Lecture Notes: Spotting Autism in High Masking Autistic Women

Introduction

• Definition: High masking individuals do not appear autistic as the mask hides visible signs.
• Importance: Validating someone's experience when they disclose their autism and masking journey.
• Sponsored by BetterHelp Online Counseling.
• Presenter: Paul Mikaleff, "Autism From The Inside".

Understanding the Mask

• Mask Definition: A facade or outward appearance like an optical illusion.
  • From the right angle, it appears flawless but may break down upon closer inspection.
• Masking in Autism: Implies an average neurotypical experience, hiding the different inner experiences.
• Duration of Masking: Some women can mask for decades, making it difficult to identify their autism.

Identifying Traits Beyond the Mask

• Key Distinction: Look beyond the flawless mask to see autistic traits.
• Gaps and Inconsistencies: Areas the mask covers, presenting a simple outward appearance.

Types of Gaps

1. Temporal Inconsistencies

   • Example: Articulate speech is possible with energy, but not always.
   • Reality is more complex than the mask implies.

2. Skill Set Gaps

   • Example: Difficulty reading can lead to avoidance of text-heavy tasks.
   • Hidden gaps can make certain tasks inaccessible.

3. Social Skills and Knowledge Gaps

   • Social Inconsistencies: High energy social interactions followed by periods of solitude.
   • Knowledge Gaps: Lack of understanding context, leading to perceived obvious questions.

4. Inconsistent Capacity

   • Periods of high functionality interspersed with extended burnout and reduced capacity.
   • Example: Variability in executive function and need for tools to aid in planning and organization.

Analogies and Societal Understanding

• Glasses and vision impairment as a comparison to coping strategies for autistic people.
• The importance of accepting and supporting these strategies without stigma.

The Importance of Validation

• Trust in Disclosure: Validating someone's experience when they disclose their autism.
• Impact of Invalidating Responses: Irony that perfect masks lead to disbelief when truth is shared.

Unmasking Journey

• Support Needed: Validation and understanding from others are critical in the unmasking journey.
• Questions of Identity: Exploring the true self behind the mask.

Suggestions and Resources

1. Share Experiences: Encourage sharing in video comments for community support.
2. Unmasking Videos: Explore further educational content on safely taking off the mask.
3. Online Social Group: Join supportive communities on platforms like Facebook.
4. Mental Health Support: Seek professional counseling, like BetterHelp.

Conclusion

• Resources: Encourage exploring more materials at autismfromtheinside.com.au.
• Offer of Coaching: Available for one-on-one coaching through the website.
• Encouragement: Engage with the content and community weekly.