Masking is when either consciously or unconsciously you feel the need to hide emotions or things about your personality. Usually it happens during social situations.
- You may change how you express yourself
- Hide your authentic self
- Make light when you feel like crap
- Conceal your emotions
- Deny or hide having ADHD
Masking can lead to depression, stress, anxiety and burnout.
How can we “Unmask”?
You may feel uncomfortable or not safe to fully unmask because of stigma or discrimination. That is totally normal but you can take baby steps to help elevate some of the pressure that comes from masking.
- Take notice of when you are and are not masking. Do you use a “work face”?
- Advocate for yourself or make changes that you feel may be needed.
- Can you be more accepting of yourself?
- Find people or places you can practice taking off the mask (work at your comfort level/pace.)
- Work with a therapist or coach to help you when you need it. Know that you are not alone (even if it may feel that way).
Everyone may use masking situationally but when you do it consistently and as a form of avoidance is when it develops into a problem. Are you controlling when you are masking or is it an automatic defense response?
