• Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 85 subscribers
  • Views 306 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

Masking

Larissa

Okay, I don't know if any other autistic person can relate to this but I feel when I'm in public it's so hard to be present because I feel I'm constantly monitoring my own behaviours and trying not to act weird 

This is a very subconscious thing that I've recently realised that I've been doing but it just it makes it hard to just enjoy myself and enjoy the nature and be present without constantly scanning for who's paying attention to me and what people think of me

Parents

  • It is a byproduct of how autistic people learn and use communication skills. Allistics learn interpersonal skills subconsciously in childhood and throughout life use these skills without any conscious effort. Autistics learn the same skills but use far more conscious copying and intellect to do so. Throughout an autistic person's life interpersonal skills are achieved through conscious effort. Communication and just being in public are performative. In essence an autistic person in a public setting is behaving much like an actor, remembering lines and stage directions. It is exhausting and the autist is always scanning themselves and others to check that their performance is good, or at least adequate. A level of self-consciousness and 'fear of perception' seem to be common aspects of being autistic. 

Reply

  • It is a byproduct of how autistic people learn and use communication skills. Allistics learn interpersonal skills subconsciously in childhood and throughout life use these skills without any conscious effort. Autistics learn the same skills but use far more conscious copying and intellect to do so. Throughout an autistic person's life interpersonal skills are achieved through conscious effort. Communication and just being in public are performative. In essence an autistic person in a public setting is behaving much like an actor, remembering lines and stage directions. It is exhausting and the autist is always scanning themselves and others to check that their performance is good, or at least adequate. A level of self-consciousness and 'fear of perception' seem to be common aspects of being autistic. 

Children
No Data