I have some Aspie tendencies, no formal diagnosis. I came to the realization that there was something 'wrong' in my late 20s while reading about semiotics. I suddenly realized that other people knew the 'language' of dress and I didn't. I would run around with sneakers and a skirt and had no idea how strange it looked to other people.

I find that people are less tolerant of my quirks as I get older. I wish there was a book or a class that told me what was normal. I find myself spending more time wondering how I should react in certain social situations than I do actually socializing. I also feel like I can't trust my instincts and need to ask people or google about how to respond to, say, someone inviting me to do something I am not interested in doing.

I find it very frustrating. I used to take pride in the fact that I was not normal, but now I just feel ... not quite like an outcast, but different in a bad way. I have friends and can get along with people, but it takes a lot of work sometimes. I just don't see things the same way as other people. Part of me wishes I had never learned that other people didn't think the same way I did!

How do other people respond to this situation of not knowing what is appropriate? My tendency is to withdraw and be quiet. I am trying to insert myself into more social situations to get more practice overcoming this.