Many of us take who we are for granted. We were lucky to be ‘normal’ when the truth was, what we consider to be effortless and simple takes a lot of effort and sacrifice from those who have a different perspective. For what it’s worth I want to apologise to any and all who felt they had to hide who they were just so that the majority would either like them or ignore them. It’s our differences and not our homogeneity that makes us who we are as individuals.
I know I'm somewhere on the autism spectrum, though I'm undiagnosed. I grew up with so many telling me that I was odd or strange, but I couldn't understand what they meant. I only tried masking when I was a teenager, but I never liked it, because it didn't make me happy. Now I'm a lot older, I really don't care if people think that I'm strange or different, and I'm not interested in those people. I don't try and fit in anymore. Take me as I am or not at all, that's fine by me.
People said to me before "why can't you be normal?" Now I correct them and say "you mean ordinary". Don't be ordinary or like everyone else. Be yourself.
So you aren’t autistic as you haven’t been diagnosed. That’s like me saying “im the most intelligent person in the world. I have no evidence to support this but…”
@@Wargutz666the problem is just because you can’t define normal that doesn’t mean others can’t or the word isn’t real. Try looking up what normal means. It’s like me saying good and evil isn’t real just because people can’t define it. I can define it. And so can anyone with a dictionary.
@@razerow3391 Yes. I have evidence to support it. What I said was only a very small portion of my story. I'm undiagnosed as when I was young, autism wasn't really known about, and it can be harder for professionals to diagnosis an adult. I've read about autism and I recognise many of the traits in myself. Your reply is representative of the lack of knowledge many have about autism.
@@razerow3391 We walks with memory lane but I don't know if we'll ever reach that point! People with autism don't need your good manners but just real acceptance. If you truly care about someone then you never question someone's existence.
For the tourists coming into this video just by reading the title of the video. She's not talking about "masking" in the sense of putting a physical mask on to protect from covid. Maybe try watching the video and understand what "autistic masking" is.
Neurodiversity/Autism: Autism is a sensory condition. Those within the spectrum are affected by ambient stimuli: taste, touch, smell, etc. The greater their sensitivities to the aforementioned stimuli; leads to proportionally amplified physical/emotional responsiveness. the Alchemist - Ø1
And completely wrong as it’s a spectrum and cannot be defined in a pithy post. It takes a whole textbook to go through it. And it’s different for everyone. For a start taste and smell don’t affect me. Only touch does. I am not affected by clapping or cheering. It’s literally just that I hate being touched. So it falls down within your first sentence. Then there is the fact none of the other stuff affects me in the slightest but touch is a huge thing. So surely it should be mild? And actually autism is more than just stimuli ffs. Jesus. This is like someone saying “cheese is a form of milk” and acting like that’s all it is.
@razerow3391 Superdeterministic Consciousness: The unconscious mind "sells" the conscious mind on the concept of Reality. The conscious mind "buys" Reality from the unconscious mind. Forming an illusory feedback system (creating the illusion of choice). The subconscious mind being a broker between both; neurological imbalances occurring when the conscious mind resists unconscious narratives (superdeterministic). Sentience (environmental feedback) propagates consciousness through emergent (microorganisms forming macroscopic life) sensory experiences (environmental exposure), leading to the formation of memories, thus establishing corollary emotional states (dependent on experiences experienced). These emotional markers are activated during recall (remembering). (Intelligence levels also being predetermined) Microorganisms are sentient but don't experience conscious intelligence until emergence is factored; swarming as a collective through emergence - forming greater scales of intelligence (hive-mind/macroscopic life). Everything naturally occurring is Nature, which includes plants, microorganisms, humans (all lifeforms), atoms, energy, stars, planets, black holes, cancer, AIDS, space, Dreams, and Consciousness. (Say what!?) Nature is Emergence. Roughly half of the total cells (~15 trillion!) comprising an average human are other individually sentient organisms (microbiota). Any individual that believes they aren't being wholly influenced by half of their overall cellular matrix; I would encourage them to test that theory, by subtracting half of themselves from existence. If anyone reading my response has further questions, I have my thesis posted in a lengthy thread within Twitter: twitter.com/ZeroOne33408052/status/1670811150328668160?t=tfGuZHOkwB5Q4FmQWUCyVw&s=19 the Alchemist -Ø1
What a load of rubbish. This is the sort of crap that harms autistic lives. Head on back to your anti vaccine club, where you can giggle and laugh and roll all over the floor together about how you helped make COVID a permanent fixture, rather than something we might have been able to eradicate. Go. Away.
Very! And it's no wonder why so many children struggle in their education - the exhaustion and mental health impact of masking is so detrimental for adults, let alone children!
I am neurodivergent. I didn't realise how much I mask until I saw this. Autistic women Still are being missed for diagnosis 😔 This video is going to help so many others too, and Flo's mum is Fantastic! ❤
Bravo for your testimony! It does take a lot of courage to show your true self. All the best in your life and you are an inspiration for whoever has to deal with personal issues. All the best!
What a wonderful and brave young woman with a fantastic Mum! I can relate to this perfectly as I'm autistic and masked my true authentic self for many years. Autism isn't the problem. It's being autistic in an allistic-dominated and (mostly) made-for world that's the problem. Why? Because autistic people are thought of and treated by many, if not most, allistic people as inferior and broken when in fact autism is simply a neurological difference. We are just as good and capable as allistics and we've proved that and are proving it! WELL DONE Flo! Great video!
