Moving to different department, dreading a 'going away' with colleagues

[Mono]

If anyone knows a better title, please let me know... I'm moving to a different team/department within our organisation. I had a chance to test/try the work and meet everyone there, it's much better suited for me. In my previous place I had various jobs and would need to switch regularly between them, there'd also be deadlines followed by a lot of down time. In the new department, I have a steady flow of work and can just focus on one bigger task, rather than several smaller ones.
So I'm not really leaving, just switching teams. But I am still dreading any 'saying goodbye' with my current team. My birthday is pretty much a state secret, just the thought of them all focusing on me stresses me out. So if we plan anything at all, that would be the same. I could just do something with only the 3 people I worked with the most. My team leader knows me and is fine with anything. But then I'd leave people out. I'm really hitting a wall here. Does anyone have experience with this, maybe a good idea that wouldn't stress me out? Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance

 

[Hypnalis]

Tell your team leader you don't want any kind of send-off, and ask that he makes sure there isn't one.

It sounds like you've had that discussion about birthdays already, so frame it as a reminder that you're an introvert, and find social activities focused on you very uncomfortable.

This is nothing to be ashamed of or to apologize for. It's an important boundary for most introverts and most ASDs, and should never be explained or defended. Being comfortable with it helps too: if it comes up, allow your team lead to tell the team that you explicitly don't want a send off. This might makes things easier for them, and in exchange they'll make it easier for you.

Note that this doesn't mean you can't have lunch or an after-work drink with your closest colleagues/friends.
You're only saying no to being the center of attention in a activity you don't enjoy. Most people will understand.

Anyone else, use something like the "very uncomfortable" comment above.
There are many polite options, and IMO all introverts benefit from learning as many as possible, and practicing using them IRL.

FWIW I do this myself, and almost everyone respects the boundaries.
In my case most of the pushback is from people not believing I'm an introvert /lol.