Masking of adult autism | Psychology of today

Masking is sometimes called camouflagerefers to when someone hides a real person in order to meet expectations that are not in line with their true self. in autism Other neural ability communities mean concealing neural traits in order to meet neural expectations for behavior.

It doesn’t have to be NeuroDivergent for the mask. For example, if you interact with your employer in a different way than you do with your employer, you may be masking, for example. But autistic people who mask masks do not do so simply because it is what you would expect in the workplace. Its masking is deeper and rooted in the message that neurotypes are “right” or better ways.

Not all NeuroDivergent people wear masks. Some people are deliberately trying to wear masks, while others are unable to hide at all. Many autism who masks masks, depending on the negative, sometimes trauma The experience when they demonstrate their authentic, unmasked selves. Masking may be a way to protect yourself Bullying or other abuse.

The performance and energy involved in masking is exhausting and not a sustainable long term. Masking can lead to that Burnout syndrome, depressionand more suicide. In this post, we explore the hidden costs of masking for adults with autism, how to deal with it, and how to support your autistic loved one with unmasking if you are not autistic.

The dangers of masking

It’s tiresome to always try to present yourself in an unfair way. When people at Neurodivergent are continuously masked for years, we can wear out. You may experience burnout, fatigue, overwhelmedness, and unresponsiveness. Burnout can lead to needing vacations and not being able to participate in the community. anxietydepression, and even suicide.

However, even if masking efforts aren’t causing burnout, they can pose other challenges. When you are not genuine to yourself, but always working to meet expectations, you may not even know who you are without a mask. You may be very focused on being expected to not learn who you are. This self-consciousness is lacking Identity It makes problems and masking difficult – how can I stop masking if I don’t know who I am without a mask?

Masking can also increase the risk of abuse. Many autism and other nerve velocity individuals do so to meet expectations. Unfortunately, there is a risk of exploitation and abuse when your top priority conforms to the definition of someone else you should be, and when the person wants you to do something that makes you uncomfortable.

Masking and the right to be yourself

Masking can sometimes feel impossible when you don’t know who is under your mask. You must know yourself once more, understand who you are when you are not masking, and adapt yourself to the expectations of others.

It’s difficult, but unmask is not impossible. You can do that! You may decide to work with a Neurodiversity– Keep the therapist to explore who you are without masking. Other ways you can explore masking are:

• Talk to other members of the Neurodivergent community about how they are not masked and try out strategies they find effective.
• Think about who you are when no one is looking, and when you are not controlling your movements, expressions, or words.
• engage in behavior like that temper See how you feel when you intentionally take action.

You deserve to live as your true self. You deserve the space where you can be you without you fear of abuse.

Masking support for your loved ones

If you are not autistic, but care about who you are, you may not know their authentic self. They may be hiding around you. Know that many autistic and other nervous individuals often hide even around people they care deeply about. They may have an internalized belief that even if you did nothing to reinforce that belief, unless they are masking, they are not worthy or unloved. Please don’t mask personally.

Before talking about their masking with your loved ones, think about how you will react to see who they are not masked. Unfortunately, many autistic and other nervous people have experience in asserting someone as a “safe” person and encouraging them solely to reject their unmasked self. Don’t offer yourself as someone who can unmask them unless you really mean that and are ready to accept them unconditionally.

That means accepting them if they inspire you in a way that looks strange. That means it will cause a fuss about how you may feel strange. That means you don’t expect them to perform their emotional expressions in the way you expect them to or are used to. That means making them as they are.

If you can’t handle it and can’t support them as their perfect, unmasked self, then it’s better not to offer yourself as a safe person. Remember that many autistic people are literal in their communication. So if you want to see them not masked, they’ll assume you mean that.

If they release the masks and you can be there for your loved ones, then you can stand up for them if someone else is cruel to them in response to their unmasked behavior. You can work to educate others in your life. Most importantly, you can communicate directly with them and ask them what your support looks like.

Conclusion

Many autism, if necessary, punishment Or because they had no safe place to reject their authentic self or explore who they actually weren’t masked. Adults who have been masked for decades can find it difficult to take off their masks and learn who they are, but the long-term effects of masking can be harmful to their mental health.

If you are about to unmask, know that you deserve your true, authentic self without a mask. If your loved ones are not masking, make sure you are safe people who accept who they are no matter what.

To find a therapist Visit Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

Learn more about supporting the autism community A Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Autistic Clients.