When they ask me why I always mask

I don’t imagine for one second that you are. Im sure many people have negative experiences with employers which is really sad. As I stated I agreed that this may be the experience for some people. I just think such sweeping statements are potentially damaging and failing to acknowledge that some people have positive experiences and could put them off having that conversation with an employer and missing out on any benefit or accommodation. 

I am not the only one who had bad experiences with employers. It's better to keep it safe until you can be sure that your employer is REALLY supportive.

I don’t think it’s fair to generalise ALL employers like that. Whilst some may react like that to finding out their employee is autistic, that has not been my experience. I think comments like this could really put someone off disclosing their diagnosis to an employer when actually for them it could be a really positive thing as they could look for example at reasonable adjustments to help support them with employment and in their role. 

I’m really glad that I am being supported to unmask at work at a pace and in a way that suits me. Masking for me is exhausting and I cannot continue to live that way, always pretending and trying to please other people all the time. It has led me to burnout on numerous occasions and I personally just cannot do that anymore. 

I think we, as autistic/neurodivergent diagnosed or self diagnosed people on a forum need to be aware of putting out such negative generalised information that may scare and put off others. Whilst I believe it’s good to share you own feelings and experiences, making such broad statements all the time can be really negative and unhelpful to read. 

Lol my town does things like that. I think the people who dream up that idea actually think no one's going to notice.  Thanks for making me smile today with your comment.

That too! :-)

Shardovan said:

Give me a slow but dignified slide into faded grandeur any day.

I was thinking your text was some sort of analogy for life and so found this comment amusing.!

Slight side-bar, but I hate it when towns put up those cutesy fake-building facades. A village I lived in for a few years had a few closed down shops (the arrival of a Tesco did for them) that were falling into disrepair. The council (?) slapped toy-town pretend shop-fronts over the front of them and the sight of those made me feel so depressed. Give me a slow but dignified slide into faded grandeur any day. Anything but 2D painted on window-boxes, and a gaudy veneer surrounding them. 

I had completely the opposite experience. I was honest about wanting to die and they just put me on a waiting list. The only time they ever made me an inpatient was right after an attempt, and even then they let me go after a couple of days of lying and saying I was fine now. 

I guess it's just kind of a postcode lottery thing. 

that's quite unusual. In UK there is an extreme scarcity of beds, so shrinks will try everything before sectioning you. 

I remember when I first got involved with the mental health services and they said I could trust them and to be honest with them. Within a month I had been sectioned and it took months to get back home.

I never lower my mask anymore when around professionals. They never understand and think hospital is the miracle cure.