• Replies 9 replies
  • Subscribers 83 subscribers
  • Views 214 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Choosing not to unmask completely?

counterpoint

Sometimes, I feel that the cost of unmasking and risking feeling misunderstood regarding my own autism may be greater than keeping the diagnosis for myself, not talking about it, and resuming my previous life while mitigating the problems with some invisible adjustments.

I can imagine the risks of possibly suppressing my own needs and working against my own brain and body, but being almost 50 years old means that I'm somehow a hybrid of a newly discovered autistic self and life-spanning coping and surviving mechanisms, and that the latter are an integral part of myself.

I've read that some people decide to do that. I'm just wondering if someone here has managed to resume their previous life, choosing to leave the "label" behind so others don't know, in a way where they feel complete and happy despite choosing not to unmask completely?

Parents

  • Thank you for writing this, it’s something I’m struggling with at the moment. I’ve tried to unmask around people, but apart from one person I have only received negative comments. 

    I feel like I’ve finally awoken, but must keep all the thoughts inside my head, otherwise it just leads to, “ you used to like that.”

    Im trying not to regress but I find it easier just to watch and not make comment, I feel less and less like I belong where I am.

    I wonder why I waited three years for a diagnosis, I’m treated exactly the same and expected to do everything I did before. 

Reply

  • Thank you for writing this, it’s something I’m struggling with at the moment. I’ve tried to unmask around people, but apart from one person I have only received negative comments. 

    I feel like I’ve finally awoken, but must keep all the thoughts inside my head, otherwise it just leads to, “ you used to like that.”

    Im trying not to regress but I find it easier just to watch and not make comment, I feel less and less like I belong where I am.

    I wonder why I waited three years for a diagnosis, I’m treated exactly the same and expected to do everything I did before. 

Children
No Data