Masking is a term that originated in the autistic community but can apply to all neurodivergent conditions. It describes the many strategies that neurodivergent children, young people and adults use to camouflage their neurodivergent behaviours.
Some neurodivergent people socialise incredibly well but it can be exhausting if they aren't able to be themselves. Children and young people might:
Pretending to be something you are not can take up a lot of physical and emotional energy, which can cause emotions to run high at the end of the day. If you think of a child masking like a bottle of fizzy drink that has been shaken, when they take the lid off the drink can fizz over.
It's common for children and young people that mask to have emotional outbursts after a day of pent-up exhaustion. This can present as angry outbursts, tears or withdrawing completely. This page goes into more detail about masking and its effects on young people.
Masking involves suppressing your natural behaviours and actions and mimicking or copying neurotypical characteristics to fit in with other people.
Neurodivergent people may mask with family and friends, in school or the workplace. It can be intentional, like scripting conversations and small talk to make interactions easier, or unintentional, like dressing in a particular way to fit in with friendship groups.
Neurodivergent people mask for a variety of reasons, including:
The term masking started within the autistic community but can be performed by any neurodivergent children or young people. For example:
It's difficult to understand how common masking is because children, young people and neurodivergent adults learn to mask throughout their lives and can do this consciously and unconsciously.
Neurodivergent young people describe masking as:
It can sometimes be referred to as camouflaging or passing, as neurodivergent people observe, analyse and mirror the behaviours of others in real life, on TV, or in books and films.
Masking can look like:
The longer a child masks their authentic self, the more stressed and exhausted they can become. Masking neurodivergent characteristics and suppressing their needs, preferences, instincts and coping mechanisms (like stimming) can lead to:
Let us know what you think!
We've been working together in Norfolk and Waveney with families and professionals to put together information, advice and resources that are helpful to families. Let us know what you think, and anything we could change or add to make it even better.
If you live in Norfolk
You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you are 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480 635060 for confidential advice from one of our team.
If you live in Waveney
Norfolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Norfolk.
Suffolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Waveney.
Mencap is a national charity who support people with learning disabilities. They offer a free Learning Disability Helpline with advice and guidance. Call 0808 808 1111 to speak to a trained professional.
Kooth offers online counselling, advice and emotional well-being support for anyone aged 10-18, seven days a week until 10pm.
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