@@SunshineSupportUK thank you! Articulation and attention to detail is a strength that many autistic people have - even those of us who struggle with verbal communication. (Of which I don't now thankfully apart from when my senses are overwhelmed) What does Sunshine Support specialise in? Where are you based in the UK? I hope all is well with you. 😊
@@BoldWarrior78 Absolutely in agreement - most of us here at Sunshine are neurodivergent so we totally relate, there are so many misconceptions out there. We specialise in advocating for children & families in the UK struggling to get the right SEND provision - Derby based, but UK-wide. Thank you so much, and the same to you! :D
Tell the to the bullies who persecute our children and hound them out of mainstream schools. As they have with our two children! And the government who don’t fund their education because there aren’t suitable places for them. Missing mouth, if not year of education. And then later on in life say they’re scrounges and should get a job. Brilliant thanks 😡
But also don't say anything true that might offend certain groups. But also be yourself. But not too much, of we may try to get you fired. But you're unique, as long as you tow party line.
This is me 100% acting or masking my true self and that because the world can't accept anything other then normal. The only time I can take the mask of is where I'm somewhere or with someone I'm comfortable to let myself go and be me. Thank you so much for sharing. Your amazing 👏 🎉
We love Flo! Autism in girls and masking are topics we cover a lot on our platforms and webinars, to raise awareness amongst schools, professionals and parents. Masking is indeed a survival strategy, but we shouldn't have to 'survive' this world, we should be able to thrive! 💛 Embrace your authentic self - well said, Flo.
I stopped masking so much after my late diagnosis. If i looked back at my life before it was a cycle of masking periods followed by periods of poor mental health and breakdowns and at 45 im too old and tired to keep doing that.
Thank you for this video. I worked with very young autistic children. Their authentic selves were constantly being judged by others. Understanding and accepting them and everyone for who they truly are, warts and all is our job. Kindness and d understanding should be extending to everyone. We are all different. It is our aim and job to acknowledge them and guide them towards being their best selves. Being judgmental doesn’t help anyone.
For everyone in the comments who don't understand what masking is it goes without saying if a neurodivergent trait hurts others you should try your best to regulate it. E.g. interrupting others However that's not masking is. Masking is hiding neurodivergent traits that don't harm others due to fear of judgement or bullying. An example would be stimming. In essence it is pretending to be "normal" which isn't good for anyone's mental health.
It seems a little over dramatic, acknowledging masking and having a choice to do so probably puts you and me in the lower spectrum of autism. Masking like you said is a survival skill and most people do that autistic or not to survive in the community. Choosing not to do so and declaring such choice to the world seems quite awkward and self indulging, from 47 year old autistic person like me.
Lol nothing to do with this country, The two universally hated traits: (1) ugliness (2) Social stupidity Even if you go to Japan, the hidden atlantis *You will be hated there as well* and I can sense some degree of sentience from you. You’re not autistic. You’re just scared of connecting. You’re scared of fighting back. You likely never learned _how_ to fight back. I’ve never ever been in a group or community where someone did not try to mistreat someone else. Cowardice can be mistaken for Autism. An Abused Dog who never found his bravery can be mistaken for mentally ill. I’ve never been wrong in fhis. I helped so many “autistic” teenagers by teaching them they’re just missing the ability to *be truly brave*
I understand it's different, but I don't think those things always come naturally for non-autistic people. It can be hard for anyone to express how they're feeling without worrying about judgement.
Sure, but this is like saying that people with major depression aren't so different from everyone else, because we all feel really sad and hopeless sometimes. I have never (within conscious memory) not found it exhausting and... sort of mildly claustrophobic?... to be around humans. All humans. Even the ones I really like/love. I've masked so hard for so long (diagnosed in my mid-30s) that I have a very hard time not doing it unless I am physically alone. The "program" runs on its own; it's not within my conscious control at this point. This is not, as it turns out, a typical experience - even for most introverts.
@@frontenac5083 logically, bridging the gap between “her”, and “his”, would be “their”. In other comments you shout “DEFUND THE BBC” so we already know logic isn’t your brightest ability. I mean… you seem to comment a lot on a channel you don’t trust..
@@frontenac5083 also, how do you think you can use a gender specific like “his”, as a “non gender specific pronoun”? “His” is specifically a *male gender pronoun.* ..so using a male gender specific pronoun “as” a non gender-specific pronoun is inane. It’s a bizarre argument to make, if you break it down. Would you like me to describe some more “non gender-specific pronouns”? You seem confused, maybe that’s why you’re angry at a total stranger, angry enough to speak for another total stranger… And just for fun you use “Yep” to open your tedium. 🤣 Very entertaining, but could do better. 7.5/10
@@johnwi-l_l-iamsf3763 shallow hal has arrived.! next time you visit your local shop. purchase a mirror happy pills and manners. there’s a good egg.! ✌🏻🌏🇦🇺🤘🏻
My life has been worse since I got diagnosed, before hand I used to just crack on with life and now whenever I do anything “autisticly” I kind of allow it to happen rather than fight it
Don;t tell that to psychopaths. They've spent their whole lives constructing a false persona for other normal people to "love." You DO NOT want their true selves to be expressed.
Those of us on the spectrum need to be aware of JUST how annoying we can be, and do our best to mitigate this, for the sake of those who have to spend time near us. It’s not ‘masking’, it’s trying hard not to be a jerk.
Thank you for saying this! There is a time and a place. I’ve got a very loud and confrontational colleague who tells us all it’s because she is autistic and we should all just accept it. She acknowledges she impacts on others but carries on anyway. My manager and I were talking about it one day and I expressed the view that “that’s only really going to work as an excuse until you cross another autistic person” before getting into a heart to heart about how we feel we’re also on the spectrum. I think I tend to be disliked for traits that are misread. We should be tolerant and non-judgemental towards one another but as you say diversity isn’t an excuse to behave like a jerk if you can help it. ♥️
I don’t understand the many late diagnosed who have friends careers and personal lives who then stop masking. I know it’s a spectrum but I thought the telltale sign was a profound alienation from ordinary social interactions. Are you telling me there are people who masked for fifty years so well they made and kept friends?
