The AQ is a screening questionnaire. Nothing more. Its an average. I did it again but in a different format and scored 42, twice. The questions were laid out differently. I am not sure why. Anyone?

‘Normal’ people have autistic traits as well. There is no such thing as a definite boundary when it comes to defining people and their personality traits. We are all very different.

Having a label that ‘fits’ helps tremendously. It can explain just about everything and direct treatment/therapy. When I got diagnosed my life and struggles suddenly had an explanation. It really helped me discover who I am and why I interact with the world and others the way I do.

Friendships have been extremely difficult for me. I have always been an outsider even as a child. The majority of people I meet have no interest in befriending me. They see me as odd and shy. One recently described me as intimidating. Possessing non-mainstream interests has also hindered my ability to converse with others. Another issue is my difficulty in interpreting subtle social cues through body language. I need people to be direct with me. Very few are willing to.

Problems with sensory processing is very common. My sense of smell is very acute. I can easily identify different smells in the air. Nausea is a chronic problem. This makes my life challenging, especially out in public. Touch and hearing are other issues. Sometimes the overwhelming sensations can cause anxiety and panic.

Hopefully that explains the Asperger experience at bit better. Your therapist seems very caring and genuinely interested in helping you out.