What is masking — and when does it become a problem? 

"The stigma of mental health issues, the complexities of neurodivergence, and certain social stigmas can lead to people masking certain aspects of their lives to avoid discrimination, bias, judgement, stress, anxiety, isolation, or simply to fit in."

Pic: iStock

To be seen, accepted, and welcomed as the person we truly are, is quite a humbling, but also vulnerable experience with a level of conscious questioning about how we will be perceived. 

Will I be liked for who I am? Will I be judged? Will I be understood? Can I truly be myself around certain people? Many of us have likely feared the potential answers to these questions and deliberately hid behind a version of ourselves that is not exactly who we are. We suppress symptoms, alter or compensate for our behaviours, or hide difficulties we are experiencing. We camouflage ourselves, wear a mask, to protect ourselves from being hurt, misunderstood, or negatively targeted.