hey! so i’m autistic (currently self-diagnosed because of nhs waiting lists but basically everyone including multiple professionals agree i am) and i’m in year 11. after i finish gcses i’m moving to a different sixth form, which i think will be a lot more suited to my needs as it’s much smaller than my current school and has a lot more in place in terms of personalised accommodations. so i thought it would be the perfect environment to try and explore my identity outside of the mask a little?
only thing is, my mask is so deeply ingrained that i have no idea how to separate it from who i am underneath. i also have some complex trauma messing everything up in terms of identity which also makes it harder to unmask. any places you would suggest starting on my unmasking journey would be greatly appreciated!!
I'm exactly the same! I don't know what I'm actually like. People view me as loud and weird while i think I'm quiet underneath. What I do to try and figure out is when I'm alone, I talk to myself and find out which version feels normal. I also use fidgets to stim subtly to find out what suits me. I'm currently in year 9 and understand completely
hi am I am also self diagnosed autistic and I would recommend using accommodations (if needed). for example, noise canceling headphones, fidgets, emotional support items etc. hope this helps.