How is masking different for Autistic Women? #shorts

#shorts
Gender roles and societal expectations can create different pressures for individuals. These roles and expectations construct how people are expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct themselves based on their assigned gender. These social factors make it difficult to diagnose autism in women, especially with contemporary research that suggests women are better at “masking” than men. This video features women who shared their various takes and experiences with high masking, whether or not they were consciously doing it, the costs that come with high masking, and how all of these had affected their personal and professional relationships.

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#autism #asd #autismawareness

[linden]

"I had denied a lot of my own experience" is painfully relatable.

[ArtsyMegz_On_Etsy]

Yep. It's hard to explain these things to neurotypical people. For example, my aunt and uncle live in a different city, but he was offering to drive me there for Christmas dinner, because he is picking up his mother over at where I live. But it can be really hard to explain to them that I don't want to stay the night because I wouldn't sleep as well (and without sleep I become very socially awkward as I strain myself to act enthusiastic when I am exhausted). And if he picks me up from my place, then chances are that I will have to get up earlier than I would if I were driving there myself (and I would have to do a lot more socializing on top of that). It's hard to explain to them that it's not them, it's me. They don't realize how much I have to accommodate to myself to basically make sure that I am going to be okay. It literally feels like survival. I could never ask them to accommodate me in all of the ways that I accommodate to myself, even though I spend each day accommodating to the rest of the world. So I feel like they don't know what it feels like to accommodate to others to that extreme (unless they are a caregiver perhaps). And so, I feel like I would just put a strain on them, as they would have to fight against what feels natural to them.

[meguellatisabrina]

"I'm not arrogant". That sums up my biggest concern lately. I spent a lot of time trying to understand why people think I m arrogant while I m not, a lot of time trying not to look arrogant but.... I stopped trying. I stopped because I realized that authentic people don't think that about me, and good hearted people dont judge nor cancel me even if they think I am . It's only those people who would accept arrogance from someone they believe is rich or socially high ranked, not from someone of modest upbringing. It's just they adopt contempt with people they look down too, not because they despise arrogance. So I stopped trying, even though I hate arrogance, I don't care anymore....

[surrealistgirlx]

I've been masking since I was young. I learned how to act in society to be "accepted". It was very difficult when I let the mask slip & you receive a negative response. In some ways it helps me to protect myself. People don't understand when you are neurodivergent. And in many ways I don't give a shit. Sometimes it is better for my health to just walk away.

[courtney]

So proud of these women, thank you all❤️

[eduardofreitas]

I am a male wich is having trouble getting a diagnosis and for some reason I can relate even harder to autistic women`s experiences than men`s

[musingfoodie]

Yes, many people feel intimidated and/ or uncomfortable when dealing with highly intelligent people.

[ClarenceJ.Sinclare]

Iv'e always known i had this . Undiagnosed, but aware .

[janebarron]

I had been self diagnosed for autism for many years because I didn't have Medicaid and Medicare and I would have to pay big amount to pay for one and because my behavior specialist Medicaid waiver let me know I didn't need another label then everyone change anything but then I was referred to neuropsychologist had testing done found out the results and found that I have autism spectrum disorder traits

[Jwet]

As someone diagnosed at 29 now 31 who was self diagnosed before getting a diagnosis i will never judge anybody who claims they too are self diagnosed. Its a very personal discovery about who you are and everyone deserves a chance at better understanding themselves.

[zXJulianXz]

I am a gay man and mask heavily too. I really relate to the female experience of autism. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago. Thankfully the psychologist I saw could recognise that although quite atypical for a man, I was very high on masking and had compensatory social skills. I can't find any literature about gay men on the spectrum, but I really resonate with the female experience, and even if I'm not welcome in that space, I would like you to know that I understand your experience to some extent. 👍

[sixthsenseamelia]

🌱🌏💚 Thank you Paul and community. Looking forward to this premiere! KiaOra.

[kchannel]

I have a non-expressive face, so what I've realized is that not only do I have a hard time understanding others, but others have a hard time understanding me. I believe I have ASD, but I've never understood the idea of masking. Suppressing our true thoughts and emotions is a common human experience, even for people without ASD.

[Reticulan]

I didnt just suppress myself. I suppressed memories of who that was.

[StarWonder]

Diagnosis is not only a privilege, but there is no criteria for Adult diagnosed Autists & self diagnosis is valid! <3 Diagnosis is based on an Allistic's observational view of the Autistic, not the subjective experience of the Autist & many, many go undiagnosed. Also Drs will PURPOSEFULLY misdiagnose Autistics as anything but Autistic. If you think you're Autistic, if the Autistic experience feels like you, you're probably Autistic too & we love you <3

[andrewmorton]

I have Autism AD HD OCD PDA I am 66 now and struggling

[assmaticcat]

I cant thank you enough for sharing this. I'm so afraid to get diagnosed. I'm frozen in fear.

[npcx-mqcr]

imagine if it cost $4000 to diagnose adhd

[jeanetteg]

Argh. I wrote a long comment and had to look up one word. Now I have to write it all over again and can't remember all of it. It was basically asking if anyone knows what to do if the answer from my assesement is that I am NOT in the spectrum and I can't get ANY accommodations here if I don't have it on paper. Self diagnosis is frowned upon here....

[bernlin]

I LOVE that first woman...it's the opposite, isnt it? Like "No, PLEASE, is there a 0.01% chance you're on the spectrum? GET HERE NOW PLEASE" XD

Because there really is never enough people to connect with on the spectrum, that seems totally impossible to me!