I prefer the company of non-autistic people

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This has come up a few times; I tend to get along poorly with other autistic people. I can kind of do it here because the whole interaction ends with a mouse click, but in a face-to-face interaction I tend to find the whole thing emotionally disturbing. Shorter contact just leaves me sullen and unnerved. Too much of it for too long has actually triggered depressive events for me; I tried this program for AS students at one college. It helped a lot of students, but caused me to drop all my classes and spend the next few months holed up at home. The head of the program (herself autistic) later told me a handful of other students had similar experiences. So this might not just be a "me" thing.

Now and then, I'll meet someone else with autism who I can actually get along with. It's really nice when that happens (like... seriously, pretty amazing), but it seems extremely rare. Like... one person out of a hundred, rare... at best. I notice I pretty much never explicitly talk about autism with these people. It's always subtle and oblique, just hinting at certain things we have in common. That's totally fine with me. I kind of like that.

"NT" people, on the other hand... they usually can work with me on things. Adapt quickly, reach out, and help bridge gaps when I come up short. There's some jerks, but I find most of them pleasant enough to be around. I tell them I have an issue with something, most will listen. Maybe it's because I live in the Seattle area, where people tend to be a little more low-key... but it wasn't that much different for me when I lived in Albuquerque, which isn't like that at all. Sure, these interactions can be draining... but they don't have the same devastating "emotional punch to the face" impact. Six hours surrounded by NTs? I feel pretty tired but emotionally stable, or even refreshed if I've had a good time. An hour with another aspie? I'm not as tired, but my mood has probably taken a nosedive.

I don't get it. You'd think the opposite would be true, right? I'm curious if anyone else just finds NTs easier to be around. Not necessarily to this degree, but to the extent that given the choice you'd prefer not to be around other aspies. Alternatively, maybe someone has ideas as to why I have this reaction. Or maybe you think I'm just weird, in which case you should totally explain why you think that!

Or, maybe you feel the opposite way. You probably do. Explain! I'm trying to figure this thing out! It would be nice if I could have face-to-face interactions with other aspies without freaking out.

I know the program the OP was talking about and I've sort of had mixed experiences with it too. I don't really get along with other autistic people for the most part, (being one of the few girls in it doesnt really help) it's always an awkward and draining experience. And a lot of them frustrate me. That being said, there have been a couple that I have gotten along with really well.

Overall I've had better experience with introverted and nerdy NTs.

Personally I don't really care that much whether someone is NT or ND, as long as they are good people. I made a rather equal amount of bad experiences with both, and in the end it just depends on the individual. Even if that sounds kind of lame or cheesy now.

Maybe the typical people you know are unusually sympathetic?

Don't give up just yet. Once an NT understands how you function, they'd want to be friends too. Not giving platitudes either. And there's bound to be miscommunication at first. But, do persevere. It's good practice and will probably lead to what you'd like.