Hello
A helpful series of infographics about Masking/Camouflaging from @21andsensory on Instagram below, that I find really helpful. We all mask in different ways to protect ourselves – to be loved, accepted, safe and certain. Those who are neurodivergent often experience a particularly intense and life-long version of masking to appear neurotypical, to fit in to a society that’s largely not designed with them in mind. A lifetime of masking can lead to addiction, burnout, mental, emotional and physical ill-health.
Finding spaces and people that accept neurodivergence, accept people for who they are rather than who they should or are supposed to be can give a neurodivergent person the safety and permission to discover who they truly are and live more and more into that version of themselves in more and more areas of their life.
Realising how much energy loved ones have been and are using to mask in their lives, and supporting them to unmask, can create capacity for connection and relationships in new ways that support each other’s true nature.
In Loving Difference we support a culture that invites and encourages us all to unmask.. to discover and become more of our true selves and show up as that version of ourselves in our relationships… safely and step by step.
Side note: Masking is a well known neurodiversity term. We all do it at times to be safe, accepted, liked or protect ourselves. It’s called different things in different contexts, e.g. fronting (mainstream), code-switching (ethnicity) and passing (transgender).
The more we can accept ourselves and one another for who we are, the free-er we all will be.
Hope this is helpful for your neurodiverse relationship journey..
(Photo credit: Ibolya Toldi via Pexels)
