Autistic Masking In 3 Minutes - Autistic Masking In A Nutshell

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video I explain what #autistic masking is in just 3 MINUTES. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person. #orionkelly #autism #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike #autisticmasking #asd

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ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

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⛔️*Disclaimer: The videos contained on this channel are for general education and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. For professional advice and training seek assistance from a qualified provider. All views are my own and do not represent those of my employers or sponsors. Some images used are stock images.*⛔️

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[thestrugglingoptimist]

I wish I could just be myself without being treated badly. Sadly, whenever I do things like arranging things in order or stimming, I am laughed at or told I am weird. I even had someone say I am mental and needed to get help. I just want to be myself and not feel broken...

[whitneymason]

I've been masking all my life without realizing it. Only since getting my diagnosis last year have I started to unmask. My son doesn't mask, he is unapologetically himself. I hope he deals with less trauma because of this difference. Great video Orion! ❤

[SaraHinata]

Just recently I posted in a group I'm in that I never really wanted to _"fit in"_, I just didn't want to be rejected. All this masking has made it unbearable for me to the point that I prefer not to socialize. Not because I'm afraid of rejection (anymore) but because it's exhausting trying to accomodate other people who wouldn't do the same for you. I don't want to spend my life doing that, to not be accepted anyway.

Imagine a world where neurotypical children needed therapy to learn how to socialize with neurodivergent children. A common ground of how NTs socialize vs NDs is what we need. Not the constant bombing that WE need to conform so _the others_ don't feel uncomfortable.

[hall]

The concept of masking is really what got me to consider myself as being on the spectrum. It explains why I hated myself, especially around other people. The more I study autism and discover my true self, the more convinced I am. If only it wasn’t so difficult to get assessed as an adult…

Orion, you’ve helped me understand quite a lot, and I appreciate what you do. Thank you very kindly!

[lekat]

I did that my whole adult life. I am now 69. I eventually just broke down for not beimg authentic. Now, I tell people that I am autistic. My kids do not take me seriously about this. It is still hard, but it is easier than masking. Jesus loves me as I am. And that is what is important. It is Him I please these days. 💕

[whoistheroach]

I had to mask in order to do my career. It is in an industry which is hypersensitive to any slight aberration, especially mental oriented issues. I was able to do it for decades, that is until I could not do it anymore. I was exhausted. Now I have a huge weight off my shoulders as I accept things the way they are and I don't need to work in that industry any more.

[roberthonan]

The thing is that for both of us, I discovered at age 57 that I was autistic, we never knew we were masking. Most of my deepest masking are behaviors I was forced to adopt to hide my weirdness, or be punished as a child.

[BarbaraMerryGeng]

I actually Enjoy people who are authentic & expressive.
And I always made friends w. them !
> I find regimental anything to be boring.

[Brownfeline]

Maintaining friends, hobbies, and jobs, are SO hard to try and keep with you for life. However, the more i keep doing it or still have it, i get burnt out. Not wanting to do anything, i dont feel good. like i have this shadow larking behind me saying: "Get rid of them." And sometimes i do listen to the shadow behind me. Unfriending friends, and never seeing them again. I even unfriended one of my really close friends and now i feel so lonely. And for me, coming along true, honest, friends, are so hard to find these days, its awful. 😢😭

[BitsOfBen]

I was diagnosed with autism as a child and was in special needs classes in my infant and junior school years. During this time I was bullied as I told people of my autism. When I started high school I got back into mainstream and I decided to not tell anyone about being autistic and didn't get bullied anymore. I'm now in my 40's and have learnt to mask my autism. I feel people treat me differently when they know and I just want to blend in with society. I know this isn't mentally healthy but I want to be seen as myself before anything else.

[Stephanie-xgmg]

To me it always feels like I'm watching myself perform from the outside. I don't know how to explain it any better.

[doggydoggy]

Well said, could not have been explained any better.

[jennifergauthier]

Orion!!!! I just got diagnosed this past Tuesday (EST lol!!!!). Thank God I had been slowly unmasking for the last two years, or as much as possible. I'm excited and

[dharmainthenorth]

Wonderfully put, Orion! Thank you for all the work you do on our behalf 🙏

[nkleeman]

OMG, This explains why I get jobs so easily, then lose them and the employer always says things like you use to be like this, but not your not so we have to let you go....I just made this correlation. Recently diagnosed at 35.

[Kellie_Curtis-Holmes]

I wasn't diagnosed until I was 38 and actually found out by accident. I'd made a specific comment in therapy and she asked if she could ask me some questions about that. It was a Q something questionnaire and I got a higher number. That started the ball rolling with my GP and further referrals. I believe they never picked it up earlier because I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when I was 13. My behaviours were attributed to growing up with a verbally abusive alcoholic. I've suffered with various mental health issues my whole life. I do understand that many symptoms of autism and mental illnesses are very similar, so it's not always easy to diagnose. Maybe if my GP had asked the right questions and/or I hadn't masked some of my 'quirks' I could have found out earlier. After spending my whole life try to be like everyone else, I can honestly say I don't give a sh*t anymore. I am who I am, and I do what makes me happy. In a way, I finally feel free xxx

[zumaone]

Very well-done summation of this subject. Thank you Orion, you are really helping to bring understanding to all aspects of what goes on with being Autistic.

[smicketysmoo]

Recently diagnosed and having issues explaining it to family/friends and gaining their acceptance. This will help them understand it better, thank you. 3 minutes shouldn't offend their too-short attention spans either - nice to see you accommodating the allistic community so well😂
I would be nice if they could return the favour...

[fumtastic]

ever since i started mentioning autism on job applications i have stopped getting responses to them. its that type of thing that makes me feel like i need to hide it.

[CeramicQuill]

Just a side note, masking isn't bad. It just happens. I think I like the person that I am when I mask. I am happy with what I've built up and while it doesn't really feel like me, it's a version of me I enjoy and others seem to enjoy too. 🙂 As soon as I am away from everyone I can just put away that version of me and I can have a decent reset emotionally.

Try not to worry about it too much. It happens, will happen, and is happening. Just accept it and try to make it an advantage to yourself.