I wish I could say it gets better man. The only advice I can offer is to keep doing what keeps you functional. I cannot count the number of times I had a breakdown because I forced myself to be in a situation I could not handle being in. If stepping away for a while and playing some piano works then it works. Its better than the humiliation of a crashout. If there is something you can do while in a room of people that is soothing I would recommend doing that as well. Personally I like to fidget with pens or metal spheres, I find the weight of them to be pleasant.

Edit: I almost forgot the best advice possible. Find a safe person. Connect with the people who normally attend family gatherings but connect with them in a more 1 on 1 setting. Text works for this just fine imo. Find someone who understands your struggle and go out of your way to hang out with them at these gatherings. I got lucky that one of my cousins is autistic so we just talk at these things and it keeps most people away from us bc we look busy. Its a great system

You have people who actually want to care for you. Don't take that for granted... As others said, you may not like it now, but someday you'll regret that. Just be polite and deal with it

You a teen, it's fine - we've all been there. I'll tell you something I wish someone had told me when I was a teen - people are trying to reach out to you, but you're actively shutting them down. Quit being a dumb edgy ass and form some memories together - it won't be long until you start missing last chances.

Yeah, you may have autism. /s

Seriously though, I was the same way when I was younger. And at 61 I’m pretty much still that way. I deal with it now better than then, but it’s still there.

I just know I’m an introvert now. Don’t think I’d heard the term back then.