Under the Surface: The Science of Masking and Authenticity
By Elizabeth Morrison
Why Masking Is More Than Just “Fitting In”
Masking is something many neurodivergent adults do without even thinking about it. It’s the subtle art of adjusting, hiding, or modifying parts of yourself to navigate the world — suppressing stims, shaping speech, or mimicking social cues. I often think of it as layering clothing: some days a light sweater suffices, other days you need a full coat, scarf, and hat just to feel comfortable moving through a space. These layers aren’t a problem; they’re adaptive. They help people get through environments that weren’t necessarily designed for them.
But even if masking works, it comes at a cost. Over time, constantly monitoring yourself can lead to stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and a sense that you’re not fully being yourself. Research backs this up: adults who mask more frequently report higher anxiety and depression and lower self-esteem (Evans, 2024). What stands out to me is that this isn’t just theory — I see it in the people I work with every day.
By Elizabeth Morrison
Everyday Layers: What Masking Looks Like
Masking isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes it’s conscious — like actively adjusting your tone or facial expressions. Other times, it happens automatically, a background process that still drains mental energy. It’s not “faking it” in a superficial sense; it’s a survival strategy for navigating social expectations.
Think about it: wearing a heavy coat in a crowded, unfamiliar city keeps you warm and protected, but after a few hours, you feel tired, sweaty, maybe a bit cramped. Masking works the same way. It helps people get through social spaces, but it’s not effortless. And just as layers can obscure your natural movement, masking can make it harder to express your authentic self.
The Hidden Weight of Masking
When I talk to neurodivergent adults about masking, one word comes up again and again: exhaustion. Constantly adjusting to social expectations takes energy. Studies echo this lived experience. Masking correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of inauthenticity (Evans, 2024; Bradley et al., 2021).
It’s important to recognize that these findings are correlational. We can’t say masking causes anxiety or depression — many factors interact. The research samples also tend to include adults diagnosed later in life or sexual minorities, which may affect generalizability (Evans, 2024). Still, the parallels between the data and what people report in real life are striking.
Masking isn’t inherently bad. It’s adaptive. But like carrying a heavy backpack all day, it has a tangible toll.
By Elizabeth Morrison
Seeing Masking in Real Time
One of the most interesting ways to study masking is through ecological momentary assessment — basically checking in on people’s experiences throughout the day. Research shows that autistic adults mask more when they’re around non-autistic people than when they’re alone or with other autistic peers. Unsurprisingly, masking in these moments is linked with higher stress, while being around neurodivergent peers reduces both masking and stress (Scheeren et al., 2025).
This fits what I notice clinically. Masking isn’t a fixed behavior — it changes depending on context. Some spaces are “light sweater” environments, others require the “full coat” approach. Understanding this fluidity is key to appreciating masking as an adaptive response.
Identity Beneath the Layers
Masking doesn’t just influence behavior; it affects how people feel about themselves. Adults who mask heavily often report a disconnect between the person they show the world and the person they feel inside. It’s like wearing so many layers that you can barely feel your own clothes underneath. This can lead to a sense of invisibility or emotional fatigue (Bradley et al., 2021).
Recognizing masking as a protective strategy, not a deficit, changes the conversation. It’s not about “fixing” behavior — it’s about understanding the pressures that make these adaptations necessary. And when people can remove layers safely, even temporarily, they often describe relief, comfort, and a clearer sense of self.
Masking Across Contexts
Work Life: Masking at work can be intense. Suppressing stims, moderating tone, and mirroring colleagues’ gestures can feel like walking around in a tailored suit made of bricks. Studies show that extensive workplace masking correlates with higher stress and burnout (Pryke-Hobbes et al., 2023).
Social and Personal Relationships: Masking changes depending on who you’re with. People often mask less with other neurodivergent peers, which mirrors EMA findings showing lower stress in these interactions (Scheeren et al., 2025). Just like you might shed layers when you enter a warm room, people adjust their social “clothing” depending on the environment.
What Masking Teaches Us
- It’s adaptive. Masking is a survival strategy, not a flaw (Evans, 2024).
- It has measurable costs. Even adaptive strategies can contribute to stress, anxiety, and reduced authenticity (Evans, 2024; Scheeren et al., 2025).
- Context is everything. Masking intensity shifts with environment and audience, showing how dynamic social adaptation is.
- It’s socially informed. Masking reflects the pressures of the environment more than any individual deficit.
Broader Perspective
Masking intersects with broader discussions about neurodiversity, stigma, and identity. Behaviors differ across the spectrum, and gender, age, and context all influence how and when people mask (Bradley et al., 2021; Pearson & Rose, 2021). Encouraging masking without acknowledging its toll or the need for authenticity can be harmful (Evans, 2024).
Masking is adaptive, context-sensitive, and socially mediated. Recognizing it as such allows a deeper, more empathetic understanding of neurodivergent experiences.
References
- Bradley, L., Shaw, R., Baron-Cohen, S., & Cassidy, S. (2021). Autistic adults’ experiences of camouflaging and its perceived impact on mental health. Autism in Adulthood. Link
- Evans, J. A., Krumrei-Mancuso, E. J., & Rouse, S. V. (2024). What you are hiding could be hurting you: Autistic masking in relation to mental health, interpersonal trauma, authenticity, and self-esteem. Autism in Adulthood. Link
- Pearson, A., & Rose, K. (2021). A conceptual analysis of autistic masking: Understanding camouflaging as a response to stigma. Autism Adulthood, 3(1), 52–60. Link
- Pryke-Hobbes, A., Davies, J., Heasman, B., et al. (2023). The workplace masking experiences of autistic adults. PLOS ONE, 18(9), e0290001. Link
- Scheeren, A. M., Nieuwenhuis, S., Crane, L., Roke, Y., & Begeer, S. (2025). Masking, social context and perceived stress in autistic adults: An ecological momentary assessment study. Autism. Link
