For autistic people, masking – presenting oneself in a way to fit in better in a neurotypical world – can be both necessary and exhausting. Unmasking is the process of making space for autistic or neurodivergent traits to shine through in daily life.

What is Unmasking?

Unmasking is about honoring one’s unique brain and what it needs, slowly letting go of the pressure to appear neurotypical. It’s not about turning into a different person or suddenly being ‘your real self,’ but rather the gradual decision to stop overriding one’s nervous system to appear ‘acceptable.’

According to Stephanie Steele-Wren, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist specializing in adult autism, ‘unmasking is the cognitive and emotional work of reducing or letting go of internalized ableism or self-judgment, which allows someone to live authentically without shame or beliefs that they need to change or hide.’

Types of Unmasking

There are two types of unmasking: internal and external. Internal unmasking is the cognitive and emotional work of reducing or letting go of internalized ableism or self-judgment. External unmasking is when autistic people stop covering up autistic traits or hiding that part of their identity.

Partial, situational, or reversible unmasking is the context-dependent approach where autistic people adjust their level of masking based on factors like safety, acceptance, potential consequences, as well as level of energy or fatigue.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.