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Reclaiming selfhood: towards a conceptualisation of the autistic unmasking process
Åsa Hedlund1, Danielle Unéus2, Jonas Wik3
1Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
Introduction:
Many autistic people adapt to a neurotypical world through masking, which can lead to exhaustion and harm to mental and physical health. As a result, there is increasingly interest in 'unmasking' in ways that improve quality of life and reduce stress. This study analyses qualitative data to explore unmasking among autistic adults.
Methods:
This was a neurodivergent-led study. Twenty-nine autistic adults (17 with co-occurring ADHD) were interviewed one to four times as part of a larger project on autistic flourishing. Data related to unmasking were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Results:
Unmasking occurred through a circular process consisting of four categories (1): Identify the need to unmask (2), Gain a deeper understanding of one's masking (3), Using unmasking strategies, and (4) Managing the consequences of unmasking.
Conclusion:
Unmasking can be both challenging and freeing for autistic adults and may be best approached gradually. Supportive environments and professionals who understand masking and its long-term impact and do not encourage masking are important.
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