Working hard to drop that mask more often!!! Are you? #neurodivergent #masking #audhd

[francescakyanda]

If I’m looking at you while you talk, I can’t process what you’re saying, if I’m looking away I am listening!

[glimmerlarue]

First one, I only retain 15% of what they say, second one…I mean I still only get like 60% but that’s still a big difference!

[kimberlyscheyhing]

luckily my boyfriend understands my body language and will keep talking when i start staring at the bedsheets instead of making eye contact lol

[movenfaraway]

Watching this triggered my internal checklist 😅
-eye contact
-nod
-don't let my face "blank"
-respond during pauses so they know you are paying attention

[Gerardbackupplz]

When I try to make the acceptable amount of eye contact people think I’m trying to flirt because I maintain it too much and when I don’t people think I’n not listening. It’s a vicious cycle

[goddam]

So real. Especially hard with the “look at me when I’m talking to you! It shows you’re listening”

[Arty_Mester]

People don’t understand that some people listen better this way. And I’ve started masking more when people are telling me things which makes me lose more of the information. If I’m fidgeting or smth then my brain is fully focused on what they are saying because I have something else going on. But if I’m looking at them and nodding then my brain is racing everywhere other than to what they are saying. I’ve started to become distant because when I’m listening my best people get mad. I’m working on it tho.

[jayrlbd]

This is why I wish all this was talked about more - I'd love it if people felt comfortable just saying "By the way, this is how I listen/communicate best" and then people were okay with that. I hate the idea of people feeling like they need to mask around me!

[vee]

This is why I love car rides SOOOO MUCH! When I’m driving, I’m not expected to look them in the eye and it just feels so much better. I can probably hold eye contact for a minute or two before I feel the need to start looking around at other places to keep my focus on what they’re saying

[_Star]

Me: trying to unmask more often, also me unmasking: making a weird noise to ask my sisters boyfriend to move out of the way of the fridge instead of saying excuse me

[anaionescu]

Even the people in my closest circle sometimes forget that I'm being more attentive when I'm NOT masking, and they stop halfway through a sentence to check if I'm okay. It's a sweet sentiment, but if I tried to _look_ attentive, I'd actually miss most of what they're saying

[charliedelfino]

As a musician i think listening to music with your eyes closed, not doing anything but feeling it and expressing that in a way that is comfortable to you, is the best way to appreciate it.

[earthstar]

This is why i love my husband. I dont have to make human faces all day so he feels validated. I dont have to be entertaining you to be listening. In fact, im probably not listening well because im trying to make the right faces on cue.

[IAmSleepDeprived]

Omg yes! Same. And I always listen way better when I’m not masking but than they are always like “are you even LISTENING?🙄😠” and I always feel rly bad. 😢

[whatskpopinmate]

it’s funny because i need ppl to look at me to show their listening but i look away when i’m listening 😂😂

[DramRalmz]

I just stare into the persons eyes intensely I love making eye contact

[payton.talya]

Ik this is off topic but that was about the smoothest better than revenge transition I’ve ever heard

[Sleepyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

This is exactly how i am, people, and teachers especially just don’t understand that and think im not paying attention. Like if im staring at the teacher in class i have no idea what their saying but if i have my head down with my eyes closed i hear EVERYTHING

[lizshann]

Busy the body to engage brain... I get so many looks for drawing and doodling. I have to explain, "No, I'm not in my own little world; I'm way more present here WITH you, while I am scribbling away." It just helps my brain think, process, and concentrate.

[violetskies]

The difference between pretending to listen but really being distracted focusing on looking like neurotypical listening and actually listening and retaining what they said. If I'm doing the second you basically have my whole attention.