Part of autistic masking was feigning understanding. I did this in conversation and in my school years. I nodded in agreement or gave a filler response so people would not know I was confused & that I struggled. I wasn't aware but did this so others would like me.
This ultimately hurt me because it kept me from assessing what I needed to know and it made people more upset when they would inevitably find out that I did not know. I did this to protect myself.
@AutisticAdam@actuallyautistic we do a lot of things to protect ourselves. Often these things make sense at the time and place where they form, but years later they can become problamatic.
It's also a trauma thing.
Add comment