I feel disconnected from other people?

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I feel "different" from other people. I don't follow social rules and norms, even when I know what they are. I follow my own inner code of conduct. It drives me nuts when people do something just because that is what everyone else is doing, and when people's only interests are what their friends are interested in. I'm also really, really obsessive.

I feel like I can empathize with other people really well though. Whenever someone is upset, I feel upset too; sometimes I'll even start crying myself. And I'm really understanding of other people's differences.

I actually do pretty well in social situations, now. But it feels faked to me, and most of the time I can't wait to get away and be by myself, unless I'm with a really close friend or family member. The people I like best are independent, and have strong interests (although not necessarily the same as mine).

I thought maybe I was on the autism spectrum, but I only have about half of the symptoms. Could I have some kind of personality disorder instead? Or am I just driven, introverted, and a little bit odd?

If you are on the spectrum it will be very hard to know how others really see you and certainly impossible for us here to know. Though people often try to tell posters they are, or aren't, on the spectrum when posters ask. It's just opinions, though. Some very good information, some not. It COULD be many things. But again, we may not really know how others see us. I didn't.

I feel very similar to the OP. I thought I had borderline, avoidant or schizoid personality disorder. I have both social awkwardness and social anxiety so it's hard to work out where my social impairment stems from. I mimic. I have learnt to make eye contact and how to ask how someone is, etc .. so until recently professionals haven't picked up on it and at last I might be assessed.

I don't really have a special interest, I don't like literature as many females seem to ... I like non-fiction. It is really hard to tell I hope we find an answer!