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Autism masking and regression after mental health breakdowns

Terryaki

Hello fellow forum users,

This is my first post on the forum and I am in need of some assistance. I am diagnosed autistic but also have a diagnosis of CPTSD and have quite severe mental rumination. I have had a few severe mental breakdowns and recently had two within a 4 month period that have left me taking time off work and being unable to look after myself. 

my partner made a comment that my mannerism had changed and that I have become more withdrawn and in a sense lost the ability to socialise. I have noticed this too to an extent but I wondered whether this is a known phenomenon in people with autism who go through mental breakdowns. It almost feels like I cannot mask at all.

thank you for all your information and assistance in advance 

Parents

  • I’m sorry if this comment doesn’t help but it’s my own experience with something I feel is relatively similar.

    I had a huge breakdown in summer 2023 culminating in me needing to move house. I’d say after that my socialisation, confidence and other mannerisms were impacted heavily. I got a new job (more on that later) and they were kind of disrespectful towards me at first and seemed to think I was genuinely dumb (talked down to, mocked/under the pretence of banter, which it 100% wasn’t). Of course I have no idea if it was the breakdown which messed me up or the fact a GP gave me sertraline which didn’t help at all. There’s a video out there me doing an interview and it must be the worst case of stuttering in recorded history. Never ever had that until 2023.

    Breakdown 2, in early 2025, honestly, I just felt like my brain was re-wiring in real time, I know that sounds irrational, but it was a breakup, and it was kind of like my entire system inside me just violently evolved into something else. My inner voice changed entirely. Deep down, I’m still going through it. I am more distant. More aggressive and abrasive. Became much more agoraphobic and short tempered and basically walked out my job early this year, I’d have gotten sacked anyway and honestly if I didn’t have my autism I would have.

    So all I can really say is, yes. I would say a breakdown can change my behaviour and mannerisms.

  • in reply to Terryaki

    Do not worry at all! I often use my own experiences to portray I understand a situation :) I was quite worried about the scenario because I feel like I am losing a lot of the skills I once had. Albeit, those are likely purely masking behaviours.                      

  • in reply to Terryaki

    Like yourself, I have become more reclusive.  Though due to my cptsd and other mental health issues, i have always been introverted/withdrawn to an extent. 

    my partner commented that my ability to hold eye contact has significantly reduced and they are leading conversations with people; where prior to my breakdowns I would take on a more confident persona to initiate conversation

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  • in reply to Terryaki

    Like yourself, I have become more reclusive.  Though due to my cptsd and other mental health issues, i have always been introverted/withdrawn to an extent. 

    my partner commented that my ability to hold eye contact has significantly reduced and they are leading conversations with people; where prior to my breakdowns I would take on a more confident persona to initiate conversation

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