Un-Masking (Advice please)

I would like to ask about peoples experiences of unmasking, aiming to unmask fully. For the reason of improving health and wellbeing. And how this feels or what improved, or worsened because of this.

Without wanting to go into any conspiracy theories, there is a part of me that there are bad actor normies scheming around us alll the time. This include those who might exploit people with autism to further their aims or neurotype beliefs. Part of me also sees a massive social media drive to encourage more people to unmask, I'm not sure who this benefits unless it is totally self initiated. 

Do other people need to know you have unmasked? Have you asked for support? Are the external changes noticable mainly to you or are the internal benefits of doing this commented on by others. Does unmasking also require a degree of disclosure to others, or does another level of masking occur if you don't fully disclose it?!!

I asked ai about it and it said suggested: 'selective unmasking and using scripts to reduce social effort' which seems to be what people who mask are doing to some extent. 

Parents
  • Tricky thing is that "unmasking" helps to get in a window of more comfortable and effective function from an "inside out" basis.

    Taking the mask off when one is outside of the effective comfortable range can be a big social faux pas from an "outside in" basis that only the brave, confident and maybe heavily resourced are equipped for.

    The way I feel some of the time removing my mask would make life in neurotypical society damn near impossible - despite laws governing discrimination etc.

    So as has been well put, pick time and place as able (mistakes will happen - so make sure they're unlikely to cause too much collateral damage to be managed) and go for it.

    Masks within masks?  Hmm... reads like pealing an onion, could end in tears and nothing left!  After a bit of practice one gets accustomed to who one is - of course this changes with how one is feeling at the time and getting a hang on that is a separate but very closely linked issue...

    A long term strategy to engineering ones life so that the environment one inhabits is more conducive to being unmasked and "authentic" maybe?

  • Its slightly hypothetical in that it is still a mask even if emotionally I feel its removed, its also the synergy with others and how genuinely I they feell about those relationships. Some of the advice only suggests preparing seems counterintuitive, when actually spontenaity is far better for being and giving authenticity. Its less of a problem when I am relaxed. My awareness that there will always be those who attempt to disturb and disrupt me. It would probably require my interest and enjoyment to prolong engagement without shields up.

  • "spontenaity is far better for being and giving authenticity. Its less of a problem when I am relaxed" 

    you've nailed it yes  

    so... :-)

    "those who attempt to disturb and disrupt me"  hmmmm.....

    "my interest and enjoyment to prolong engagement"

    maybe the opportunity to exercise choice in these matters as part of a long term strategy?

Reply
  • "spontenaity is far better for being and giving authenticity. Its less of a problem when I am relaxed" 

    you've nailed it yes  

    so... :-)

    "those who attempt to disturb and disrupt me"  hmmmm.....

    "my interest and enjoyment to prolong engagement"

    maybe the opportunity to exercise choice in these matters as part of a long term strategy?

Children