The Link Between Autistic Masking and Long-Term Burnout

Autistic adult person removing white theatrical mask with gentle hands sitting in cozy sensory room

Many autistic adults know masking all too well. It’s the daily practice of hiding or suppressing autistic traits to appear more “neurotypical.” Smiling when overwhelmed, forcing eye contact, mimicking social cues—masking can help navigate a world that doesn’t always accept difference. But here’s the catch: masking is exhausting. Over weeks, months, and years, it drains […]