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Evan Light<a href="https://hessen.social/@Sci_Fi_FanGirl" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Sci_Fi_FanGirl</a> <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/actuallyautistic" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@actuallyautistic</a> As a late and newly diagnosed member of the club, I'm beginning to clue in that some of this new "weirdness" doesn't go away. While I'm becoming calmer in this seemingly new CNS, my thinking and behavior is different. It's deeper, more analytical, more deliberate. At times, that frightens me.I caught myself today, talking with family, establishing a boundary for their sake, so they don't spend energy on us when they clearly need it in their current difficulty, and then changing the subject gently but intentionally to something humorous to bookend the conversation but also to lock in that boundary. Calculated but caring.There's always a hint of a mask there, isn't there? Masking behaviors comes from fear. Yet almost every interaction between people has at least a grain of that. We attend to loved ones because, on some level, we fear either for their wellbeing, or the relationships, or our own identity, if we do not do so. So even acts of love carry the smallest grain of fear.I suppose what I'm saying is this: masking does not seem a binary thing, there or not. It seems instead to be a continuum, asymptotic when approaching 0 and same with 1.<a href="https://tenforward.social/tags/actullyautistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#actullyautistic</a> <a href="https://tenforward.social/tags/actuallyaudhd" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#actuallyaudhd</a> <a href="https://tenforward.social/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>

Douglas Edwards 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽🇵🇦🇬🇱🇩🇰🇪🇺<a href="https://sauropods.win/@futurebird" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@futurebird</a> This sounds exactly like the kind of responses <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/autistics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#autistics</a> get when they talk about <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>. They generally aren't happy to be told how good they are at it, when doing it at all, even successfully, is a tremendous strain. Sometimes ESPECIALLY when it's most successful.So am I understanding you correctly: you want to ELIMINATE the anxiety, not just mask its overt symptoms?Unfortunately, what works best for me is something you may not like any better than compliments on your masking, even though it addresses your internal state, not just external appearances: decrease your respect for other people.This is what the old "imagine your audience naked" trick is based on, but the approach is more general. For example: there are certain people I have to interact with, who are Trumpezoid Nazis. Instead of imagining them naked, I imagine them in full black-and-silver Nazi SS uniforms, complete with the appropriate insignia: Totenkopf, paired lightning bolts, swastika, iron cross, Nazi eagle. I find it much easier that way to avoid saying things to them I shouldn't, AND to avoid stressing about how they'll react to what I do say. It allows me to feel a level of detachment from them as people that I would otherwise find it difficult to achieve.My own social anxiety, at least, is based not solely, or even primarily, on fear of the real-world consequences of what I might say, but on fear of damaging a perceived personal relationship with my audience. And it is most intense when that relationship is felt to be most precarious: that is, when I have no REAL reason to think such a relationship exists, but I'm hoping against hope that it will. Writing off the imagined personal relationship is, for me, the key to avoiding social anxiety.If this doesn't work for you because the psychology of your own social anxiety is different, please disregard. But if this DOES ring true, you may get considerable relief from putting it into practice.

WHNWhat's it like to keep masking when most have moved on? A voice from the WHN community opens up about why they still take precautions, and what it’s really like. Read the full piece on our blog: <a href="https://whn.global/tag/personal_experiences" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://whn.global/tag/personal_experiences</a>.<a href="https://forall.social/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/LongCOVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LongCOVID</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/YallMasking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#YallMasking</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/N95" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#N95</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/PublicHealth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PublicHealth</a>

Damian YerrickEtymology Nerd shares a study about eye contact in conversation. Don't listen to people who tell you to always stare at the listener. In fact, people look away when beginning to speak and look toward the listener when ending their turn. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqM1fgYu6uQ" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqM1fgYu6uQ</a><a href="https://peoplemaking.games/tags/pragmatics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#pragmatics</a> <a href="https://peoplemaking.games/tags/conversation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#conversation</a> <a href="https://peoplemaking.games/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://peoplemaking.games/tags/EyeContact" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#EyeContact</a>

Coffeedate with ADHDIt is important to share experiences. Just a few years ago, I would have seen this as a very strange and unique experience. And today: it seems to be a well-known ADHD thing.<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/adhd" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhd</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/adhs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhs</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>

