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Un-Masking (Advice please)

pietro_21

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

  • Autistic people mask for a reason, that reason being that it is advantageous to appear and behave like the majority. Masking/camouflaging is not a problem in and of itself, in many ways it is a solution. It is only a problem if doing it impacts on the individual autist's wellbeing. The most common deleterious impact is that of exhaustion, maintaining a mask in public is exhausting, it takes mental effort. This exhaustion can lead to autistic burnout. However, this is not an inevitable outcome. It is possible to pace socialising and take time out to recover. Masking can also impact other types of poor mental health, this occurs when the social, study or work pressures exceed an individual's abilities to cope. Having to perform in a public arena where socialising or work productivity are expected, can be made worse by having to mask in addition. 

    Personally, I was perturbed by coming across the concept of 'unmasking' and it being presented in autism circles as necessary or it being a panacea for all that ails autists. I could not envisage how to do it and was doubtful of its advantages. I have come to the conclusion that unmasking probably helps some autistic people, but not all. Not me.

  • in reply to Martin

    I agree, the problem is that most people seek the approval of others or to at least appear socially conscious. I don't really have the slightest interest in group social situations, dynamics, or what people I don;t know think of me. Its more to do with self improvement to know I am being the most undisingenuous person I can be. It has affected me to the point of melt down in the past, notably when relationships have ended I can find it hard to do anything. I read a new book yesterday (and bought the audio verion) called The Autistics Guide to Self-Discovery. There are some helpful chapters at the end which highlight these pitfalls of masking as denial and ignoring the warning signs that burnout is imminent. I would strongly recommend this to anyone here.

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  • in reply to Martin

    I agree, the problem is that most people seek the approval of others or to at least appear socially conscious. I don't really have the slightest interest in group social situations, dynamics, or what people I don;t know think of me. Its more to do with self improvement to know I am being the most undisingenuous person I can be. It has affected me to the point of melt down in the past, notably when relationships have ended I can find it hard to do anything. I read a new book yesterday (and bought the audio verion) called The Autistics Guide to Self-Discovery. There are some helpful chapters at the end which highlight these pitfalls of masking as denial and ignoring the warning signs that burnout is imminent. I would strongly recommend this to anyone here.

Children
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