Exposure Anxiety: How complex are your social masks?

I'm definitely different at work than at home. My partner and family get to see the real me (and my close friends get to see most of me) :) Work's another story - people just wouldn't understand me if I acted like my true self. I'd say I'm still 'me' - just a filtered version. 

I do find masking exhausting - I feel so tired at the end of the day. It's like I'm constantly holding a huge part of myself back.

I know what you mean.  I think I've learnt to just internalise everything, and keep quiet and appear normal.  I was told in my assessment I probably pass out when I get home due to masking so much and trying to act normal and fit in.  When I worked part time and had more down time I wasn't so bad, but being at work in a horrible office environment every day with an unfriendly team all day every day is exhausting.

I can relate to that - I feel like I shutdown when I get home. I have to have a bath or take a nap to recharge (even then, I struggle to get my energy levels back up). Being in a horrible office environment is hard enough, but particularly tough when you're working with unfriendly people - do you have any opportunity to work from home in your job? I work from home a couple of days a week and that's helped a little.

Good luck with the appeal - I hope you get something back after they treated you so terribly.

It’s very unreasonable.  I will be appearing my dismissal.

Yes - exactly. That seems really unreasonable of your employers - most office jobs could be carried out from home nowadays, at least partially. I'm sorry to hear you're being dismissed - hopefully it'll give you an opportunity to find a better, non-toxic working environment.

that's exactly how I explained it in my assessment.  I said it's not a nice feeling of falling asleep, it's like totally shutting down.  it's almost painful.  I can't stop it happening and I even if I'm not asleep my eyes are closed and I can't move.  And then I too struggle to get my energy levels back up.  I'm not allowed to work from home, I have asked.  It would have helped loads.  I'm being dismissed in a few weeks now though. 

that's exactly how I explained it in my assessment.  I said it's not a nice feeling of falling asleep, it's like totally shutting down.  it's almost painful.  I can't stop it happening and I even if I'm not asleep my eyes are closed and I can't move.  And then I too struggle to get my energy levels back up.  I'm not allowed to work from home, I have asked.  It would have helped loads.  I'm being dismissed in a few weeks now though. 

Good luck with the appeal - I hope you get something back after they treated you so terribly.

It’s very unreasonable.  I will be appearing my dismissal.

Yes - exactly. That seems really unreasonable of your employers - most office jobs could be carried out from home nowadays, at least partially. I'm sorry to hear you're being dismissed - hopefully it'll give you an opportunity to find a better, non-toxic working environment.