Tag: autistic masking

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A white mask on a white background. A pale hand with red fingernails makes its way up to the mask, placing the pointer finger over the mask’s lips, as if to say “shhh”.

Fawning + Autistic Masking: When Autistic Masking Becomes Fawning and Why We Hide Ourselves Despite the Cost

Lyric Holmans

Autistic masking (also known as camouflaging) is when an Autistic person consciously or subconsciously masks their Autistic traits to blend in with non-autistic people. When we do this, it is not to be manipulative or deceptive. It is a survival skill and can also be tied to trauma responses (such as fawning). More on fawning in a moment. Continue reading Fawning + Autistic Masking: When Autistic Masking Becomes Fawning and Why We Hide Ourselves Despite the Cost

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Photo of Lyric from several years ago, when they had short green hair, posing in front of a vibrant rainbow wing mural outdoors. They’re wearing purple ankle boots, dark blue jeans, a grey tank-top with the word ‘Autistic’ on it in a rainbow font, and a black leather jacket, while standing in a power pose.

Autistic Burnout – The ‘Mystery Illness’ That Doctors Missed for 30 Years (And Why a Vacation Won’t Fix It)

Lyric Holmans

Autistic burnout is a topic that I know intimately, for multiple reasons.

As an Autistic person who was not identified as such for most of my life, due to not knowing about my Autistic mind and the accompanying needs associated with my Autistic brain and nervous system, I spent most of my life cycling in and out of Autistic burnout.

It was also Autistic burnout that, eventually, led to me finally being diagnosed as Autistic a few months before my 30th birthday.

Being burned out was, for many years, my normal. Continue reading Autistic Burnout – The ‘Mystery Illness’ That Doctors Missed for 30 Years (And Why a Vacation Won’t Fix It)

Children & Families, Masking / Passing, Substack1 Comment
‘Ditch the ear defenders: head equips autistic girls for real life‘ with the subtitle “Sarah Wild, who leads Britain’s only autistic girls’ school, says mainstream teachers should make fewer adjustments and tell children it’s OK to feel uncomfortable“ has been making the rounds recently. - with an emoji of Lyric and the word “NO!” in the bottom corner.

Why Do We Celebrate Teachers Who Refuse to Make Adjustments for Disabled Kids?

Lyric Holmans

Sensory distress is not behavioral; it is neurological.

We wouldn’t ask non-autistic children to sit on a chair made of razor blades all day, to teach them that “it’s OK to feel uncomfortable”….

Still, with Autistic people, there is a toxic attitude that “the world isn’t sensory friendly.” This paints us as the problem, instead of challenging the systemic flaws and barriers that make life for Autistic people more difficult.

These “adjustments” that Sarah Wild is so against are disability supports, accommodations that Autistic people need to thrive and be our best selves, that are legally protected in many parts of the world. Continue reading Why Do We Celebrate Teachers Who Refuse to Make Adjustments for Disabled Kids?

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Lyric, with long black hair and pale skin, dressed as little red riding hood.

The Realities of Autistic & NeuroDivergent Camouflaging (Masking)

Lyric Holmans

Neurodiversity, a normal and natural part of human variation, encompasses the diversity of the brain and nervous system.

The human brain, body, and nervous system can exhibit variety in various ways. Still, these differences may not be readily apparent to outsiders (due to misunderstandings and assumptions because of these differences being hidden within the person’s brain). Continue reading The Realities of Autistic & NeuroDivergent Camouflaging (Masking)

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When I didn't know I was NeuroDivergent, I used to feel like a failed NeuroTypical Person (because the expectations for me to be a "good" NeuroTypical seemed impossibly out of reach).

I Used to Hate Myself When I Thought I was NeuroTypical

Lyric Holmans

When I didn’t know I was NeuroDivergent, I used to feel like a failed NeuroTypical Person (because the expectations for me to be a “good” NeuroTypical seemed impossibly out of reach).

“Why can’t I just _______ ?” – Do something NeuroTypicals find simple.

“Why do they hate me? Why do they think I’m weird?”

“If I could only ______.” – Insert some activity that NeuroTypicals don’t struggle with.

“What’s WRONG with me? Why am I such a failure?” Continue reading I Used to Hate Myself When I Thought I was NeuroTypical

Coworkers, Family, Masking / Passing, Videos2 Comments
a plastic scull is seen on a desk surrounded by blue post-it notes. The skeleton is posed with it's hands clasped above it on its head in an overwhelmed stance.

Autism and Burnout – My Experience With Autistic Burnout

Lyric Holmans

Something that we tend to agree upon, when talking about Autistic burnout, is that it is the result from having to force ourselves into a society that wasn’t designed to take our needs and considerations into account, whether that is our sensory processing differences, our differences in the ways our bodies move and the ways we communicate. Continue reading Autism and Burnout – My Experience With Autistic Burnout

Coworkers, Family, Masking / Passing, Relationships / Bullies / Friendships, Videos1 Comment

Autistic and NeuroDivergent Masking – Help! I Don’t Know How to Unmask

Lyric Holmans

NeuroDivergent masking is when a NeuroDivergent Person, a person who is brain may be Autistic, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, OCD, et cetera. Is masking or hiding that NeuroDivergence, in order to blend in and appear more NeuroTypical. Continue reading Autistic and NeuroDivergent Masking – Help! I Don’t Know How to Unmask