when neurodivergent people mask their natural tendencies to fit in with neurotypical people or get through a situation, it requires more effort than it would for someone without autism or ADHD
#Masking
Autistic Masking Is A Survival Mechanism Until It’s A Threat To Survival
A very good read about masking autism and burnout
This is a very good read for everyone, autistics and non-autistics, alike: “Why does masking autism contribute to burnout?” By Eloise Stark, an Autistic Ph.D. candidate from the University of Oxford, who was diagnosed at age 27.
“I am who I am, I’m autistic and proud, I’m different, and for the first time in my life, I’m okay with that.”
…
“Following the attack, I developed a recurrence of mental-health problems from my youth. I grew more and more unwell. I was anxious, obsessive, depressed, and began to have suicidal feelings. I was overwhelmed by the world, by just being, and didn’t know how to cope with it.”
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“Masking autism wasn’t a sustainable or safe option. I was admitted to the hospital, yet every clinician disagreed on my diagnosis. Most remarked that they felt they were ‘missing something’.”
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“‘All your life you have been masking autism.’”
(me: Yep, that’s me.)
Read her journey