A Social Gathering of AvPD People

Would it last like three minutes and we would all wander off and leave each other?
Or would a situation comedy develop where an observer would see a bunch of people just sitting there, nodding and taking awkward drinks instead of engaging in small talk?

I'm not sure how this would be. But my hope would be that since everyone has the same anxiety that just maybe everyone would feel comfortable together. Knowing the other person feels the way you do helps I think.

I doubt this experiment would ever be tried. Fun speculating, though.

Great idea. Let's plan it. I will have to cancel though.

You're probably right!

In my case it would help some, but it would not make the worry completely disappear. xd

Yea this is true! I do worse in bigger groups.

Ha! Oh, this cracked me up!! As I often say, if you can't laugh at yourself, someone else is sure to! Anyway, yeah... I can just picture it: a whole group of timidly, awkward people attempting to gingerly feel their way around a room that seems laden with phobia-bombs, actual PEOPLE who will TALK to them, conversations that must be made and (gasp!) possible physical contact!! Egad!!

Ah, we are so much more brave behind our computer screens, yes? I know I am. Comfortable too. But, yes, I would be totally up for a meeting of like-minded individuals such as myself! Just let me know when!

I would end up horrified and leave. Not because I had nothing to say. But because I've trained myself for eons to act more confident and social, and I would end up being the most social person there! I'd stand out and then I'd get embarrassed and be convinced I was annoying everyone... so I would leave.

If I was drunk and/or hypomanic, it might take a bit longer before I got to that point.

But it sure wouldn't be because I couldn't think of things to talk about... it would be because no one else would be talking and thus ALL the attention would end up on me!

There Would need to be a lot of corners in the room if anyone else is like me. Let me change that...Lots of doors with big windows. I might need to escape really fast and i don't want to bump into someone.

Personally I've gotten where I can force myself to talk often, it's just that later I start hating myself and telling myself about how bad people must think of me. I must have said things wrong, etc.

This was said about people with Asperger's, but I think it fits here too.

"If 200 of us showed up at a party, we'd split off into 200 different groups."

Certainly not if we could have some alcohol

I'd hope you wouldn't be expected to go up to a podium and introduce yourself to everyone using a mike.

I was already on the fence, but if this is even a remote possibility I definitely won't be attending - regardless of how much complimentary xanax will be handed out at the door.

Yup. I think any podium action would clear the room at an AvPD gathering.

Not really funny for me man, I would get so nervous and afraid my pulse would go through the roof...its just really sad we are this way. So afraid people will dislike us...how lame! Live life and be free!

I could do it! As long as I wasn't talking about myself.

Is it bad that I laughed really hard at this?

I have always heard that it's good to be able to laugh at yourself.

Either way, I'd likely not show up and then spend about two days wondering what could have been had I shown up.

Me too...