Unconscious Autism Masking

Have you ever realized, years later, that you’ve been performing a version of yourself to fit in—and didn’t even know you were doing it? For many autistic people, this is the reality of unconscious masking.

Many autistic women mask their autism without even realizing it. In fact, “masking” can be an unconscious behavior that autistic people learn over time.

Many autistic individuals engage in masking—often to navigate a world not designed for them—without realizing the toll it can take.

Neurodiversity is the concept that there is natural variation in how human brains function. It refers to neurocognitive differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more that have both strengths and struggles.