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12 Ways I Masked as an Undiagnosed Autistic Girl
Masking. It’s something many Autistic’s do. It’s one of the reasons why girls, women, and other minorities often go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. We learn how to mask and hide the things that make us obviously Autistic.
Below are 12 ways I masked when I was a child.
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1 Shy and Quiet
“Oh, she’s just shy.” I allowed this label. I lived it and breathed it. Instead of risking saying something wrong, I simply didn’t say anything at all. I was the quiet kid and I was more than ok with that.
2 No Stimming
I learned at a young age that most of my stims were annoying or I “grew out of them.” They were seen as childish things, silly things. So, I didn’t stim. Ever. Even when I was alone. You can imagine what that did to my nervous system.
3 Special Interest Unlocked: Psychology
In an effort to understand both myself and others, I kind of naturally fell into learning about psychology and personality types. I wanted to know others and how their minds worked so I could socialize with them better. I craved any and all knowledge that would make me feel less bizarre and more easily understood.
