Masking – Autistic Burnout – Psychosis

“Identropy is the disorder stage in psychological evolution!”

Autism masking, also known as camouflaging, is a strategy used by some autistic people to consciously or unconsciously suppress their natural behaviours and responses to appear non-autistic and fit into social norms.

While it can be a coping mechanism for navigating social situations and avoiding stigma, it can have severe and long-term negative impacts on mental health, including the potential for psychosis and a profound identity crisis.

Here’s a breakdown of how autism masking can lead to these challenges:

1. Identity Crisis:
* Loss of authentic self: Constantly pretending to be someone you’re not leads to a disconnection from your true self, interests, and needs. Autistic individuals who mask often report feeling like they no longer know who they really are. This can feel like self-betrayal and deception towards others.
* Internalized ableism: The message received from society, often from a young age, is that their natural way of being is “not okay.” This can lead to internalizing negative beliefs about autism, causing shame and a diminished sense of self-worth.
* Delayed diagnosis and support: Successful masking can delay an autism diagnosis, meaning individuals miss out on crucial support and understanding for years, further exacerbating mental health issues and identity confusion.
* Disconnection in relationships: A lack of authenticity due to masking can lead to feelings of isolation even within relationships, as others aren’t truly seeing or connecting with the person’s real self.

2. Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues (including potential for psychosis):
* Exhaustion and burnout: Masking is incredibly energy-intensive. The constant effort to monitor facial expressions, body language, eye contact, and script responses leads to extreme mental and physical fatigue, often resulting in “autistic burnout.” This burnout can manifest as overwhelming overload, withdrawal, and even temporary loss of skills.
* Stress, anxiety, and depression: The immense pressure to conform and hide one’s true self significantly heightens stress levels, anxiety (including social anxiety and generalized anxiety), and depression. Masking is strongly linked to increased rates of these conditions.
* Suicidality: Research has shown a strong correlation between prolonged masking and increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The feeling of being a burden and the sheer exhaustion can contribute to this risk.
* Meltdowns and shutdowns: The suppressed emotions and needs due to masking can eventually lead to mental health crises like meltdowns (loss of emotional control, lashing out) or shutdowns (retreating and struggling to communicate).
* Psychosis: While autism and psychosis are distinct conditions, they can co-occur. Masking, with its associated high stress, anxiety, and disconnect from reality, may contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychotic symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

Shared symptoms between autism and psychosis (e.g., difficulties with social interaction and communication) can also make diagnosis challenging.

While some research suggests autistic individuals may be less susceptible to certain types of delusions due to their detail-oriented nature, others highlight that the intense psychological distress from masking can create an environment where psychotic experiences are more likely to emerge.

Why the link to psychosis?

While not all autistic individuals who mask will experience psychosis, the constant psychological strain, chronic stress, and profound sense of disconnection can push individuals to their breaking point.

The feeling of not being real, the struggle to distinguish authentic self from the “mask,” and the overwhelming emotional burden can create a fertile ground for disordered thinking and altered perceptions of reality, which are hallmarks of psychosis.

In summary:

Autism masking, while a survival strategy for many, comes at a high psychological cost. The relentless effort to appear “normal” can erode an individual’s sense of self, leading to a debilitating identity crisis and significantly increasing the risk of various mental health challenges, including severe anxiety, depression, burnout, and in some cases, contributing to the emergence of psychotic symptoms.

Recognizing and addressing the impacts of masking is crucial for supporting the mental well-being and promoting the authentic self of autistic individuals.