Yes - there are people who have masked their entire lives and never been diagnosed. Many neurodivergent people craft a unique mask for each situation or person, so they present a personality that that person will approve of or they learn the social rules of particular environments to an extreme level. Also, being neurodivergent doesn't mean that you don't have friends or can't hold down a job, it's just that these things are often harder. For example, an autistic person spends all day working hard at their job, taking care not to make *any* mistakes and masking perfectly for each of their neurotypical colleagues. They make it home at the end of the day, but they crash - too burnt out to do anything productive. The next day at work, a colleague asks them, "Did you do anything nice last night?"; the autistic person replies with their stock answer, "Oh, nothing much - just a quiet one. How about you?". This repeats day after day, week after week using "leisure" time to recover from the effort of trying to fit in and trying not to be found out. All the while, the undiagnosed autistic person is wondering why everyone else seems to find everything so easy and how others have so much energy and why were they the only one who seemingly didn't get the handbook of life?
My nephew, age 24, is autistic. It would be a miracle if he could mask like this woman. He will never be anywhere close to normal. The most able are the ones able to make the noise about this subject.
@@hannahk1306I’m honestly lost for words. This perfectly describes my experience in life. I honestly thought there was something wrong with me. The sheer weight of putting on a front day in and day out is exhausting. No wonder I eventually burnt out at 30!
@@LionessExplores I've recently had a similar experience (I'm 29) and now looking into getting a diagnosis for both autism and ADHD. This was literally just my own experience I was writing about! Burnout after years of masking is very normal - especially for undiagnosed women. I've found quite a few useful channels here on UA-cam (I think that's why I was recommended this video), which have linked out to other resources that perfectly explain my life. I'd suggest you look into some of these to see if their experiences resonate with you and also look up the current diagnostic criteria (although be warned it's a little clinical and geared towards a neurotypical perspective of neurodivergent children...). I've been experimenting with unmasking (just by myself and with my partner) recently and I have *so much* more energy it's unbelievable! I hope you get the support you deserve soon. 😊
The bbc forget that certain groups have a saftey net and very few choose to work so why change society ? You should be just as concerned providing men with that saftey net. Finiancial supporting housing support, social support the bbc is very selective
I am inspired by your story, and am also going to fully express how I feel from now on. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I was born spoiled and I’ve always insisted on smoking weed and not helping around the house at all but then my mom and teachers were mean to me and I couldn’t be myself anymore. Now I’m just like everyone else😢. Oh yea that’s just socialization which all social animals do or else they struggle to survive.
I'm so torn on this subject. I've seen parents fight tooth and nail to get help and a diagnosis for a child who is obviously autistic with no joy. I've seen child with next to zero symptoms/ traits be labelled as Austic which has held them back. I've seen such caring parents fight for years for help for their Autistic child for that child to become a teen and resent them for having been labelled. I've also seen teachers try to diagnose a child as Autistic and the parents refusal to even listen. It's one of the most modern complex health issues and we have no idea why it's happening and becoming so more frequent. I've witnessed autistic children labelled as poorly behaved and poorly behaved children labelled as Autistic. I've have a birds eye view in different mainstream schools and its frustrating and frightening. The loudest parents children always get the most help which is so wrong.
Almost all of your words are misinformed and wrong. Autism is not growing. People are finally getting diagnosed, especially women and girls. There's nothing complex about autism, and it is not a health issue. The loudest parents are likely autistic and sick of masking for people like you that judge them completely wrong. It's frightening that you are working in a school environment, maybe you could go get a job as a landscape gardener where no one else can be harmed by your atrocious opinions.
It's not becoming more frequent, it's just becoming better diagnosed. Previously, only high needs, young white cis boys were studied and therefore they were largely the ones being diagnosed. We now know that people of other genders and ages often present differently and are often better at masking, so a lot of people who were missed are now being diagnosed. The people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, etc haven't suddenly become autistic, they've just finally got an explanation for their lifelong struggles. Also, autistic people often get labelled and bullied regardless of whether they're diagnosed. At least with a proper diagnostic "label" they have a chance of being able to access support and resources and to be able to advocate for themselves and request accommodations where necessary. Just because some people use diagnoses as a reason to discriminate against people, that's not a reason not to diagnose them - it's a reason to educate people and to teach them better ways to behave.
I’m appalled that the BBC would entertain this attention seeking behaviour. Autism is debilitating, it puts a strain on parents and siblings. This makes it look like something you can simply switch on and off. Honestly, it’s quite repulsive. Before you ask, yes, I grew up with an autistic brother.
The ones that were proven to reduce transmission? Those “useless face nappies”? You do you, and stop demanding the world meets your angry little needs. Did you shit your bed or something? Why the negative troll bombing today?
@darkshadowstorm7056 Mental retardation or being born without legs are mere "variations" too, then. Does this mean we should wish these disabilities on anyone? You've lost whatever argument you think you're having as soon as you feel the need to use, or even invent words such as "neurotypical".
What a horrible thing to presume. Autism is not "brain damage". I'm autistic and have had brain scans thanks to my insane parents trying to find the cause of me being me, and they came out with nothing.
I feel the same way. I have bipolar and I should be able to have episodes in public. It’s not masking it’s called be aware that other people exist. And we all edit ourselves for others. Oh and btw I am on the spectrum.
