“I hope more autistics are able to be the person they are, utilizing the supports and accommodations they need, without society insisting they hide their very essence at every turn. Similarly, Judy Endow, an autistic person, MSW, and a licensed clinical social worker in Madison, Wisconsin, shares this insight: The explanation for this is simple: the problem lies with the external world and not with the person themselves.” “…regardless of the coping strategy attempted there is no optimal outcome in which the person is unharmed (either by the exhaustion of maintaining a mask or by the resulting social consequences of not masking). In a 2021 study cataloging testimonials of neurodivergent folks who mask, study authors note that: Many autistic people use this strategy to cope. If you’re autistic and feel masking is a survival mechanism, you’re not alone. It can also harm mental health and well-being. The consequences of masking for autistic females may include receiving a late ASD diagnosis or no diagnosis. Research from 2021 suggests that for autistic females, motivations to camouflage autism may include an increased need to meet societal expectations and feelings of isolation that accompany difficulties with maintaining friendships. Do women use masking behaviors more, in particular?Īlthough autism is about four times more common in males than females, autism masking may occur more frequently in females. If you support an autistic person, they may verbalize sentiments like, “I don’t want others to think I’m different” or “I want to fit in.” These statements offer clues that they may be masking or looking to mask. They may also have more difficulty maintaining eye contact as the conversation lengthens. In this case, you may notice that the conversation isn’t flowing smoothly, or the autistic person may fidget more noticeably. Masking autism may become more difficult in unfamiliar scenarios. Masking behavior can be challenging to recognize because, by design, it’s intended to blend in with the mainstream. How can you tell if someone is masking autism? Understanding the difference can lead to better self-awareness and improved mental health. Instead, many autistic people prefer other therapeutic options that don’t focus on changing their authentic selves or altering who they are to fit a specific societal mold.Īlso, there’s a fine line between trying to improve yourself for overall wellness and attempting to change yourself to meet others’ expectations. Some research has suggested ABA may cause post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in some autistic people. Standard practice in particular autism therapies such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) has historically been to redirect autistic behaviors and traits to meet neurotypical expectations.īut some autism advocates and members of the autistic community disagree with this strategy. covering up expressive and receptive language challenges.reducing self-regulating behaviors such as stimming.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |