Lol, yes, it’s been a fucking journey though. I didn’t realize I was abused by my family so I spent the better part of two decades being depressed, self-destructive, and suicidal. I also participated in the genocide in Iraq and tried to bury that away too. Therapy has been recent but life changing. I’d tried it before but I didn’t know that everyone wasn’t like me so I always came off as indifferent, insensitive, or unmotivated. I spoke to a VA counselor once, about a traumatic experience, and all he wrote in his notes were, “patient states”, then a very truncated summary of what I had said. Then he diagnosed me with halitosis. What an absolute fuck head. I wrote off therapy for 10 years after that. Finally met someone who was blown away that I had never been treated for ADD/ASD and she tested me. Then the therapy advanced and she was able to communicate with me. Realized the PTSD, child abuse, and toxic behaviors that I was newly habituating. Who knows if growing up in a healthy/safe environment or being tested would have changed any of these failed prospects. But if you have trouble getting along in a team environment (I massively do) then you can look for work in remote or secure locations, look for vocations that revolve around data collection and travel, or look into govt jobs. I’ve worked a few govt jobs (not infrequently unionized so 👍) and everyone there is either a 5th dimensional chess level wackadoo or they expect everyone else to be. They embrace weird, they just don’t pay shit. So here is my vocational history:

Medic - in emergency response/combat, no problem. But on the civilian side there were too many… civilians. May lean heavily on communication, but nearly all of it can be done free of niceties, body language, idioms, or banter.

Then a phleb/lab tech while I changed vocations. May require interaction with patients. So if that’s a problem then stick to lab tech work. Also, seek night shift positions if you want to take isolation to the next level.

Electrical engineer until I realized I had to work in a team of dumb people, and no matter how many companies I changed to the teams just got dumber. If you are more perceptive than you let on, and you expect people in high functioning/accountable roles to be demonstrably intelligent, then maybe steer clear of these team based fields of work. I switched to trades where I (admittedly, rudely) expect everyone to be a drooling lepton and am always impressed at their ingenuity.

So field engineering inspections for a while. That didn’t work out eventually, and after leaving this vocation I was diagnosed and mental health began to improve. This was travel based, and very solitary. I had to be self motivated but the work was enjoyable so that helped. Time management and resource allocation were always difficult so routines and checklists were leaned on heavily.

Then electrician, equipment fabrication, and control design (again, yes, but part time). Trades tend to work in teams at lower levels of experience so if you are willing to grit your teeth through the monotony of other people’s opinions, there are specializations that can alleviate the surplus extraversion. Custom work keeps things fresh. But if you have to do something repetitive, then maybe find a pastime that keeps your lizard brain occupied (I love podcasts, Behind the Bastards, Knowledge Fight, The Dollop - I listen to these and the day is over in a blink).

This job ends in a few years, and I do have a master’s in software engineering, but the SO wants to be the bread winner so I’m preparing to do law school because why not.

I’d be happy to respond to any questions if you think I can help. Good luck!