For many mental disorders, the most debilitating is how our environment (people) react, not the symptoms. Anything that doesn't fit in our narrow definition of "normal" gets outcast, stared at, authorities called on, slandered, etc.
It’s out of respect for others that we adjust ourselves in public. Being courteous of others. That’s why it’s not socially acceptable to have mental episode in public.
@@curiositycloset2359everyone masks for one reason or another, doesnt mean they’re autistic. If they don’t want to, fine, if they want to, fine. Like why does the world need to know about this poor tortured soul and how masking makes their life miserable. That’s life people need to just get over themselves and suck it up. Ffs 🤦♀️
These are the words of the Lord God: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth.” - (at Deuteronomy 18: 18) - “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: A young woman is with child, and she will bear a son, and will call him Immanuel.” [“God is with us”] - (Isaiah 7: 14) - “In truth I tell you, anyone who gives heed to what I say and puts his trust in him who sent me, has hold of eternal life and does not come up for judgement, but has already passed from death to life.” - (The Prophet and Messiah Jesus [Immanuel] of Nazareth at John 5: 24) -
A: it's a spectrum. B: she may be masking for this video. C: autistic people aren't aliens. D: please learn about autism and listen to the perspectives of actual autistic people (like the woman in this video).
Some of the greatest minds throughout modern human life have been autistic. Your day is surrounded by autistic peoples inventions that you use to better yourself. And you call that thick? Oh, the irony.
@@curiositycloset2359 which one??? The social signal that I'm mentally equivalent to wood? Or the full body letterbox to socially signal I'm a bronze age parasite?
Many of us take who we are for granted. We were lucky to be ‘normal’ when the truth was, what we consider to be effortless and simple takes a lot of effort and sacrifice from those who have a different perspective. For what it’s worth I want to apologise to any and all who felt they had to hide who they were just so that the majority would either like them or ignore them. It’s our differences and not our homogeneity that makes us who we are as individuals.
Thats all facts Bro 💯
I know I'm somewhere on the autism spectrum, though I'm undiagnosed. I grew up with so many telling me that I was odd or strange, but I couldn't understand what they meant. I only tried masking when I was a teenager, but I never liked it, because it didn't make me happy. Now I'm a lot older, I really don't care if people think that I'm strange or different, and I'm not interested in those people. I don't try and fit in anymore. Take me as I am or not at all, that's fine by me.
People said to me before "why can't you be normal?" Now I correct them and say "you mean ordinary".
Don't be ordinary or like everyone else. Be yourself.
So you aren’t autistic as you haven’t been diagnosed.
That’s like me saying “im the most intelligent person in the world. I have no evidence to support this but…”
@@Wargutz666the problem is just because you can’t define normal that doesn’t mean others can’t or the word isn’t real.
Try looking up what normal means. It’s like me saying good and evil isn’t real just because people can’t define it. I can define it. And so can anyone with a dictionary.
@@razerow3391 Yes. I have evidence to support it. What I said was only a very small portion of my story.
I'm undiagnosed as when I was young, autism wasn't really known about, and it can be harder for professionals to diagnosis an adult.
I've read about autism and I recognise many of the traits in myself.
Your reply is representative of the lack of knowledge many have about autism.
@@razerow3391 We walks with memory lane but I don't know if we'll ever reach that point! People with autism don't need your good manners but just real acceptance. If you truly care about someone then you never question someone's existence.
The last form of "social skills discrimination" in a minority world.
Neurotypical people should not focus on "disability", it about "ability."
WTF?
More of a brain half full than half empty view.
@@frontenac5083 still bleeding at strangers, I see..
She puts this so perfectly! Her story echo's my story!
"Echoes in the rain" Enya 🙂👏👏👏🇺🇲🇬🇧
Our fmr minister Vuk Jeremić used to listen to Enya in 2013 while in NYC
For the tourists coming into this video just by reading the title of the video. She's not talking about "masking" in the sense of putting a physical mask on to protect from covid.
Maybe try watching the video and understand what "autistic masking" is.
Neurodiversity/Autism:
Autism is a sensory condition.
Those within the spectrum are affected by ambient stimuli: taste, touch, smell, etc.
The greater their sensitivities to the aforementioned stimuli; leads to proportionally amplified physical/emotional responsiveness.
the Alchemist
- Ø1
Love it
I will steal the definition
And completely wrong as it’s a spectrum and cannot be defined in a pithy post. It takes a whole textbook to go through it. And it’s different for everyone.
For a start taste and smell don’t affect me. Only touch does. I am not affected by clapping or cheering. It’s literally just that I hate being touched. So it falls down within your first sentence.
Then there is the fact none of the other stuff affects me in the slightest but touch is a huge thing. So surely it should be mild?
And actually autism is more than just stimuli ffs. Jesus.
This is like someone saying “cheese is a form of milk” and acting like that’s all it is.
@@razerow3391 yes I know but its the shortest definition really, ultimately that is to explain straight after
@razerow3391
Superdeterministic Consciousness:
The unconscious mind "sells" the conscious mind on the concept of Reality. The conscious mind "buys" Reality from the unconscious mind.
Forming an illusory feedback system (creating the illusion of choice).
The subconscious mind being a broker between both; neurological imbalances occurring when the conscious mind resists unconscious narratives (superdeterministic).
Sentience (environmental feedback) propagates consciousness through emergent (microorganisms forming macroscopic life) sensory experiences (environmental exposure), leading to the formation of memories, thus establishing corollary emotional states (dependent on experiences experienced). These emotional markers are activated during recall (remembering).
(Intelligence levels also being predetermined)
Microorganisms are sentient but don't experience conscious intelligence until emergence is factored; swarming as a collective through emergence - forming greater scales of intelligence (hive-mind/macroscopic life).
