Autism and Masking
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST - MENTAL HEALTH - AUTISM AND MASKING
What is meant by masking?
Individuals with autism can use masking as a way to not appear to be autistic either consciously or unconsciously so they can fit in and be more accepted. Masking techniques can be adopted and used in many situations for example in more formal settings such as school or work as well as in informal settings for example at home with family or when with friends socialising.
What is another name for masking?
Camouflaging or social camouflaging is another way to describe masking as well as passing or compensatory strategies.
How do autistic people learn to mask?
Masking can be learnt by studying, examining and mirroring others behaviours – this can be achieved from real life or from TV, films, books, etc.
Examples of masking which can be expressed either consciously or unconsciously
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Using facial expressions that do not come naturally but have been learnt from mirroring others
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Eye contact to be forced or examining the amount of eye contact you are making
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Such as being more animated or less animated or by using less direct language
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Stimming less, hiding or suppressing or changing to stims that are not so noticeable such as wiggling your toes
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Such as when someone is shaking your hand when sensitive to touch not retracting or wincing
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Deciding ahead what you are going to say to someone, this can or cannot be difficult to adapt in the moment due to their replies
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More questions asked than you may be interested in or comfortable with
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Interests not shared as concerned they could be thought of as unusual or inappropriate
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Copying dress sense and other parts of appearance
Autistic people often describe masking as making an enormous effort to act in ways that are natural to non-autistic people to blend into society and social expectations which can be exhausting.
Masking – why is masking carried out by autistic individuals?
There are many reasons why autistic people carry out masking such as
Society acceptance
Avoidance of prejudice, bullying, discrimination and stigma
Blending in the neurotypical world
Avoidance of social rejection and meeting social expectations
In an environment that is not autism-friendly hiding discomfort
Due to autistic characteristics not being accepted or accommodated
Compensating for the differences between autistic and non-autistic people socially and with communication
As a coping strategy to avoid attention that is negative or to avoid punishment
In the workplace to keep job and improve opportunities
To help to maintain friendships and relationships and to make new ones
The act has become subconscious or routine
Are there factors that may indicate the likelihood of masking?
Gender – it is believed that autistic women and girls and non-binary individuals may be more likely to mask than autistic men and boys
Diagnosis Age – it is thought that those diagnosed autistic in adulthood may mask more that those diagnosed in childhood or adolescence
More research is required to learn more about the diversity of autistic individual’s experiences of masking.
What is the impact of masking?
If you are masking your autistic characteristics and quelling your requirements, preferences, instincts and handling mechanisms this can result in:
Meltdowns and distressed behaviour
Exhaustion both mentally and physically
Mental health difficulties
Feeling isolated and/or disconnected from others
May be more vulnerable to abuse
Sense of self loss
Low self-esteem
Ways to manage Masking
Overtime there are several ways autistic individuals may be able to manage the impacts of masking such as:
Recovery time – setting aside time to recover after social interactions due to the exhaustion that masking can make you feel
Adopting Energy Accounting – a method to ascertain what drains you and what recharges your energy
Seeking a diagnosis for autism or recognising your autism which may help you understand why you mask and if you wish to try to unmask
Shared experiences with other autistic people it may help you to spend more time with autistic people to help you understand masking and what unmasking might look like for you
Spending time to discover who you are behind your mask and how and when you could unmask
Support for people with Autism
For support for people with Autism that wish to understand further about the ways they mask, where they wish to make changes and how to feel more comfortable unmasking around individuals and situations.