I'm meara-ing too, as I'm madly busy, but I love you all.

{{{Sox}}}

My shielding feels like being inside a giant prayer wheel. When things get to be too much, I can spin the wheel and be inside a very private place until it stops.

That's really nice. I might work on a very visual metaphor like that. I could visualise praying my rosary.

I should note that Ativan doesn't make me *enjoy* groups of people; it just helps me get through such things without ritually disemboweling myself.

As a teenager I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. In my early twenties, the first fandom meets I went to were both much fun and utterly miserable, at the same time (although they got better from there). I've worked ridiculously hard to deal with it, but I still occasionally need half a valium to get through social things. I've learnt to accept my wallflower tendencies, though, which helps. I was out with the other research students for dinner last night, and actually enjoyed watching their discussions.

I think we should have an Introvert Seating at the next F2F -- in that seating,we could have laptops and stress-balls, tumblers of water for Xanax chugging.

There's a fab idea.

Everyone in the Introvert Corner can wear this t-shirt

I need that t-shirt.

It bugs me, to see that kind of misrepresentation on tv or in movies. Because I know very well how keenly sensitive a person with ASD can be. It is a matter of accepting the individual's expressions of those emotions, expressions of caring, for how the individual can reach out. It may not be there in word or facial expressions. Or it may not happen when expected. But the caring is there.

That's *exactly* it. Thanks, Andi.

beth sent me an iPod Shuffle loaded with music to help keep me distracted while on long drives so I don't get overwhelmed with the depressive thoughts.

So cool! I hope it helps muchly.

This right here is one of the reasons getting married scares me. I need at least 1 day/WEEK by myself.

The Girl and I have this built in to our relationship. I need hours of each day on my own. We have separate home offices!

Heh. I'm gay, of course all my exes are friended on FB.

Haha. The Girl's ex is basically our maid of honour at our wedding. Her title is 'stage manager', but it's basically that. I'm oddly happy with this weird situation.

I get a morning off university because we're going to the local registry office. We're registering our intention to have a civil partnership! (There is no verb for that. You can't say 'to be civilly partnered'. I'm going to have to give up and just say 'getting married'.) On the social anxiety point, I expect to have a very stressful day. We're currently trying to plan it so carefully that I can at least try to relax. And I will be appointing my sister and my best friend as calmer-downers-in-chief. They will be feeding me much alcohol.

Congrats, Seska and The Girl!

And dear, I hope your day will be as relaxed as possible.

Yay, Seska! One step closer!

Aww, yay, Seska and Girl! Registering Your Intention To Have!! It really does bring a little tear to the eye...

As you might have guessed: registering one's intention to have a civil partnership is the least romantic thing ever. One less thing to do now, though!

I thought you were more of an introvert.

According to my friend's psychologist mother, I am actually an introvert (!!!!). I said "Have you met me? Of course you have, because I'm an extrovert!" She laughed and said that the reason that I should be considered an introvert is because I recharge by being alone and that I prefer to solve problems/work through things by myself.

I've heard it's possible to be introverted and outgoing at the same time. While such a person likes talking to other people, they don't reveal much personal stuff about themselves.

I always thought that introvert and extrovert had nothing to do with shyness or gregariousness; they only refer to how a person gets energized. Introverts get energized by being alone (while being in groups can drain them), and extroverts get energy from being in groups.

Somewhere along the line introvert came to mean "hermit" and extrovert came to mean "24-hour party people," neither of which is correct.

She laughed and said that the reason that I should be considered an introvert is because I recharge by being alone

That's the Myers-Briggs definition of an introvert. A friend of mine is the opposite -- he considers himself an introvert, but he organizes all the social gatherings of his circle.

I always thought that introvert and extrovert had nothing to do with shyness or gregariousness; they only refer to how a person gets energized. Introverts get energized by being alone (while being in groups can drain them), and extroverts get energy from being in groups.

Yep, the definitions have gotten skewed. I just thought it was a funny story.