Everything naturally occurring is Nature, which includes plants, microorganisms, humans (all lifeforms), atoms, energy, stars, planets, black holes, cancer, AIDS, space, Dreams, and Consciousness. (Say what!?)
Nature is Emergence.
Roughly half of the total cells (~15 trillion!) comprising an average human are other individually sentient organisms (microbiota).
Any individual that believes they aren't being wholly influenced by half of their overall cellular matrix; I would encourage them to test that theory, by subtracting half of themselves from existence.
If anyone reading my response has further questions, I have my thesis posted in a lengthy thread within Twitter:
twitter.com/ZeroOne33408052/status/1670811150328668160?t=tfGuZHOkwB5Q4FmQWUCyVw&s=19
the Alchemist
-Ø1
What a load of rubbish. This is the sort of crap that harms autistic lives. Head on back to your anti vaccine club, where you can giggle and laugh and roll all over the floor together about how you helped make COVID a permanent fixture, rather than something we might have been able to eradicate. Go. Away.
Masking is exhausting
Very! And it's no wonder why so many children struggle in their education - the exhaustion and mental health impact of masking is so detrimental for adults, let alone children!
I am neurodivergent. I didn't realise how much I mask until I saw this. Autistic women Still are being missed for diagnosis 😔 This video is going to help so many others too, and Flo's mum is Fantastic! ❤
We totally agree - her mum really impressed us!
Brave and great as someone who has Asperger’s with a son Same Thank you for sharing
Bravo for your testimony! It does take a lot of courage to show your true self. All the best in your life and you are an inspiration for whoever has to deal with personal issues. All the best!
What a wonderful and brave young woman with a fantastic Mum! I can relate to this perfectly as I'm autistic and masked my true authentic self for many years. Autism isn't the problem. It's being autistic in an allistic-dominated and (mostly) made-for world that's the problem. Why? Because autistic people are thought of and treated by many, if not most, allistic people as inferior and broken when in fact autism is simply a neurological difference. We are just as good and capable as allistics and we've proved that and are proving it! WELL DONE Flo! Great video!
Worded so articulately, absolutely spot on!
@@SunshineSupportUK thank you! Articulation and attention to detail is a strength that many autistic people have - even those of us who struggle with verbal communication. (Of which I don't now thankfully apart from when my senses are overwhelmed)
What does Sunshine Support specialise in? Where are you based in the UK?
I hope all is well with you.
😊
@@BoldWarrior78 Absolutely in agreement - most of us here at Sunshine are neurodivergent so we totally relate, there are so many misconceptions out there. We specialise in advocating for children & families in the UK struggling to get the right SEND provision - Derby based, but UK-wide. Thank you so much, and the same to you! :D
Be true to yourself and be free ❤
Tell the to the bullies who persecute our children and hound them out of mainstream schools. As they have with our two children! And the government who don’t fund their education because there aren’t suitable places for them. Missing mouth, if not year of education. And then later on in life say they’re scrounges and should get a job. Brilliant thanks 😡
But also don't say anything true that might offend certain groups. But also be yourself. But not too much, of we may try to get you fired. But you're unique, as long as you tow party line.
This is me 100% acting or masking my true self and that because the world can't accept anything other then normal. The only time I can take the mask of is where I'm somewhere or with someone I'm comfortable to let myself go and be me. Thank you so much for sharing. Your amazing 👏 🎉
We love Flo! Autism in girls and masking are topics we cover a lot on our platforms and webinars, to raise awareness amongst schools, professionals and parents. Masking is indeed a survival strategy, but we shouldn't have to 'survive' this world, we should be able to thrive! 💛 Embrace your authentic self - well said, Flo.
I stopped masking so much after my late diagnosis. If i looked back at my life before it was a cycle of masking periods followed by periods of poor mental health and breakdowns and at 45 im too old and tired to keep doing that.
Dropping the mask can be so hard, but so worthwhile - well done Stuart. 💛
Bless Up❣️
YOU are deeply appreciated for being YOU. We are better due to you❤️
🙏🏽❤️🙏🏼
We naively believe that someone or something can make us happy in this life. But alas, this is impossible!
My cat makes me happy
Thank you for this video. I worked with very young autistic children. Their authentic selves were constantly being judged by others. Understanding and accepting them and everyone for who they truly are, warts and all is our job. Kindness and d understanding should be extending to everyone. We are all different. It is our aim and job to acknowledge them and guide them towards being their best selves. Being judgmental doesn’t help anyone.
For everyone in the comments who don't understand what masking is it goes without saying if a neurodivergent trait hurts others you should try your best to regulate it. E.g. interrupting others
However that's not masking is. Masking is hiding neurodivergent traits that don't harm others due to fear of judgement or bullying. An example would be stimming. In essence it is pretending to be "normal" which isn't good for anyone's mental health.
It seems a little over dramatic, acknowledging masking and having a choice to do so probably puts you and me in the lower spectrum of autism. Masking like you said is a survival skill and most people do that autistic or not to survive in the community. Choosing not to do so and declaring such choice to the world seems quite awkward and self indulging, from 47 year old autistic person like me.
You’re another misdiagnosis.
You have too much self awareness and sentience to be autistic.
Wait, that's an option?
I know this too, masking for me is so exhausting.
Well, if you're not a bank robber, a surgeon or a pro-Hamas degenerate, you shouldn't need to wear a mask anyway... So, why are you?
Thank you. I am the same.
What ?
coz you're amazing just the way you are
Grenade
A Sky full of lighters
Bad meets Evil 🙂👏👏👏🇺🇲
Totally with you.