Coffeedate with ADHDNobody: "You can't really represent the concept of masking visually."Artist: "Hold my trout"<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/adhd" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhd</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/adhs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhs</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/meme" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#meme</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/mentalhealth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#mentalhealth</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/adhdmeme" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhdmeme</a>

Chronic Illness Humor FunnyArtist: William Leitzman<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/maskup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#maskup</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/chronicillnesshumor" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#chronicillnesshumor</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/chronicillnessmemes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#chronicillnessmemes</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/autoimmune" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#autoimmune</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/autoimmunehumor" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#autoimmunehumor</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/autoimmunememes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#autoimmunememes</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/chronicillnesscomics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#chronicillnesscomics</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/immunocompromised" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#immunocompromised</a>

For Pete's Sake!Made an unusual discovery this morning. I'm much less prone to overwhelm and more capable of dealing with unexpected and/or stressful situations or crowds when I'm dressed in my suit, waistcoat, cravat etc than I am when I'm dressed in my jeans and t-shirts/fleeces.I do mask constantly but I guess the suit is "The Ultimate Mask" .. much like not being able to cope with London ComicCon for years until I went "as someone else" in an outfit. Does probably explain why I'm much more tired/drained at the end of the day though.<a href="https://autistics.life/tags/Autism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Autism</a> <a href="https://autistics.life/tags/ADHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ADHD</a> <a href="https://autistics.life/tags/AuDHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AuDHD</a> <a href="https://autistics.life/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>

WHNMasks work. Airborne transmission is real. Even if others have moved on, we haven't forgotten the science. Here’s why: <a href="https://whn.global/yes-we-continue-wearing-masks" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://whn.global/yes-we-continue-wearing-masks</a><a href="https://forall.social/tags/PublicHealth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PublicHealth</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/MaskUp" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#MaskUp</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/COVID19" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/LongCOVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LongCOVID</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/InfectionPrevention" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#InfectionPrevention</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/StaySafe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#StaySafe</a>

DoomsdaysCWI'm the snarky, smartypants best friend that your mother didn't warn you about (because I was good at masking and being polite around your mother). <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/actuallyautistic" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@actuallyautistic</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ActuallyAutistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActuallyAutistic</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a>

HollieFolks (like me!) who are still masking the vast majority of the time, if you feel a bit beaten down about it sometimes, this article may help you feel less alone. This should be a gift link. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/04/covid-conscious/682252/?gift=_uLTcluX0XwoRN1P5lB7JmQ8Wub1ge-Qd8BWUEkDeAA&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/04/covid-conscious/682252/?gift=_uLTcluX0XwoRN1P5lB7JmQ8Wub1ge-Qd8BWUEkDeAA&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share</a><a href="https://social.coop/tags/covid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#covid</a> <a href="https://social.coop/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>

MozFinished a box of disposable masks and looked on the shelf for the next one. Realised that I have been given so many masks by 'covid is over' people in my circle that I won't have to buy any for another year at least.My experience is that people see me masking all the time and see me as someone to give their unwanted masks to, rather than as encouragement to mask themselves even when they're sick.It's annoying and sad, but OTOH free masks!<a href="https://fosstodon.org/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://fosstodon.org/tags/maskup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#maskup</a> <a href="https://fosstodon.org/tags/BringBackMasks" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#BringBackMasks</a> <a href="https://fosstodon.org/tags/CovidIsNotOver" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CovidIsNotOver</a>

SeaFury 🦜🍉<a href="https://beige.party/@AnAutieAtUni" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@AnAutieAtUni</a> I call this “scenario-ing” I do this because I am not empathic in the usual sense of the word. I need to watch for cues and pattern match to scenarios that I have worked out beforehand. I hold a huge number of these scenarios in my head as I interact with other people. But try as I might, I cannot account for all of them. If I encounter an expected response, I get flustered. I cannot unpack my feelings and the situation on the spot. My arms feel limp and I freeze sometimes. So this adds to a certain anxiety in every interaction. But at least I know what is happening. I am getting better at saying “I need a moment” or “I’ll get back to you” This is the whole mechanism of why and how I mask. It’s honestly exhausting!<a href="https://aus.social/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/actuallyautistic" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@actuallyautistic</a>

🐌’s Pace<a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> Wait a minute! Am I to understand that it is OK to wear a mask if you want to grab any one looking immigrant-y in the street and disappear them, but it is not to protect yourself and others from air-borne diseases?? Huh.

