~~ Red ~~

yo im a 19yo audhder and Im still in the process of getting my official autism diagnosis. i was wondering if you had any tips on unmasking? i see you have your special interests and stuff figured out but…it’s like I don’t even know what i like or who i even am yknow? like I’ve been living a lie for forever that idk how to even be my true authentic self. ive been allowing myself to stim more but idk how to unmask more after that. any tips? /gen 💕 -puppy

unmasking is very difficult if you’ve been hiding urself ur whole life so I’m proud of you!! To start I would just find somewhere you know you’re comfortable being yourself, with some close friends or your room or anything like that :) that way it’ll be easier to unmask because you won’t feel like you need to hide yourself!

i understand not knowing who you really are, but you are in there! you’re you, and unmasking means being unashamed of yourself yknow? if you feel an urge to rock or flap or hum or even visually stim anything Can help you feel more comfortable. it’s also helpful to understand that sometimes you can’t do as much as other people. For me I know that if I go out even if it’s only to one place I’ll need to rest afterwards, whether that means take a nap or not talk to anyone. and don’t be afraid to use sensory aids!! headphones/ear plugs, stim toys, blankets anything Can be a sensory aid and anything can be discreet if you need it to be.

Genuiely i think finding someone ur comfy with and hanging out will help a lot. just having a good time makes my autism come out lol