To get more easily irritated with others and need more time alone, the older I get

I'm experiencing this at age 42 (also autistic). My tolerance for people has plummeted noticeably. I feel a bit bad about it tbh because my friends are as lovely as they ever were, but I need much more time alone now....

Yep. I'm 41. Always been introverted, but perimenopause underway. Oh, I was diagnosed with ASD 6 years ago. I think that plays a part for me certainly.

I feel a bit like this but I actually think it's just a culmination of everyone always wanting things from me. I have just returned to work ft with a promotion which is more pressure than every before, plus doing so with a teen and a tween so I have the logistics of their lives too. My family all still want to see us ( and for a whole range of reasons which aren't unreasonable) I am usually the host or organiser for get togethers and holidays.

I spend a lot of time wishing everyone would just leave the me the fuck alone....and I don't want to be in charge of anything any more. Not where ds's white Nike t-shirt is cos it's been missing since he put it in the wash, or where dd might have left her sunglasses because I must have moved them from the lounge carpet where she left them or what time we need to be at the airport because dh sent me all the emails after booking so he didn't need to be in charge and expecially not what is for fucking dinner. I also don't want to hear about my dm's friend Sharon's dog (never met Sharon or the dog) and it's operation or what the vet charged or how many times their neighbours builder parked across their drive.

I have also become really intolerant of people with no manners (and much to my own children's dismay because it's so cringe I correct them). I have no time for men who think they can barge through with their cars when it's my right of way, or the ones who make inappropriate jokes at me. I cannot find it in myself to be polite or smile or giggle at these morons like I used to. I just glare or tell them to fuck off under my breath...to be honest the glare usually conveys that sentiment quite clearly.

I really need silence more often now.

Yanbu - Just turned 34 - felt like this since 30! 🤣

I totally avoid busy times/places, shopping etc I will go first thing in the morning as soon as they open. Dog walk is 5.30am, the less interaction the better!

I’m in the Grumpy Old Bag club. I’ve always been an unsociable bitch though..,

HRT helps.

oh god yes. I wasn’t sociable before. But even more so now. I’m 48 have a few peri symptoms and totally fed up with people.

Omg this is me! I'm late thirties and just have no interest in small talk! I'm currently being assessed for ASD, so I think that's why...

I feel like this too OP and I was never one for spending much time alone when I was younger. I'm 50 with two teens a DH and my favourite days are when they're all at work/school! The school holidays are the absolute worst - constant demands for food, constant requests to go shopping, I'm sick of it. I'm looking forward to going on holiday mainly so I don't have to do any cooking or meal prep for two weeks!

I'm 41. Perimenopause in full swing - I didn't have a high tolerance for people before and now it is perilously close to nil. Not helped by Asperger's 😆

IMO it’s quite common. I need a lot more time in P and Q on my own nowadays, but then I’m a fully paid up Grumpy Old Bag.

I have always been a bit like this but definitely becoming more intolerant now I am 54. I had therapy a few years ago and I discussed this. Therapist said that some people gain their energy from being around other people and some people gain their energy from being alone. I am definitely the latter. It helped me because I now feel ok about saying I don’t want to go to parties etc.