Autism and masking

Autistic masking is a survival strategy, but it often comes at a high cost.

Even though more people in the autism community are becoming aware of autistic masking, it’s still often misunderstood by the public. This lack of understanding can make it harder for autistic individuals to feel included in schools, workplaces and society as a whole. By learning how masking affects someone you know—or even yourself—you can help break down barriers and find support.

WHAT IS MASKING?

Autistic ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’ is where a person with autism consciously or unconsciously alters their behaviour or personal traits to appear neurotypical (not autistic or neurodivergent). It can show up in different ways, including:

• Suppressing their emotions, ideas or opinions
• Behaving very differently in public and private settings
• Spending significant amounts of time worrying about social events
• Withdrawing socially and taking a very passive role in social situations
• Copying or imitating others’ gestures, mannerisms and social behaviours
• Forcing themselves to make eye contact, even when it is distressing to do so
• Forcing themselves not to stim (engage in self-stimulatory behaviours), even when it is distressing to do so
• Feeling extremely tired and requiring a lot of recovery time after social events
• Preparing or rehearsing conversations beforehand; creating a ‘script’ to follow
• Perfectionism related to behaving a certain way or ‘performing perfectly’ in social settings
• Hiding talents or deliberating underperforming in certain tasks to avoid attention

Autistic people mask for many different reasons, often to avoid bullying, exclusion, discrimination or unwanted attention. This is particularly common in schools, workplaces and social situations, where autistic people may mask their confusion, discomfort or feelings of anxiety and frustration to appear calm, confident, happy or generally more similar to their peers.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

Masking can have a range of negative impacts on the health and well being of a person with autism. The energy required to mask and the stress that it can cause can lead to physical, emotional and mental health challenges, including:

• Autistic burnout
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Mood swings, meltdowns and shutdowns
• Increased cortisol levels and tension headaches
• Social isolation and a lack of strong and meaningful social relationships
• Mental health challenges, including chronic stress, anxiety and depression

For undiagnosed autistic people, masking can delay the process of getting a diagnosis. Families, educators, clinicians and even the person themselves may struggle to identify signs that they are autistic. This then impacts the funding and support that person can access, how others understand them, and how they understand themselves.

Some autistic people and their loved ones may not realise the impact masking is having until they reach the point of burnout. This is a serious health issue that disrupts all areas of a person’s life, making awareness around masking and when it is taking a toll even more important.

WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
The first step in tackling the harms of masking is to recognise when, where and why it is happening. For example, an autistic person may mask at school or work if they don’t feel comfortable asking for help or fear they will be treated poorly or differently if they do so. Once you have understood how masking presents for an autistic person, you can then create and implement strategies to reduce their need to mask while prioritising their safety.

Many people outside the autism community may not fully understand masking. That’s why it’s important to have conversations with those around an autistic person—such as school staff, coworkers, family, friends, and health professionals. By explaining what masking is and how it affects you or your loved one, you can help them adjust their perspectives and offer better support.

When an autistic person has a strong support network, navigating masking and unmasking is much less overwhelming. Family members, friends, educators, and professionals should encourage autistic people to share their emotions and experiences openly and create spaces where autistic people can unmask without judgement. Encouraging people with autism to be authentic and to celebrate who they are is essential. And if an autistic person may be struggling with masking or their mental health, encouraging them to take breaks and prioritise rest and professional help is key.

It’s important to remember that masking is a highly individual experience, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to addressing its negative impacts. Some autistic people may mask every day, while others may only mask in certain situations. Other autistic people may be unable to mask or will consciously choose not to. Learning to unmask is also not a straightforward process; it requires consistent patience and understanding from an autistic person’s support network. Be patient, empathetic and flexible when supporting someone to unmask; this is the best support you can give.

MASKING VS UNMASKING

From the outside, it might seem like the simple answer to the issues caused by masking is to just stop doing it. But in reality, it’s much harder than that, and in some cases, is even unsafe.

Many autistic people find that masking or camouflaging can be helpful in certain situations, and there are several reasons for this. In places where autism isn’t fully understood or accepted, masking can become a necessity for autistic individuals. It’s important to remember that it’s not their responsibility to put themselves at risk by unmasking, especially if they’re around people who may not be supportive. Instead, it’s up to all of us to change how we talk about and approach autism, creating spaces where diversity is respected and celebrated, not just tolerated.

The fact that masking is so common among autistic people highlights how far we have to go when it comes to autism acceptance in society. Until every autistic person can safely be their true selves, masking will continue to be an issue. We all must be aware of and address it with safe, supportive strategies—for individuals, families, educators, and the wider community.

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For more free, evidence-based autism information, visit autismawareness.com.au