What an inspiring story ❤
Those of us who have an autistic family member are in awe of those able to mask. Some are not that lucky.
I stopped too but it didn’t make my life easier. People in this country still treat you horribly
Lol nothing to do with this country,
The two universally hated traits:
(1) ugliness
(2) Social stupidity
Even if you go to Japan, the hidden atlantis *You will be hated there as well*
and I can sense some degree of sentience from you.
You’re not autistic. You’re just scared of connecting. You’re scared of fighting back. You likely never learned _how_ to fight back.
I’ve never ever been in a group or community where someone did not try to mistreat someone else.
Cowardice can be mistaken for Autism. An Abused Dog who never found his bravery can be mistaken for mentally ill.
I’ve never been wrong in fhis. I helped so many “autistic” teenagers by teaching them they’re just missing the ability to *be truly brave*
I understand it's different, but I don't think those things always come naturally for non-autistic people. It can be hard for anyone to express how they're feeling without worrying about judgement.
Sure, but this is like saying that people with major depression aren't so different from everyone else, because we all feel really sad and hopeless sometimes.
I have never (within conscious memory) not found it exhausting and... sort of mildly claustrophobic?... to be around humans. All humans. Even the ones I really like/love. I've masked so hard for so long (diagnosed in my mid-30s) that I have a very hard time not doing it unless I am physically alone. The "program" runs on its own; it's not within my conscious control at this point.
This is not, as it turns out, a typical experience - even for most introverts.
Beautiful.
YKW? I'm autistic too
In my humble opinion, every person is unique, and masks his uniqueness to some extent, to fit in!
“His”?
@@ascgazz Yep.
That's an example of "his" used as a non-gender-specific pronoun, you know, like it's been used in basic English for hundreds of years.
@@frontenac5083 logically, bridging the gap between “her”, and “his”, would be “their”.
In other comments you shout “DEFUND THE BBC” so we already know logic isn’t your brightest ability.
I mean… you seem to comment a lot on a channel you don’t trust..
@@frontenac5083 also, how do you think you can use a gender specific like “his”, as a “non gender specific pronoun”?
“His” is specifically a *male gender pronoun.* ..so using a male gender specific pronoun “as” a non gender-specific pronoun is inane.
It’s a bizarre argument to make, if you break it down.
Would you like me to describe some more “non gender-specific pronouns”?
You seem confused, maybe that’s why you’re angry at a total stranger, angry enough to speak for another total stranger…
And just for fun you use “Yep” to open your tedium. 🤣
Very entertaining, but could do better. 7.5/10
queen!!!
Queen piggi ❤
@@johnwi-l_l-iamsf3763 point proven up steps the bully
Whale
@@johnwi-l_l-iamsf3763
shallow hal
has arrived.!
next time you visit your local shop.
purchase a
mirror
happy pills
and manners.
there’s a good egg.!
✌🏻🌏🇦🇺🤘🏻
@@csharpe5787 you didn't make a point
Have faith in yourself, you come across as intelligent, able, and somewhat confident have a little more confidence, and you go girl
"Go , Gadget , Go" 🙂👏👏👏🇺🇲
Sending you good wishes from Toronto, Canada.❤😊😮
I watched good doctor all the series.
I judge nobody autistic or not, they are just people.
Doctor Do Littlle . 😐🇺🇲
Cringy little guy. Yes you do. :)
Teach me how you did it
My life has been worse since I got diagnosed, before hand I used to just crack on with life and now whenever I do anything “autisticly” I kind of allow it to happen rather than fight it
Be yourself, people will not stop loving you.
Don;t tell that to psychopaths. They've spent their whole lives constructing a false persona for other normal people to "love." You DO NOT want their true selves to be expressed.
Remember, psychopaths are people too. People that lack empathy for anyone else, but people none the less.
Be genuine
Bold
Cope
Errr… “masking” is something every single person does. No one just says exactly how they feel and what they think.
Or maybe there's more to yourself than you realize. Don't feel ashamed
How do you do ?
How do you do ?
Autism masking isn’t the same as neurotypical “masking” though.
Is she the one from THIS IS US tv series?
" ... If you shout LOUD enough , you LL Escape the noise of chaos ...." ERA
".... If you shout LOUD enough , you LL beeee the one ...." ERA
Those of us on the spectrum need to be aware of JUST how annoying we can be, and do our best to mitigate this, for the sake of those who have to spend time near us. It’s not ‘masking’, it’s trying hard not to be a jerk.
Thank you for saying this! There is a time and a place. I’ve got a very loud and confrontational colleague who tells us all it’s because she is autistic and we should all just accept it. She acknowledges she impacts on others but carries on anyway. My manager and I were talking about it one day and I expressed the view that “that’s only really going to work as an excuse until you cross another autistic person” before getting into a heart to heart about how we feel we’re also on the spectrum. I think I tend to be disliked for traits that are misread. We should be tolerant and non-judgemental towards one another but as you say diversity isn’t an excuse to behave like a jerk if you can help it. ♥️
Totally agree.
She's mostly talking about holding back harmless stimming, not being horrible to others. None of us should be horrible to others, I agree there 100%
As far as I'm concerned we are normal people with different abilities not disabilities
LikeabLe
Cope cope :)
No, autism is considered a disability.
I don’t understand the many late diagnosed who have friends careers and personal lives who then stop masking. I know it’s a spectrum but I thought the telltale sign was a profound alienation from ordinary social interactions. Are you telling me there are people who masked for fifty years so well they made and kept friends?
Yes - there are people who have masked their entire lives and never been diagnosed. Many neurodivergent people craft a unique mask for each situation or person, so they present a personality that that person will approve of or they learn the social rules of particular environments to an extreme level.
