I have an analogy I use to explain masking. I have bad knees. More recently I have a knee injury that my doctor thinks is a torn meniscus (haven't had MRI yet but that's beside the point here). It hurts; sometimes more, sometimes less. I usually walk with a limp, wear a brace and sometimes even use a cane. To an outsider, it's very obvious there's something wrong. I can, however, take off the brace, leave the cane in the car, and suppress the limp, forcing myself to walk normally. I can do it. It hurts more and I'll have issues later due to the swelling and inflammation I'll trigger by not favoring the injured knee. But while I'm doing it folk outside won't be able to see that I have an injury. They certainly won't see the damage hiding it is doing to me. That's masking, only on a mental and emotional level rather than a physical one. The big difference is that I don't have to "mask" the knee injury because walking with a limp, or using mobility aids such as braces and canes, is not stigmatized in the same way that many autistic behaviors are. I don't have to try to guess the lesser of problems with stigmatization and the problems with masking. I can do what's needed to protect my knees. It would be nice if we could do the same with autistic behaviors.
On the point with the airpots: I have gotten myself 'loops' these are very discreet earplugs with varying degrees of dimming the environment and it prevented shutdowns and migraine for me. Maybe it'll help some of you too 😊
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People pleasing was one of my biggest problems when I was younger it's not good it opens you up to be manipulated.
I have an analogy I use to explain masking. I have bad knees. More recently I have a knee injury that my doctor thinks is a torn meniscus (haven't had MRI yet but that's beside the point here). It hurts; sometimes more, sometimes less. I usually walk with a limp, wear a brace and sometimes even use a cane. To an outsider, it's very obvious there's something wrong.
I can, however, take off the brace, leave the cane in the car, and suppress the limp, forcing myself to walk normally. I can do it. It hurts more and I'll have issues later due to the swelling and inflammation I'll trigger by not favoring the injured knee. But while I'm doing it folk outside won't be able to see that I have an injury. They certainly won't see the damage hiding it is doing to me.
That's masking, only on a mental and emotional level rather than a physical one. The big difference is that I don't have to "mask" the knee injury because walking with a limp, or using mobility aids such as braces and canes, is not stigmatized in the same way that many autistic behaviors are. I don't have to try to guess the lesser of problems with stigmatization and the problems with masking. I can do what's needed to protect my knees.
It would be nice if we could do the same with autistic behaviors.
Good analogy
On the point with the airpots: I have gotten myself 'loops' these are very discreet earplugs with varying degrees of dimming the environment and it prevented shutdowns and migraine for me.
Maybe it'll help some of you too 😊
Thank you for talking about this in such an articulate way.
Masking has gotten my career in education for the last 10 years. I love my job, even though it is especially draining sometimes..
thanks Thomas. This was helpful
This was my favorite video you've done yet
Thank you!! 💙
You content is always good. Thank you for all information
No joke, my trolls think masking is about Covid protection. 😂
😊😊😊😊😅