Could I ask a question about masking?

[onlything]

Indeed. That's a critical point to understand about masking one's traits and behaviours.

Just how physically and emotionally exhausting it can be for many of us on a prolonged basis. Where regardless of the stress of work itself, it's the social part of the equation that might leave you wanting to crawl into bed when you get home.

Exactly. And after a while if you use it too much, the boundaries between you and your persona become blurred - you're not sure anymore which parts are who you really are and which who you should be. From there it's a straight fall down into depression and other comorbids.

 

[Freakunique]

Masking for me has become a second nature, but it is exhausting.
For me it means making eye contact, smiling and appearing confident and bubbly, covering my weird little quips (although they do come out anyway)
No one believes that I have aspergers, because of the way i conduct myself but what they do not see is me at the end of the day, lying in my room with no sound or stimulation and the mask finally comes off and my aspergers runs riot.
I also find that I can't mask for extended periods of time. A day is fine but then I need time alone to be my true self, almost like a people hangover!
It has led me to question my identity a lot as sometimes I feel like I'm living a lie, but unfortunately as 8 work in customer service, it's an essential part of my life.

 

[Brit]

Thanks so much freakunique. What does “let my Asperger’s runs riot” mean to you? What are your quirks? If you don’t mind sharing.

I think my partner tends to swear a lot more, he also makes a lot of really rude inappropriate and repetitive jokes (which are actually really funny) and definitely has that need for down time with no distractions/people.