Ep. 3: Masking and Camouflaging Explained: Why Neurodivergent People Hide Their Traits

Do you ever change the way you act or behave depending on who you’re around? Do you ever feel like you are putting on a mask to fit in around other people? For many neurodivergent people these can be signs of masking or camouflaging. Neurodivergent people often have to mask or camouflage to hide their traits to be seen as more normal in society. This episode will cover

• The types of masking and the types of camouflaging 
• Why masking and camouflaging is so draining and the effects of doing these things long term
• The hidden costs of masking and masking burnout 
• Unmasking: how to know if it’s safe to unmask and how to start unmasking
• Where people tend to mask the most and what masking looks like in different settings
• Intersectionalities in masking 
• The difference between healthy harmful and necessary masking and camouflaging
• How to create environments where it is safe to unmask 

Through this episode you will learn how to identify masking behaviors in yourself or in others and you will understand the dangers of masking and camouflaging long term and learn how to start your unmasking journey and how to help others in their unmasking journey.

If you or someone you know is struggling help is available call or text 988 in the United States and Canada and 111 in the UK make sure you know the numbers for support in case you ever need them. 

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