AndreI think what I've been through in the last 20 minutes is a great example of how ASD affects us, even when we are considered "level 1" in terms of support.- Coworker said they're feeling unwell and asked if we wanted to do a meeting without them or postpone it. - I replied saying I was in favor of postponing it. - Coworker 2 replied "get well soon" in the thread - Coworker 3 gave a thumbs up on my message and sent a "get well soon" in the thread as well - I spent the next 15 minutes stuck in a loop thinking if I should:1. edit my initial reply and add a "get well soon" to the end 2. send "get well soon" as a separate message 3. move ahead with my lifeThat lasted until our last coworker sent a "get well soon", when I decided the occasion required a wish of health from me as well and sent one at the end of the thread.So yeah, your coworker who looks "too normal to be autistic" probably also has these moments as well, for stupid reasons, multiple times a day. And that is a HUGE energy sink.<a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Autism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Autism</a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/ASD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ASD</a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/ActuallyAutistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActuallyAutistic</a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a>

Paco Hope #resistAnd the CDC simultaneously says: TB is spread through the air from one person to another. and then under Prevention (and frankly, anywhere else) they do not say the word <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/mask" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#mask</a>.I mean, they even say:<blockquote>These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. TB germs are more likely to spread in indoor areas or other places with poor air circulation (such as a closed vehicle) than in outdoor areas. People who breathe in the air become infected with TB.</blockquote>But they can't actually mention the possibility of <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a>. On <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tb/causes/index.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this page about the causes of TB</a> they discuss if you have active TB disease, meaning you're probably actively contagious, they say "Your health care provider will tell you what steps you can take to keep from spreading TB germs to others". I sure hope "your health care provider" has the sense to say "<a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/WearAMask" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WearAMask</a>".I'd like to know what justification they have to not mention masking.

WHNA powerful personal story of navigating workplace safety, social isolation, and the ongoing reality of COVID. Luca shares the struggle of being "the last mask on" — reminding us why it's crucial to stay informed, connected, and COVID-conscious.Read Luca's full experience here: <a href="https://whn.global/the-last-mask-on-how-sars-cov-2-changed-my-life-without-even-touching-me/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://whn.global/the-last-mask-on-how-sars-cov-2-changed-my-life-without-even-touching-me/</a><a href="https://forall.social/tags/COVID19" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/LongCovid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LongCovid</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/MaskUp" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#MaskUp</a> <a href="https://forall.social/tags/PublicHealth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PublicHealth</a>

Bc Clarity Carlton-MartinMy old bandmate, who has been in assited living for ab9ut 2 years, was pout into hospice Saturday after contracting COVID19 for the first time. His fragile health was not considered worth masking around them. This is the third close friend who has contracted COVID19 and died in a medical setting this last 8 months. i am overwhelmed with grief too much to even consider being active against the Confederated TechBro Takeover of 2025. Glad Oregon has a right to die when nothing works in medicine <a href="https://c.im/tags/FUBAR" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FUBAR</a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/TODAY" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TODAY</a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Masking</a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/GermicideForSeniors" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#GermicideForSeniors</a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Euthanasia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Euthanasia</a>

CassianFor those of us who follow a lot of autistic people and also people who talk about covid...Please make it clear at the start of your post, when talking about masking, whether you mean metaphorical or non-metaphorical masking.Thank you. :D<a href="https://toot.wales/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/covid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#covid</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/covid19" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#covid19</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/autism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#autism</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/ActuallyAutistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActuallyAutistic</a>

Dave Warnock5 weeks into understanding being <a href="https://amastodon.uk/tags/adhd" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#adhd</a> & finding <a href="https://amastodon.uk/tags/masking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#masking</a> a growing challenge. Realisation of being adhd is huge. I guess I thought masking would just move from subconscious to conscious but instead it feels more like standing on quicksand or a crumbling cliff. Masking feels much more difficult, sometimes impossible in situations where I must have been subconsciously masking for the last 60 years. Now 4 months before I finish this appointment, feels like hanging on by fingernails

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