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#3 - The Mask We Wear: Survival, Burnout, & Returning to Our Authentic Selves
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Welcome to Quietly Autistic at Last, hosted by Dr. Allison Sucamele—psychology researcher, educator, and late-diagnosed autistic woman.
In this episode, we dive into one of the most common yet misunderstood aspects of the autistic experience: masking. From forcing eye contact to faking small talk, masking can look like survival on the surface—but beneath it lies exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout.
We’ll explore what masking is, how it shows up in real life, the emotional toll it takes, and what it means to begin the tender, complicated process of unmasking. With personal stories, research insights, and reflection prompts, this episode is an invitation to stop performing and start belonging—first and foremost, to yourself.
Cited References
- Hull, L., et al. (2017). “Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
- Cassidy, S., et al. (2018). Suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts in adults with Asperger’s syndrome. Autism.
- Raymaker, D. M., et al. (2020). “Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew”: Defining Autistic Burnout. Autism in Adulthood.
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