Understanding Social Masking: Can Non-Autistic Individuals Mask Their Emotions?
Explore how non-autistic people use social masking to fit in and the effects it has on mental health.
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Non-autistic people can also mask their behaviors and emotions to fit into social situations. This is known as social masking and involves adapting one's behavior to meet societal expectations. While it is not unique to autism, it can lead to stress and mental exhaustion over time. Awareness and authenticity are key to reducing the need for masking.
FAQs & Answers
- What is social masking? Social masking is the act of adjusting one’s behaviors and emotions to conform to societal expectations.
- What effects can social masking have on mental health? It can lead to stress, anxiety, and mental exhaustion due to the constant need to adapt to social norms.
- Is social masking unique to autistic individuals? No, while it’s often discussed in the context of autism, non-autistic people also engage in social masking.
- How can one reduce the need for social masking? Increasing self-awareness and practicing authenticity can help reduce the pressure to mask behaviors.