ADHD, masking, and the fear of being perceived
When an Autistic person is not given resources or access to self-knowledge, and when they’re told their stigmatized traits are just signs that they’re a disruptive, overly sensitive, or annoying kid, they have no choice but to develop a neurotypical façade. Maintaining that neurotypical mask feels deeply inauthentic and it’s extremely exhausting to
... See moreMasking is a labor-intensive, largely unsuccessful process that cleaves us from our bodies and our true feelings, and engaging in it can actively prevent us from forging real relationships or building happy lives.