Welcome TMJ,
I am fairly new to the forum, and like you I lurked for a while (for me it was trying to pluck up the courage to post!).
I have two DS's, one is almost 7 and the other is 4.5 years. They are both incredibly sensitive children! DS6 is also especially intense, although I have to say it has got easier for us as he has got older and also as we have started to understand him more. As he was our first child we didn't know any different and just got on with it. Yes, I agree, people often misunderstand and come up with their own conclusions and I do tend to withdraw from most of the other mothers so that I don't get collared into various conversations. I do think that most of it arises out of people's curiosity and they don't mean to be nasty or nosey, but I have had some weird comments! It was quite a relief when DS6's first teacher said to me that he was on a different plane and also very intense - he just couldn't get enough work! She has actually become a good family friend and was one of the first people to suggest that we had DS tested!
Hang in there because it gets easier and there is so much support and advice from everyone on this board - welcome!.
XX
