Uncovering The Camouflage
A series about unmasking our authentic neurodivergent selves
Masking Story Series
We’ve published a number of stories on the topic of masking, and later unmasking, one’s neurodivergent characteristics and qualities.
Masking is hiding our neurodivergent traits in order to fit in with the majority neurotypical society.
The act of masking is different for everyone, the stress it takes on people is different for everyone, and the necessity to mask for one’s self-preservation is different for everyone.
As such, I am grateful to our fellow Neurodiversified writers for sharing their stories about masking and unmasking, to help share a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
2023 update: Masking Doesn’t Even Work
Wait, wait! I’m not talking about medical masks or anything virus-related. I’m referring here to personality masking, or camouflaging. Long-term repercussions notwithstanding, ADHD and Autistic masking is not even effective…
A 2022 Update: Masking, mirroring, and “unstable personality”
Who wouldn’t want to blend in with the crowd in an attempt to escape relentless bullying and try to fit in for a change? Clearly being myself was a liability at that time.
Mirroring is when a person mimics the body language, verbal habits, or attitudes of someone else, either intentionally or unconsciously.
If we’re constantly corrected, criticized, even punished just for being ourselves, then who are we supposed to be?
It makes perfect sense we’d try to find someone who seems to be getting through life much more easily and try to mirror their personality, in the hopes that our lives could be made easier too.
Unmasking Autism
Why I let my neurodivergent quirks loose when I’m working with clients
Is it more important to perform the neuronormative expectation of what “professional” looks like, or to have someone competent and knowledgeable, who also possesses lived experience as an Autistic and ADHD adult?
Catherine Londero wrote a story entitled “How To Stop Masking Your True Neurodivergent Self”
In November 2021, Lula Maude wrote a story entitled “Taking Off The Mask: What would it really mean to stop masking my autistic traits?”
In May 2022, Lula Maude wrote a follow-up piece entitled “Unmasking Is Impossible”
In June, I shared my story about losing my true self behind the mask, “I Was Masking For So Long, I Lost Myself”
Later, I compared Masking with Code Switching, discovering the similarities between the two social behaviours:
I recently added this short piece about Unmasking in the Wild:
And was inspired by an Instagram photo series to write this one about the different types of masks we wear:
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We’re always on the lookout for more educational, informative, and well-written articles about ADHD, twice exceptionality, neurodiversity, parenting, advocacy, and education.
Want to write for us? Check out our submission guidelines.
