What Is Masking?

 “Masking” (also known as “camouflaging”) is a common but often misunderstood experience for many autistic folks. At its core, masking is a social survival strategy autistic people use to conceal their neurodivergent traits in order to fit in, avoid judgement and discrimination, reduce risk of negative consequences, or be accepted. While this strategy may be necessary for navigating certain environments, chronic masking often comes with an emotional and physical toll.

Masking generally starts when a neurodivergent person becomes aware that their behavior is seen as different or when they realize  some things may be easier for them if they are perceived as neurotypical. Whether it’s building friendships, success in the workplace, forming romantic relationships, or avoiding bullying and discrimination, masking can become a survival tool. 

“Masking can be done both consciously and unconsciously, and essentially is when someone suppresses certain behaviors in an attempt to fit in and be accepted by others. Many of my autistic clients have described camouflaging as acting or pretending to be ‘normal’ – and this has led to a real loss of identity and sense of self for some of my clients,” 

-Bryce Gold Psy.D., clinical psychologist, Georgetown Psychology.

What Does Autistic Masking Look Like?

Masking can vary widely from person to person but often includes:

• Forcing or faking eye contact
• Studying, practicing, imitating, and monitoring their facial expressions, body position, and gestures
• Minimizing personal areas or passions (sometimes called “restricted interests,” though Dr. Gold refers to them as “personal areas of expertise”)
• Hiding intense sensory discomfort
• Minimizing stimming behaviors (such as ricking or hand-flapping), even when needed for emotional regulation
• Avoiding communication preferences like “infodumping”, a common autistic expression of interest and connection

Some masking is shaped by external pressure from schools, workplaces, peers, or even therapy modalities. Autistic individuals are more frequently criticized, critiqued, and punished for neurodivergent behaviors, which creates motivation to conceal their identity to meet neurotypical expectations. Dr. Gold shared that many therapists unfortunately still recommend ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), despite autistic individuals reporting harmful experiences with it due to its focus on behavior modification rather than supporting well-being.

“Hiding who you are all the time can be really exhausting,” said Gold. “Having to invest so much time and energy into trying to pass as ‘neurotypical’ when that’s not how your brain’s wired can be tiring and uncomfortable. There’s nothing wrong with your brain; it’s just different.”

What Is Autistic Burnout?

Autistic burnout is a state of intense mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that arises from the ongoing effort to suppress or hide autistic traits (often called masking). Burnout can lead to a decreased tolerance for stimuli that were once manageable, and in some cases, a temporary loss of basic functioning. Constantly navigating the expectations of a “neurotypical world” can cause debilitating stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or even shutdown. 

In many cases, persistent masking can delay an autism identification, as the individual may appear to cope well externally-even to close family members-while struggling internally. Autistic individuals are frequently misdiagnosed and subsequently, engage in treatment designed for neurotypical individuals. Because these treatments are not designed for neurodivergent individuals, many unidentified autistic people feel as though “therapy is not working”, which creates a sense of hopelessness.

What Support Is Helpful For Autism Masking?

Supportive strategies for preventing or recovering from autistic burnout include:

“Masking all the time without having some sort of period of quiet withdrawal or recovery – that can be problematic,” says Gold. “You need opportunities to withdraw, find restorative rest, and be yourself without performing.”

-Completing an autism identification evaluation to validate life experiences and learn how their brain processes information

• Gaining academic or workplace accommodations that provide needed support.
• Practicing boundary setting.
• Learning to self-advocate (e.g., explaining communication preferences).
• Connecting with supportive communities and other neurodivergent individuals to create environments where masking isn’t necessary.
• Taking time off to rest and recover.
• Using tools to manage sensory input, like noise-reducing earbuds.
• Ensuring engagement in passions and structured routines.
• Working with a neurodivergent-affirming therapist.
• Finding a balance between using masking strategically and being authentically yourself.
• Advocating for broader awareness and reducing the need to mask by fostering acceptance.

At Georgetown Psychology, we are here to help. Our team is deeply committed to neurodivergent affirming assessment and therapy practices that honor your experiences and needs.

We offer psychoeducational evaluations, psychological testing, adult ADHD testing, autism assessments, independent school entrance testing, developmental assessments, and neuroaffirming evaluations. Contact Sarah Smathers at sarah@georgetownpsychology.com or (301) 652-5550 to schedule an appointment or for more information.