Masking, personality and hobbies

Hey!

I got diagnosed as an adult so I’m pretty sure I’ve been masking my whole life and still not very open with people.  I know I’ve been copying other people (real, famous, fictional).

The question is, how do you know where the masking stops and the real you begins?  How do I know what personality and hobbies and even what clothes I wear are really mine?

Parents
  • I knew my real me was when I was alone at home... I stim and sing and dance and shout my thoughts and laugh randomly and cry when I feel like it. My partner sees the real me, but I struggle with being me in the world without people asking "are you alright", "are you okay", "what are you doing". I can't keep masking anymore though it's causing me to become more and more unwell.. so I've started having conversations with people about why I might do things or say things that seem out of the ordinary.

    I created a Pinterest account and put things I liked into set folders and I've come to notice I love plain and dark clothes or brown and beige.. whereas my wardrobe is full of floral clothes.. that I found uncomfortable. So I'm now only purchasing things that my mind feels comfortable with.. also they HAVE to be comfortable now as I can't manage the energy to wear things that aren't comfortable.

Reply
  • I knew my real me was when I was alone at home... I stim and sing and dance and shout my thoughts and laugh randomly and cry when I feel like it. My partner sees the real me, but I struggle with being me in the world without people asking "are you alright", "are you okay", "what are you doing". I can't keep masking anymore though it's causing me to become more and more unwell.. so I've started having conversations with people about why I might do things or say things that seem out of the ordinary.

    I created a Pinterest account and put things I liked into set folders and I've come to notice I love plain and dark clothes or brown and beige.. whereas my wardrobe is full of floral clothes.. that I found uncomfortable. So I'm now only purchasing things that my mind feels comfortable with.. also they HAVE to be comfortable now as I can't manage the energy to wear things that aren't comfortable.

Children