" I learned to mask in my teens to fit in... [a]nd it kind of didn’t stop from there on."
I agree. We create our masks.
Because this was long ago, and my mother was a professional midwestern bondsman and always busy, I learned to mask by 7 or 8—or my young self was convinced I would die a painful death by belt strap. If I wanted to be with her, and I did because she really did protect me and keep me safe, I couldn't be the weird kid the teachers called her in to school for.
I had to master my dyslexia because she was an avid reader. I had to be seen around adults but not heard. I learned to observe, to figure out what to do to be invisible, and I did it. No need to interact if I did it right, just be there. Doing so meant I wasn't expected to be anything beyond quiet, to read my book, to secretly study the strange creatures around me.
Thus, I ended up shy, and would have to develop other masks later to interact with teachers and customers, who I could trust because they would act professionally and predictably, and I got implicit permission to do so. The opposite sex proved more difficult, but you develop the tools if you want them, I guess.
Sometimes it is all very exhausting, and the answer to others is No. Flat out, No! Still, I feel this mishmash is genuinely me. Aspects, right? A constellation. I made this, after all. It lets me write, and I like that me.