One final thought I will share and please know I mean this most respectfully, but how do you know that high functioning autism is the right term for what you describe on your website, as opposed to being highly sensitive? What if there is no such thing as high functioning autism in either women or men? (Which is the same question you are asking about HSP)

Most of my coaching clients do not find out about the trait of high sensitivity and/or being an empath until their 40’s, 50’s or even 60’s. Then, once they have solid tools in place for self-care, are selective about people, activities and environments they engage with and create a life that nurtures their sensitivity and their strengths instead of works against it, everything changes.

In the HSP population, the ones who often struggle the most are sensitive men, because they have those traits and yet our society tells them that being emotionally responsive, empathetic or overstimulated is not strong or macho. They have spent years being a chameleon and hiding who they really are. It’s very challenging for many of the men I’ve worked with the accept this about themselves at first.

According to your list of characteristics like being very creative, interested in psychology, going into helping professions, taking a deep dive into subjects they are interested in, prefer 1:1 conversations, need a lot of alone time and so on — this would mean everyone in my inner friends and family circle, in my online community, and the 30,000 people who tuned in to this year’s empath global summit are all autistic?

Some may be, but those characteristics are not just relegated to people on the spectrum, but are enjoyed by a much larger group, albeit likely closer psychologically than the overall population.

What if we are simply parsing words?

What if it doesn’t even matter what we call it, provided people have this extra awareness that they are a temperament minority trying to fit themselves into a majority culture that is generally too fast, too loud and more focused on material success and achievement than people and our planet?

Just putting it out there, if we are going to be open in this discussion about all possibilities. I actually think you and I are on the same team and what’s most important is we both care deeply about helping people like us to be self-recognized and healthy. Let’s work together instead of being divisive…