I want to unmask

Ellie said:

I don't know how

This book may offer some guidance:

Taking Off the Mask: Practical Exercises to Help Understand and Minimise the Effects of Autistic Camouflaging
Hannah Louise Belcher
ISBN 9781787755901

As   says, it is not easy to exist without a mask in society as people have a tendency to be very judgemental about those who do not conform. I would practice unmasking in safer spaces first before considering going "bareback" in public and get feedback from those around you about how they see you and if they think it will be a problem if you do it everywhere.

It will depend very much on what your unmasked behaviour is like. If, for example, you flap your hands and want to talk to everyone about your special interest then you will run into pushback quite fast.

My approach is a mix of masking in situations where I know I will be expected to behave a certain way (eg when meeting my solicitor about contracts I want drawn up or when eating in a really fancy restaurant) but the rest of the time mostly being authentic and not really caring about other peoples opinions.

I have few "tells" other than a fairly unexpressive face and a tendency to stare so it isn't much of an issue. Where I do get the odd "what you looking at mate!" comments then I have a few scripted responses I use, whether to apologise using autism as an excuse to making a comment on their clothes - typically a compliment - and asking where they got them from as I would love to get my brother / wife ones like that.

You will develop the skills with time but always work with what causes the lest resistance for your ablity to deal with feedback.

Ellie said:

I don't know how

This book may offer some guidance:

Taking Off the Mask: Practical Exercises to Help Understand and Minimise the Effects of Autistic Camouflaging
Hannah Louise Belcher
ISBN 9781787755901

As   says, it is not easy to exist without a mask in society as people have a tendency to be very judgemental about those who do not conform. I would practice unmasking in safer spaces first before considering going "bareback" in public and get feedback from those around you about how they see you and if they think it will be a problem if you do it everywhere.

It will depend very much on what your unmasked behaviour is like. If, for example, you flap your hands and want to talk to everyone about your special interest then you will run into pushback quite fast.

My approach is a mix of masking in situations where I know I will be expected to behave a certain way (eg when meeting my solicitor about contracts I want drawn up or when eating in a really fancy restaurant) but the rest of the time mostly being authentic and not really caring about other peoples opinions.

I have few "tells" other than a fairly unexpressive face and a tendency to stare so it isn't much of an issue. Where I do get the odd "what you looking at mate!" comments then I have a few scripted responses I use, whether to apologise using autism as an excuse to making a comment on their clothes - typically a compliment - and asking where they got them from as I would love to get my brother / wife ones like that.

You will develop the skills with time but always work with what causes the lest resistance for your ablity to deal with feedback.