MASKING is something we do as autistic individuals (yes, I am one too) in order to fit in or gain acceptance among others.
For me, it feels like I am running a layer of software above my normal operating system - one that has to constantly read the situation I am in and choose the appropriate facial expression, tone of voice, and verbal content (what I say and how I say it).
And there's another layer of software that's constantly analyzing what I've just said (or what I said last week!) to determine if I've violated some expectation or rule.
There have been times when, a week after a conversation, I'll go back to someone and say, "That thing I said last week, I hope it didn't come off as..." and they just look at me like I've lost my mind.
All of this is exhausting. And you never get a reward for getting it right. But you can be punished severely for getting it wrong.
Does that line up with your experience as an autistic individual who masks? Do you have tips to share with us on how to make it less exhausting?
The Masking Rabbit is in the
@PlushieDreadful shop NOW. Go buy one now! It won't make masking any easier - but it also won't get mad at you when fail to meet expectations.
#masking #autismacceptance #plushie #plushiedreadfuls