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Unmasking experience

Max

Has anyone else on the spectrum spent most of their time on earth presenting as neurotypical? I spent many of my formative years, including all of my adolescence and now adulthood, trying to appear as ordinary as possible. I don't know if I'm 'high-functioning' or simply a good mimic.

This has included:

- keeping my niche interests and tastes to myself unless I know for certain that others will find them agreeable

- keeping physical tics to a bare minimum

- hiding my true feelings/opinions (this could be related to C-PTSD)

- mirroring the personalities or quirks of other people

I'm a deeply unhappy person with no real sense of self, no real friends and nowhere that I belong. That's what you get for trying to please everyone else!

If anyone has had a similar experience, feel free to share them here.

Thanks.

Parents

  • I can list some things people would call masking to better fit in with allistic people.

    • Not talking about dark topics
    • Not using dark humour
    • Not using politically incorrect humour
    • Not asking personal questions in the beginning of a friendship
    • Asking about their day
    • Giving verbal affection and compliments, but not in a superfluous manner
    • Not teasing them as they'd get offended
    • Not using insults to disagree with them as they'd get offended

    I'm sure there's more but I would have to think. I would state something I would put in my book, but I don't want to dox myself.

Reply

  • I can list some things people would call masking to better fit in with allistic people.

    • Not talking about dark topics
    • Not using dark humour
    • Not using politically incorrect humour
    • Not asking personal questions in the beginning of a friendship
    • Asking about their day
    • Giving verbal affection and compliments, but not in a superfluous manner
    • Not teasing them as they'd get offended
    • Not using insults to disagree with them as they'd get offended

    I'm sure there's more but I would have to think. I would state something I would put in my book, but I don't want to dox myself.

Children
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