Also, being neurodivergent doesn't mean that you don't have friends or can't hold down a job, it's just that these things are often harder.
For example, an autistic person spends all day working hard at their job, taking care not to make *any* mistakes and masking perfectly for each of their neurotypical colleagues. They make it home at the end of the day, but they crash - too burnt out to do anything productive. The next day at work, a colleague asks them, "Did you do anything nice last night?"; the autistic person replies with their stock answer, "Oh, nothing much - just a quiet one. How about you?".
This repeats day after day, week after week using "leisure" time to recover from the effort of trying to fit in and trying not to be found out. All the while, the undiagnosed autistic person is wondering why everyone else seems to find everything so easy and how others have so much energy and why were they the only one who seemingly didn't get the handbook of life?
My nephew, age 24, is autistic. It would be a miracle if he could mask like this woman. He will never be anywhere close to normal. The most able are the ones able to make the noise about this subject.
@@hannahk1306I’m honestly lost for words. This perfectly describes my experience in life. I honestly thought there was something wrong with me. The sheer weight of putting on a front day in and day out is exhausting. No wonder I eventually burnt out at 30!
@@LionessExplores I've recently had a similar experience (I'm 29) and now looking into getting a diagnosis for both autism and ADHD. This was literally just my own experience I was writing about!
Burnout after years of masking is very normal - especially for undiagnosed women. I've found quite a few useful channels here on UA-cam (I think that's why I was recommended this video), which have linked out to other resources that perfectly explain my life.
I'd suggest you look into some of these to see if their experiences resonate with you and also look up the current diagnostic criteria (although be warned it's a little clinical and geared towards a neurotypical perspective of neurodivergent children...).
I've been experimenting with unmasking (just by myself and with my partner) recently and I have *so much* more energy it's unbelievable! I hope you get the support you deserve soon. 😊
So wholesome
Wholesale Prices
The bbc forget that certain groups have a saftey net and very few choose to work so why change society ? You should be just as concerned providing men with that saftey net. Finiancial supporting housing support, social support the bbc is very selective
May Allah said to me, "You are my Mahdi". Allah added, " The desert is started on 3rd June".
God made you beautiful and unique, embrace it! You are perfectly imperfect, God Bless!
America
Thank you
Thank you very much
Thank you
I have never been able to mask. It’s not easy, too.
WTF?
Why do you need to mask anyway?
Are you a surgeon?
A bank robber?
A Hamas supporter?
@@frontenac5083 Wrong definition of "masking". Watch the video.
@@thesilverblack708they didn't give a definition so how would you know its wrong?
@@Rusty84CV Because they're on a video about autistic masking.
@@thesilverblack708 nothing in their comment suggests they misunderstood the video
❤
Listened ❤
Is this a re-upload?
What doesn't kill us will make us stronger 💪
I am inspired by your story, and am also going to fully express how I feel from now on.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Excellent video.
Similar relationship with my mum. Kinda.
Mika "Elle me dit" 👏👏👏
Mika "we Are Golden"
Mika "Happy"
I was born spoiled and I’ve always insisted on smoking weed and not helping around the house at all but then my mom and teachers were mean to me and I couldn’t be myself anymore. Now I’m just like everyone else😢. Oh yea that’s just socialization which all social animals do or else they struggle to survive.
I'm so torn on this subject. I've seen parents fight tooth and nail to get help and a diagnosis for a child who is obviously autistic with no joy. I've seen child with next to zero symptoms/ traits be labelled as Austic which has held them back. I've seen such caring parents fight for years for help for their Autistic child for that child to become a teen and resent them for having been labelled. I've also seen teachers try to diagnose a child as Autistic and the parents refusal to even listen. It's one of the most modern complex health issues and we have no idea why it's happening and becoming so more frequent. I've witnessed autistic children labelled as poorly behaved and poorly behaved children labelled as Autistic. I've have a birds eye view in different mainstream schools and its frustrating and frightening. The loudest parents children always get the most help which is so wrong.
Almost all of your words are misinformed and wrong. Autism is not growing. People are finally getting diagnosed, especially women and girls. There's nothing complex about autism, and it is not a health issue. The loudest parents are likely autistic and sick of masking for people like you that judge them completely wrong. It's frightening that you are working in a school environment, maybe you could go get a job as a landscape gardener where no one else can be harmed by your atrocious opinions.
It's not becoming more frequent, it's just becoming better diagnosed. Previously, only high needs, young white cis boys were studied and therefore they were largely the ones being diagnosed. We now know that people of other genders and ages often present differently and are often better at masking, so a lot of people who were missed are now being diagnosed.
The people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, etc haven't suddenly become autistic, they've just finally got an explanation for their lifelong struggles.
Also, autistic people often get labelled and bullied regardless of whether they're diagnosed. At least with a proper diagnostic "label" they have a chance of being able to access support and resources and to be able to advocate for themselves and request accommodations where necessary.
Just because some people use diagnoses as a reason to discriminate against people, that's not a reason not to diagnose them - it's a reason to educate people and to teach them better ways to behave.
Natalia Imbruglia "Torn"
She's been camouflaging herself as Lizzo, clever girl.
for bbc everything is comedy
World
I’m appalled that the BBC would entertain this attention seeking behaviour.
Autism is debilitating, it puts a strain on parents and siblings.
This makes it look like something you can simply switch on and off.
Honestly, it’s quite repulsive.
Before you ask, yes, I grew up with an autistic brother.
The BBC are obsessed with ‘diversity and inclusion’…..watch out for a serious on embracing child attraction next.
They call anybody now autistic!
So wrong in so many ways...
