Unveiling the Hidden Strain: The Complex World of Masking in Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Masking is a complex phenomenon often observed in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD. It involves consciously or unconsciously altering one’s behavior, expressions, or reactions to conform to societal norms or to avoid negative attention. While masking can help individuals navigate social interactions more smoothly, it can also lead to significant cognitive and emotional strain.

Understanding Masking:

Masking involves adopting behaviours that are not instinctive to the individual to fit into a specific social context or hide characteristics that might be stigmatized or misunderstood. This can include suppressing natural tendencies, mimicking others’ social cues, or hiding interests that might be deemed atypical.

How Masking Becomes a Habit:

Over time, masking behaviours can become habitual, as individuals may continuously rely on them to navigate social situations. This habitual nature can make it difficult for individuals to discern their genuine behaviours from those they have adopted to mask their neurodivergent traits.

Cognitive Load of Masking:

1. Increased Mental Effort: Masking requires constant monitoring and adjustment of one’s behaviors, which can be mentally exhausting. For a brain that is already processing a multitude of stimuli, as is often the case with ADHD and autism, this added layer of effort can lead to cognitive overload.
2. Impact on Identity: Habitual masking can lead to a blurring of the individual’s understanding of their identity, as they may lose touch with their genuine preferences, feelings, and responses.
3. Emotional Consequences: The effort to continuously mask can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression, particularly if individuals feel they cannot be their true selves in social settings.

Examples of Masking in ADHD and Autism:

1. Conscious Masking:
   • An autistic person might consciously avoid stimming (self-stimulatory behavior) in public due to fear of judgment, even though it’s a natural way for them to self-regulate.
   • An individual with ADHD might force themselves to sit still or not interrupt in a meeting, despite feeling an intense urge to move or speak out of turn.
2. Unconscious Masking:
   • A person with autism might unconsciously mimic the expressions or mannerisms of others to appear more engaged or socially adept, without actively deciding to do so.
   • An individual with ADHD might subconsciously start organizing their workspace or adopting rigid schedules to counteract their natural propensity for disorganization, not fully realizing they’re compensating for their ADHD traits.

Real-Life Implications of Masking:

• In the workplace, an individual with autism might mask by forcing themselves to participate in small talk or social gatherings, which can be draining for them.
• At school, a student with ADHD might try to mask their difficulty focusing by pretending to take notes or nodding along, even when they’re struggling to pay attention.

Understanding the nuances of masking is crucial for providing appropriate support to individuals with ADHD and autism. Recognizing when someone is masking can lead to more empathetic and supportive interactions, helping to alleviate the additional cognitive and emotional burdens that masking may impose.