Am i autistic or just shy?

i'm 19 and haven't been able to keep friends because i'm socially inept and unable to open up to people. i don't like talking and i never feel the need to share anything with anyone (it doesn't even cross my mind). but i mean i appear to be normal and i was a well behaved child. but the thing is i'm not intelligent like those with aspergers. erm i guess i could say my fixed interest has been myself (worrying about my problems), outside of myself i never gained interests. yeah i don't think i fit the autism criteria but i'm so freakishly quiet. shouldn't i have learned how to hold a conversation? i give such short answers all the time :\

This sounds like a classic description of social anxiety.

Paxil (an SSRI) and psychotherapy could be just the ticket for you.

i would say u have social anxiety, i used to be the same way. I take celexa for mine and i find i dont care if i sound as intellegent as the others, if they dont like me for who i am, then they are not worth even talkin to. I would rather be disliked for who i am than be liked for someone i am not.

i feel kind of the same, i am very quite so people think i am shy but i dont usually feel shy, i just dont knw what to say or feel that nothing needs to be said! or sometimes i feel like saying something but feel that people will think i am weird for saying it even though when i think of someone else saying the same thing its not weird!
im not really sure whats wrong with us!! haha!

Well, you may have a form of asperger's. Studies have linked autism and Asperger's due to mercury poisoning. If you want to study up on mercury, you will see some of the symptoms can be social withdrawl, constanly worrying, fear, shyness, blushing, etc. Most people are vaccinated and there is mercury in vaccines and shots. Also in silver fillings.

My advice would be to check all your sources of mercury, vaccines, shots, silver fillings, etc. Also look at your mother. How many fillings does she have? What kind of health issues do you and your family have? like Diabetes, MS, Bipolar, Chemicl Sensitivities, Allergies, Asthma, Hypetension, Autoimmune disorders, etc. See if you believe there is a chance you could be toxic.

sometimes we blame ourselves and we get down ourselves and think why can't we be normal, but the truth maybe be, we were just victims of mercury. You may want to read up on chelation www.noamalgam.com. Hope this helps!

You sound just fine to me. I know many people who do not "social talk" with others. They listen and are less like to respond in a negative way.
I would suggest try and find one person that you know you can trust and explain that you would like to work on your conversation skills. Visit with them. You already have the great quality of listening you just need to work a little on being heard.
If you are unable to find someone your age, look into visiting with your preacher/priest.
The definition of autistic from dictionary.com:
1. Psychiatry. a pervasive developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment.
2. a tendency to view life in terms of one's own needs and desires.
Rigid is the word that sticks out in my mind...do you have to have things "just right"? Stay within the same routine etc?
You do describe the other characteristics but to me "rigid" is the one that you don't describe yourself.
Consider talking to a physician if you are concerned as well.
Best of luck and Blessings all around.

if you were autistic I could hardly believe you could type this question. You are acutely introverted and all your attention goes to yourself (you admitted that 'outside of MYSELF i never gained interests), so no wonder you are lonely. the only way to hold a conversation is to get interested in other people and their problems and forgetting about yourself and your worries. you care about other people, other people care about you. Energy flows where the attention goes.
since you are so closed into yourself, i would suggest talking to someone about what's troubling you, get some perspective on your real or imaginary worries and start living without hiding inside you. maybe you're just sensitive and something traumatic happened or whatever the reason, i don't believe 'you don't feel the need to share'. you just did. you really want to but you just don't allow yourself.
give yourself a shot to be happy. don't you think you deserve that?

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE MERCURY POSTER ABOVE.

Also, to the poster directly above: Autistic people can type just fine. One is typing to you right now.
Thank you.

Anyway, i can't tell you what you may or may not have, but i will say be happy. Being quiet is a great thing. Please don't feel as though you HAVE to talk or be overly social. There is nothing at all wrong with being introverted.

However, not being "intelligent" does not mean you aren't autistic. Nor does not having special interests. Those things are not used to diagnose autism. Being a well behaved child does not mean that you weren't just a well behaved autistic child. Many are.
If you want to make friends, think deeply about what you are really interested in (music, books, harry potter, etc. ) and find people who share those interests. If the friends of your past have left you, then they did not understand you and you are better off without them.

If you feel genuinely worried, I would contact a doctor or talk to a school counselor. Even if it turns out that you are autistic, or if you aren't, don't feel bad about the way you act. Try your best to accept yourself.