Oh, as far as overcoming the autism, I just decided one day that I wanted to be "normal". Everyone else seemed to think it was fabulous, so I put all of my effort into understanding people and their interactions with each other. I have a formidable talent for systems and mechanics. I see human interaction sort of a system. When I did that, I began to be able to function well enough in society that most people in RL have zero idea I am autistic at all.

There are still many things I have a hard time understanding, yet I can mimic them fairly well. I have not yet mastered the pretense of niceness towards people I dislike, however.