@@houseplant1016 Yes, the BBC is. You can’t be normal anymore.
@@houseplant1016because now lived experiences are wrong? What a twisted game to play
Thought that was Susan boyle in the thumbnail
😂
Suzen Saraendone
💙💙💙💙
❤️💛❤️
Some spectrom. Are you?
IOS ?
*Are you talking about the useless Covid face nappies?*
*Well, sure, you should stop wearing those!*
The ones that were proven to reduce transmission?
Those “useless face nappies”?
You do you, and stop demanding the world meets your angry little needs.
Did you shit your bed or something?
Why the negative troll bombing today?
Appropriate name seeming as you talk a load of BS
Promote intelligence and education instead, its not beneficial to any society to claim brain damage is good
@darkshadowstorm7056 it's brain damage and can be seen on a brain scan, stop lying to yourself
@darkshadowstorm7056 Mental retardation or being born without legs are mere "variations" too, then. Does this mean we should wish these disabilities on anyone?
You've lost whatever argument you think you're having as soon as you feel the need to use, or even invent words such as "neurotypical".
Wow just wow. Maybe we shouldn’t promote your ignorance and stupidity. Sad person
What a horrible thing to presume. Autism is not "brain damage". I'm autistic and have had brain scans thanks to my insane parents trying to find the cause of me being me, and they came out with nothing.
Гугразия мордокрет гудрафолт ияска..
Kurafftte Dayyatte Kokkallo
I feel the same way. I have bipolar and I should be able to have episodes in public.
It’s not masking it’s called be aware that other people exist. And we all edit ourselves for others.
Oh and btw I am on the spectrum.
For many mental disorders, the most debilitating is how our environment (people) react, not the symptoms. Anything that doesn't fit in our narrow definition of "normal" gets outcast, stared at, authorities called on, slandered, etc.
It’s out of respect for others that we adjust ourselves in public. Being courteous of others. That’s why it’s not socially acceptable to have mental episode in public.
Masking isn't a thing
Cheap ( Roy )
So skip a minute...
Paste
Masking?
Shes a "comedian" 😂
Me me me me me...
She clearly hasn’t stopped eating 🤷♂️
You should work on whatever you have going on that makes you comment things like this, stop being afraid to face your own problems.
Keep yourself safe
@@Cssfiend I’m not the one using the BBC to draw attention to myself….but the buffet Queen is.
Are you saying they should mask themselves? @@Cssfiend
@@curiositycloset2359everyone masks for one reason or another, doesnt mean they’re autistic. If they don’t want to, fine, if they want to, fine. Like why does the world need to know about this poor tortured soul and how masking makes their life miserable. That’s life people need to just get over themselves and suck it up. Ffs 🤦♀️
Pigs are such wonderful animals ❤️
No sane person cares!
Christains do care.
@@vincentmahon6423 What?
About what?
You don’t sound sane yourself
The capital of Yemen , Sanaa
🫶🏻
Лартака сток бунданка рок 👍 фияркута бонза бугазотка тутка сияние бухта..
ZELENSKY : "HELP ME,I WON"
r34ard
"Tak"
OT:
Benny Hill considered funnier than Monty Python by two TV stations --WOR and WLVI!
Гардрикта мугазот боракта каскрот ияхта гуфраниякта гудракт...
201
❤❤
These are the words of the Lord God: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth.” - (at Deuteronomy 18: 18) -
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: A young woman is with child, and she will bear a son, and will call him Immanuel.” [“God is with us”] - (Isaiah 7: 14) -
“In truth I tell you, anyone who gives heed to what I say and puts his trust in him who sent me, has hold of eternal life and does not come up for judgement, but has already passed from death to life.” - (The Prophet and Messiah Jesus [Immanuel] of Nazareth at John 5: 24) -
".... These Are the voyages of the starship Enterpraiz ...." 1990
".... Its continuing mission ...."
".... To go there , where no one Has gone before ...."
".... To explore new life and scivillaizeission..."
She doesn't even strike me as particularly abnormal.
A: it's a spectrum.
B: she may be masking for this video.
C: autistic people aren't aliens.
D: please learn about autism and listen to the perspectives of actual autistic people (like the woman in this video).
"She doesn t minde" Sean Paul
( Source : McM top 2010 ) 🇨🇵
Гуфиниякта гадраст.
Oh my God, who cares about this shit absolutely absolutely no one
Ya seems everyone is autistic in some way. Like ok and? 🙄
Appart from you, obviously, as you clicked on the freaking video, r34ard.
🤡🤡🤡
I do. A lot of people do, just not you
"Footsie goes down ? , oh my God , that s terriblle !" Dad , in 1998 , Via mottorolla cellullar phone 🙂
I prefer the term childhood immunization injured to explain my autism....
DNA
Amazing pig ❤
Armagedon ( Bruce Willis )
Because i realised it was all bullshit and propaganda
You sound homeschooled
Wishfull thinking - Charlles Windzor
Well, hiding looks like that would be a crime. Plus, "autistic" is such a nice way of saying "a bit thick".
Some of the greatest minds throughout modern human life have been autistic. Your day is surrounded by autistic peoples inventions that you use to better yourself. And you call that thick? Oh, the irony.
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. Mark 7:37
Free the Native English
Oi, you have to wear a mask!
@@curiositycloset2359 which one???
The social signal that I'm mentally equivalent to wood?
Or the full body letterbox to socially signal I'm a bronze age parasite?
The Kossovars
The ethnic minority in the Southern Serbien provenss of Kossova
@@MilankaMilosevic-l4u never heard of it. Don't care about it.
Beautiful.
Hills of England green
❤
ZELENSKY: "HELP ME,I WON"
m0r0n