Autistic masking is the behavior of suppressing autistic traits to appear neurotypical for societal acceptance. This strategy, while common among many in the autistic community, is linked to worsened mental health, lower self-esteem, and autistic burnout. Certain populations, particularly women, girls, nonbinary individuals, and people of color, experience higher rates of masking, often due to societal misconceptions about autism. The complexity of masking underscores the importance of therapy for autistic individuals to explore their identities and support needs, especially as this phenomenon becomes more acknowledged in research.
Masking is a strategy that some autistic folks use to appear non-autistic and be more accepted in society. Researchers are just now beginning to explore masking in autism.
Chronic masking can lead to poor mental health, lower self-esteem, autistic burnout, and even suicidal thoughts. Understanding what it is and managing its impact is essential.
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