Autistic Masking is a trauma response #autism #autistic #mental health l

[darlinqtoni]

You explained it so well. I think definitely another trauma comes with not knowing your autistic as a child and being diagnosed with anxiety and having panic attacks during social gatherings is another scary and terrifying thing because triggers were and are still hard to identify from masking and the suppression that comes with it.

[WillemPenn]

“You can’t be autistic - you make eye contact.”

“Yeah, it’s amazing how repeatedly being beaten by your father for not making eye contact will have that impact.”

[wdlovesthee]

Ive been thinkin about this too. How much of our responses are also trauma related. You meet an auti, you meet someone with trauma. These are good conversations to have. Thank you

[wisecoconut]

I learned to mask by becoming fearful of the criticism and mocking by my family. I remember when I was about 15, I told my mother that I was getting better. As though I had a mental illness or disease. I didn't know I had simply learned to mask. I left home at 17.

[BranchDavidian-]

I feel like if I don’t mask it would mean not socializing at all because I never don’t mask, yet I’m very bad at it lol

[sayusayme]

Thank you so much, learning to be free. 🌻

[dariadarusiadaria]

Yep! It made my diagnosis super long time wise, because I don't mask at all. Like you said, it is trauma response. I have never experienced being alienated or shamed because of how I was.

[MatthewOlwell]

Could there be different different types of masking and some are social strategies and some are the type of trauma response described? I feel like maybe I do both. Sometimes I make very conscious strategic decisions about when and how to mask to achieve a particular goal so that feels more like a social strategy, even if there is also some response to trauma going on.

[amandahermiston]

Your posts are so useful and informative. You have helped me to understand myself so much. Have you ever considered writing a book?

[nikiepunt]

The vid was liked 666 times. I changed that. Yw... i recognise this so much. Especially the burn out. I get away from people that make me feel that i need to mask as soon as possible. It is way less exhausting ❤

[nly]

Are those jellycats in the background? So cute!!!

[tymothyyoung]

Ive spent my whole life masking, but knowing i was doing it. My mum wouldn't get me assessed so i grew up not knowing im autistic. I was finally diagnosed last year, but know i know and don't have to mask so much, i have no idea how to stop.

[CosmicTheYoutuber]

I have been masking for a while now, everytime I am myself I get weird looks from peers or get treated like dirt, I am currently in burnout and I am exhausted, does anyone have any tips?

[Yuffie]

I swear I have gaps in my memory of junior kindergarten because of masking as a young child. And because my teacher was an evil cow who shouldn't have been allowed to teach.