Any autistic ex-shielders about?

[muldersspeedos]

Yesterday I went out into the big, wide world to do some food and Christmas shopping. I used to go to this shopping centre once or twice a week and enjoyed it as I went with my mum. I've not been since early 2020 and found it overwhelming. It wasn't busy, I had no time constraints, and I'd been looking forward to it very much. It has been during

Lockdown and being shielded that I've come to accept I'm autistic and I think I've stopped masking as much perhaps due to the lack of socialising anyway and being hidden behind a mask. I didn't socialise much anyway but now I'm happy to say no to nights out instead of saying yes then trying to think of an excuse as to why I can't go.
Can anyone relate to this?

Anyone?

Massively. I'm far happier staying home now, and get overwhelmed easier. Also very happy to say no to things I don't want to do. I'm far less stressed these days.

I'm autistic and I'm struggling to transition back into the "real world" I tried to go into a supermarket recently and had to leave after a couple of minutes. I enjoyed the lack of pressure to be amongst people the last two years but definetly got to work on my social skills and build them back up slowly.