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masking and loosing identity

Geestar8

Hi,

I'm starting this discussion to see if anyone else has the same issue as me. I am autistic and a woman who was diagnosed late, I know I have been masking for most of my life but now I realise actually I've lost who I am as I mask too much and do not seem to somewhat control it either. Does anyone else have this same thing or anyone know how to re-identify yourself??

Parents

  • Hi, my name's Amelia and was late diagnosed. 100% I understand where you are coming from, I spent years subconsciously masking in order to fit in with the neurotypical people around me.

    Since unmasking over a year ago, I have had the biggest identity crisis - losing friendships because of it. Not knowing who I really am and whether the 'masked' version of myself was really me or just a facade I portrayed. Most of the people in my life only knew the 'masked version' of me, and sometimes ask me 'what happened', however I feel quite disconnected now from the person I essentially used to be. It's a huge lose of personal identity - I've felt in order to accept my autism, I've had to equally accept that I'm not the same person I used to be. But I ultimately know I couldn't have continued masking for the rest of my life as it was exhausting. 

    I really hope this helps and remember nobody is alone on their unmasking journey 

Reply

  • Hi, my name's Amelia and was late diagnosed. 100% I understand where you are coming from, I spent years subconsciously masking in order to fit in with the neurotypical people around me.

    Since unmasking over a year ago, I have had the biggest identity crisis - losing friendships because of it. Not knowing who I really am and whether the 'masked' version of myself was really me or just a facade I portrayed. Most of the people in my life only knew the 'masked version' of me, and sometimes ask me 'what happened', however I feel quite disconnected now from the person I essentially used to be. It's a huge lose of personal identity - I've felt in order to accept my autism, I've had to equally accept that I'm not the same person I used to be. But I ultimately know I couldn't have continued masking for the rest of my life as it was exhausting. 

    I really hope this helps and remember nobody is alone on their unmasking journey 

Children
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