Autism

6837 readers

1 users here now

A community for respectful discussion and memes related to autism acceptance. All neurotypes are welcome.

We have created our own instance! Visit Autism Place the following community for more info.

Community:

Values

Acceptance
Openness
Understanding
Equality
Reciprocity
Mutuality
Love

Rules

No abusive, derogatory, or offensive post/comments e.g: racism, sexism, religious hatred, homophobia, gatekeeping, trolling.
Posts must be related to autism, off-topic discussions happen in the matrix chat.
Your posts must include a text body. It doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be descriptive.
Do not request donations.
Be respectful in discussions.
Do not post misinformation.
Mark NSFW content accordingly.
Do not promote Autism Speaks.
General Lemmy World rules.

Encouraged

Open acceptance of all autism levels as a respectable neurotype.
Funny memes.
Respectful venting.
Describe posts of pictures/memes using text in the body for our visually impaired users.
Welcoming and accepting attitudes.
Questions regarding autism.
Questions on confusing situations.
Seeking and sharing support.
Engagement in our community's values.
Expressing a difference of opinion without directly insulting another user.
Please report questionable posts and let the mods deal with it. Chat Room

We have a chat room! Want to engage in dialogue? Come join us at the community's Matrix Chat.

Helpful Resources

Are you seeking education, support groups, and more? Take a look at our list of helpful resources.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

How to "unmask"? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In my 30's and only within the last few years have I been able to really introspect my life, and realize behaviors that I've "created" or "fake" in social interactions. I struggled a lot in middle/high school, and even through my 20's. I've essentially "found" myself to some degree in my 30's, but I'm actually not sure how much of it is me and how much of it is masking.

I recognize the signs when I'm being fake in interactions that would benefit from being more genuine. It's automatic, and I've noticed others take notice when it's the wrong mask at the wrong time. Which just means I get better at it, which is nice and all, but it would be cool if it wasn't such an automatic reaction.

So my question to all of you is how do you reduce masking behavior in situations or relationships where it may be beneficial or necessary to not do so?

Awkwardly I guess you could answer this with "You get better at it with time", which is true of most things. However, I'm looking for some emotionally intelligent advice or anecdotes.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I don’t know if this helps but, I’ve kind of just become comfortable with things being awkward. If I have a serious conversation coming up or whatever, I just change my expectations about what’s going to happen. I will be misunderstood. I will not be able to express my thoughts exactly with the English language. I will over explain. I will ask a dumb question that “should” know the answer to. I probably won’t use someone’s name, even though I know for a fact what their name is (my brain gets in a loop of “what I get their name wrong after all this time, I’ll look like such an asshole”).

I don’t even feel like I accurately expressed what I’m feeling with this post. And I’ve read and changed it a couple of times trying to.

Hope that helps.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

I probably won’t use someone’s name, even though I know for a fact what their name is (my brain gets in a loop of “what I get their name wrong after all this time, I’ll look like such an asshole”).

TIL that’s another autistic trait I have 😬