Someone needs to create a guide online to help the socially awkward among us accomplish ordinary, seemingly innocuous tasks which are excruciatingly difficult for people with the above impairment. I just spent two whole days preparing for a single 8 minute phone call. Most of this time was spent going over and over in my head how to begin the conversation on the phone. I searched for advice online and found lists of questions to ask the -type of person I was calling, sorry for the vagueness-, but what I needed was more of like: What do I say when she answers the phone? Should I introduce myself? Do I need to say my last name? How much detail should I go into? How should I ease into asking my list of questions?
Other tasks that are exceedingly difficult for me:
Meeting acquaintances unexpectedly. What should I say?
Inviting people places.
Ordering pizzas.
Calling doctors/clinics/craigslist people....
Introducing myself in a group.
Thinking of questions at interviews.
Powerpoint presentations/outreach.
Talking to people at small restaurants/stores/booths.
Having lots of people look at me (the wedding was very, very difficult).
And so the quest continues. I have so many more calls to make, but at least I got enough courage to call one.
