Yahoo Lifestyle What is masking – and does it impact women and girls differently?
Over the last few years, thanks to incredible awareness campaigns and notable figures like Sia and Christine McGuinness sharing their experiences, the public's knowledge of autism has certainly grown – and that includes being more aware of traits shown in those who are neurodivergent (having a brain that works differently from a 'typical' one), such as masking.
But, masking – wherein a neurodivergent person might copy the behaviours of others, suppress their emotions or thoughts in an attempt to fit in, or develop social scripts to get by – isn't just seen in those who have autism. While masking may be most associated with those who have autism, people with ADHD, explains Dr Selina Warlow of The Nook Clinic (a neurodevelopmental clinic), might also mask at times too.
Masking is also more often seen in women and girls with autism and/or ADHD than it is with boys and men who have a similar diagnosis.
With the help of Dr Warlow, here's what you need to know about masking.
What is masking?
"Masking or camouflaging can be described as hiding, disguising, or suppressing parts of yourself to try and fit in with people around you," explains Dr Warlow. "It can be a common trait in spectrum conditions, and it is a trait which we will often see in women and girls with autism. However, men with autism may also mask."
While the majority of us will have likely changed the way we act in order to fit in at one point or another, whether we're neurotypical or neurodivergent, masking is a more common trait in people with autism "who may mask to avoid prejudice, stigma, bullying and discrimination to blend into a neurotypical world", says the expert.
"People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also show masking behaviours. For example, they may try and suppress movement behaviours at school but show these when they feel comfortable at home, or they may continuously check their belongings for fear of forgetting something," adds Dr Warlow.
Are women/girls more likely to mask than men/boys?
Oftentimes, yes. "Girls and women with autism often mask their traits more than men due to societal pressures, stronger social mimicry skills, and differences in how autism presents itself in females," notes Dr Warlow, adding that woman and girls are socialised to prioritise relationships and conformity, and their autistic traits, such as subtle social struggles or socially acceptable special interests, are less easily recognised.
"Diagnostic tools based on male presentations often miss female traits, reinforcing the need for masking. Greater awareness of these gender differences can improve support and reduce the need to camouflage."
What are the signs of masking?
While we're all individuals and therefore different, there are some common ways that people are known to mask says Dr Warlow – and a lot of the time, for people with autism, it revolves around copying social cues and behaviours. This could be anything from facial expressions to mimicking a particular style of speaking.
"For autistic individuals, masking can [also] include rehearsing responses in your head, or suppressing self-soothing actions like stimming [repeated movements or vocalisations, like hair-twirling or flapping the hands]," the autism and ADHD professional shares. "They may force eye contact despite discomfort or endure overwhelming sensory environments to avoid standing out."
Masking, sadly, can take a real toll on mental health and energy levels in those with autism – leaving people exhausted. "These efforts are often exhausting and can lead to feelings of fatigue and low mood. In some children, they may experience 'meltdowns' when they get home. Some individuals with autism can also describe feeling like they feel disconnected from reality or feeling like they don’t know who they really are."
In ADHD, masking may present slightly differently says Dr Warlow.
"Masking [in ADHD] may manifest as suppressing impulsive actions or overcompensating for inattentiveness through elaborate organisational systems," she explains. "Hyperactive individuals might hide their restlessness by engaging in subtle fidgeting, such as tapping or doodling. They may also over-prepare for tasks to disguise their challenges with focus and forgetfulness, often striving to appear calm and composed even when struggling internally. Again, this can be exhausting and lead to burnout, anxiety, low mood, and fatigue."
What helps with masking?
If you or someone you know is struggling with masking, perhaps feeling the mental health knock-on effects, luckily there are steps that can help.
"We would encourage neurodiverse individuals not to feel that they need to mask," says Dr Warlow. "It may be helpful for them to advocate for their needs instead, for example, to explain that they experience social or sensory overwhelm and need to leave the room for five minutes, or not to attend certain events if they feel overwhelmed – rather than feel they need to tolerate this and then feel overwhelmed afterwards."
The expert adds that there's nothing wrong with wanting to mask, but it's important to give yourself space and time to recover afterwards, if that's what you feel is needed. "In some situations, people may feel they want to mask, and that is also ok, but then they may need space to decompress afterwards. If you have a big social event on Saturday, you may want to keep the next day quiet to relax and decompress and recharge your social battery."
As with anything in life, education is key. "Learning about masking can also be helpful, we find that it can help individuals to learn more about themselves and show more compassion towards themselves and their needs," says Dr Warlow, recommending the book Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life by Emily Katy as a helpful resource for those wanting to learn more about autism. "It's a women's experience of her autism diagnosis and how it helped her to embrace her authentic self."
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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