Neurodiversity

Unmasking for neurodivergent adults is often talked about like a single moment - like something you either do or don’t do. But in reality, unmasking is a process. It’s not about suddenly “taking off a mask” and revealing a fully-formed, authentic self underneath. It’s about awareness , choice , and safety . For many neurodivergent people, masking developed for a reason - to navigate environments that weren’t built with them in mind. So unmasking isn’t about rejecting masking

Autistic masking often doesn’t feel like pretending. It feels like adapting. Surviving. Staying safe. But over time, that adaptation can come at a cost.