months so the doctor prescribed antibiotics. After I took the antibiotics, my autism symptoms got much worse. I searched the Internet and found that antibiotics can make fungal infections worse which can cause autism symptoms. If you symptoms started shortly after taking antibiotics, then I'd try to get a prescription for an anti-fungal (Nystatin or Diflucan is probably best). Probiotics should help also.

An organization called the Autism Research Institute has been studying autism for 40 years. Of all the prescription drugs, antibiotics are rated the worst and antifungals are rated the best. Some people (especially autistics) have a genetic predisposition for yeast and fungal infections and antibiotics should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

From Autism Research Institute:
http://www.autism.com/treatable/biomed/ ... ry2007.pdf
32% became more autistic after taking antibiotics
49-53% became less autistic after taking an anti-fungal (Nystatin or Diflucan)

Sorry I posted the link for autism in my last post. Here's the one for Asperger's syndrome:
http://www.autism.com/treatable/biomed/ ... ry2007.pdf

Since you got worse quickly, there may be a medical reason for it. Antibiotics made me worse. Also, oral steroids that I took for severe allergies also made me worse. Antifungals and probiotics helped me.

One study showed that the majority with ASDs have chronic infections and a few people actually were normal and then suddenly became autistic at 12 years old after getting a viral infection. Vitamin A, B6, C, magnesium, and zinc strengthen the immune system and may help if you got worse due to an unknown infection. Stress and a lack of sleep suppress the immune system so that could have made you worse if that was a problem.

Mercury is known to cause the same symptoms as autism and Asperger's so it's possible it's a problem if you got a flu shot, other vaccine, or a dental amalgam filling to treat a cavity recently.

That's all the medical reasons I can think of. Hope it helps.

Yet another interesting topic.

I tend to read the comments before commenting myself. This gives me an idea of what the situation is.

Does being social mean to be a chatty butterfly in a group of NTs? If so, then no person with AS could be defined as social.

If I may compare myself with others on this website (which may not be all that accurate) I am not one to have a conversation with others in print. How I intereact with other persons is to read them when they write and comment as accurately and fairly as I am able. I do not profess to be an expert on conversation in print or with voice.This view is not intended to be advice of any kind.

hmm i'm in that situation right now but thank god the holidays have started. what i did a few days ago was to keep quiet because i really don't feel like talkign even tho i want to, but when i saw my friends becoming concern about me i felt sorry for them and tried to cheer up. my friends did sense this and they helped me by trying to keep this 'attitude' going on until i managed to feel genuinely cheered up. but there are moments when i feel i want to be alone and away from people, so i would go to the library and sit in one of those empty book cases. nobody would disturb you there. [bliss]. what i'd suggest is don't try to force yourself cos that'll only worsen things; let others to take on you instead. if they don't, gradually you will