Remember, neurotypicals see unmasking as a negative experience.
Example: if I bring my husband with me to doctor appointments, I stay unmasked. This usually means I stim a lot, don’t force speech so I may use my text to speech app, and regulate through echolalia and palilalia. It helps me a lot and I generally cope in my mind better as I’m expending less energy and letting my husband and app “do the talking”. I don’t make facial expressions and any talking I do is usually monotone.
My husband thinks I’m actually worse off if he goes to the doctor with me. He doesn’t understand how “acting more autistic” is actually better for me. I’ve explained it to him, but he struggles to understand, especially since from the outside I look like I may be in anguish.
Because don’t forget, society has stigmatised the common actions associated with unmasking: rocking, nodding, repeating words, not giving the proper social cues, not talking etc are all “signs of someone about to lose it”. Or some sort of ableist slur.
Masking keeps things moving smoothly for society. Even if it breaks me down. They don’t worry about that part, as long as you do it at home.