## Highlights - Are autistic people sociopaths? No. We tend to have very dull mirror neurons or at least the regulatory systems that manage the mirror neurons aren't doing a great job. Meaning we are not great at neuroception, a polyvagal theory term coined by Stephen Porges that refers to the brain's ability to detect the intent of others without conscious thought. So we struggle to read and experience other people's feelings, body language, nonverbal communication, and mental states. People who don't experience neuroception are often read as cold, withholding, or in other ways emotionally withdrawn, disconnecting, or even abusive. It's very hard for NTS to understand that we aren't doing this on purpose, so autism is frequently equated with sociopathy (Page 22) - I came to realize that being autistic is constantly doing relational labor for everyone around us. It's connecting the dots and reframing each situation for others. Since people are unwilling to take the time to understand us, it becomes our burden to understand them. (Page 26) - Due mostly to neurophobia and how others perceive expressions of autism, autistic people are much more likely to experience different forms of trauma. These traumatic events remain unhealed and often result in anxiety, depression, addiction, and maladaptive coping mechanisms that are harmful to others in an attempt to get our needs met. As a result, much of what society thinks of as "autism" is actually a product of how we are treated because of our autism. (Page 56) - In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death for autistic people (Page 58)