Signs of Masking If you notice that you tend to look to others before deciding what to do in various situations, you might be masking by mimicking their behavior. If you do not feel like these choices come naturally to you, and you instead try to copy what you see, you might be masking your social behavior.
In psychology and sociology, masking is the process in which an individual camouflages their natural personality or behavior to conform to social pressures, abuse, or harassment.
Signs you or someone you support may be masking include: Mirroring others' facial expressions or social behaviors. Rehearsing or preparing scripted responses to comments. Imitating gestures such as handshakes or initiating eye contact.
All children are different, but if they change character when they go from school to home, or go into meltdown, or appear exhausted, it might be a sign that they are masking in public.
Masking is a common ADHD coping mechanism. (Masking, to be clear, isn't exclusive to ADHD; it is closely related to neurodivergence, and most often thought of in connection to autism.1)
ADHD masking may also be called "camouflaging." This is when someone with ADHD tries to cover up their symptoms by copying the behaviors of people who don't have it. ADHD masking may be a way for some people with ADHD to fit in socially, avoid being stigmatized, or feel more accepted.
Some people become anxious when wearing a face mask or just thinking about wearing a face mask. This would be what some are calling face mask anxiety. But it is important to remember that the mask is NOT causing the anxiety. The person's perceptions about the mask are what lead the brain to become anxious.
The mental and emotional energy it takes to mask often results in an unleashing of pent up emotions when back in their safe place, most often at home. This is known as the coke bottle effect.
Examples of masking can include, but are not limited to: Mimicking the social behaviour of others, including gestures or facial expressions. Deliberately forcing or faking eye contact during conversations. Hiding or underplaying their own intense interests.
What are 'masking' and 'camouflaging' in the context of autism and ADHD? Many autistic people and ADHD-ers report using “masking” and “camouflaging” in their lives. This is where people conceal certain traits and replace them with neurotypical ones to avoid being recognised as neurominorities.
ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
Ultimately, masking or camouflage means hiding who you are in order to fit in. When you experience trauma and/or rejection for being who you truly are, it's common to think you need to hide these traits to survive. After all, bad things have happened when you didn't.
For working professionals, neurodivergent masking can involve hiding certain behaviors or characteristics that may be perceived as unusual or inappropriate, such as avoiding eye contact, struggling with social interactions, or having difficulty with multitasking.
Masked trauma are those traumatic events, histories, and symptoms which are hidden, i.e. not clearly evident to clients, providers/caregivers, and/or significant others.
Dehydration can impact executive functioning, attention, and memory. Those with ADHD may be especially prone to dehydration due to hyperfocus, forgetfulness, and lower self-awareness. Stimulant medications can also lead to dehydration. Adults should drink between 9 and 13 cups of water a day to stay hydrated.
Since alcohol is a depressant and ADHD can cause hyperactivity, many may use this substance to self-treat their symptoms. Because impulsivity is another symptom of ADHD, this trait can make individuals with ADHD more susceptible to alcohol use.
Neurodivergent masking refers to masking by people whose brains function differently from the norm. This includes people with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. They may conceal or control their natural responses and behaviors in order to avoid calling attention to themselves.
Masking is a process in which an individual changes their natural personality to conform to social pressures, abuse or harassment. It can be strongly influenced by environmental factors such as one's upbringing, rejection, emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
Some people with quiet BPD can hide their condition and appear successful, independent, and overall high functioning. You might be able to hold a job during the day, but crash into a depressive, anxious, or dissociative state when the day is over. Think of quiet BPD as a mask.
Is It Possible to Start Masking Before You Get Diagnosed With ADHD? Yes, says Levrini. Before some people get diagnosed, they recognize that they're different and mask those traits that make them different to fit in. Some people also mask unintentionally before they're diagnosed, she says.
One type of ADHD masking — known as mirroring — involves intentionally or unintentionally mimicking the speech, movements, or behaviors of someone else. While ADHD mirroring and body doubling may seem similar at first glance, you can work alongside a body double without imitating them in any way.
Girls with ADHD may want to move and talk, but don't want to be seen to be misbehaving, so they keep it in. They may fidget in smaller, less recognisable ways, such as doodling or playing with jewellery, or may be overly chatty when allowed to talk.