Not sure if I'm a loner or shy to the point of it being a disability.

[Hoppy]

2. In terms of being with other people, family, -- may or not apply--

Beginning with small segments at a time, focus on the other person. What are they saying? What is new in their work? Hobby? Relationship? Where was their last travel?

It becomes a balance between asking one or two questions and becoming overly patronizing --- asking questions without caring what the answers are. If the answers become something you know nothing about, say so. You can learn something.

About yourself... Are there things you can share about you that they might not know?

Sharing the contents of the o.p. might offer a topic for them to engage. That is hard but may help.



Are you familiar with any of the research, articles on Aspergers? That might be a beginning for you.