Happy World Autism Awareness Day.
And if you didn’t already know – I’m autistic.
You might not see it straight away.
Mostly because I’m high masking.
And that’s something a lot of people don’t fully understand – including within healthcare.
Masking
Masking is the process of changing or suppressing parts of yourself in order to fit into a neurotypical world.
It can look like:
- forcing eye contact
- rehearsing conversations
- mirroring others’ behaviour
- suppressing stimming
- pushing through sensory discomfort
- carefully managing how you come across
For many autistic individuals, masking develops over time.
It’s often not a conscious decision, it’s something learned through social expectations, past experiences, and the need to “fit in”.
Why do people mask?
Why do people mask? Because it works.
Masking can:
- make social interactions smoother
- reduce misunderstandings
- support participation in work, school, and daily life
- minimise stigma
But while masking can make life easier for those around the individual — it often comes at a significant personal cost.
Over time, constantly adapting to environments that aren’t built with you in mind can lead to autistic burnout.
Autistic burnout
Autistic burnout is not simply “being tired”.
It reflects a prolonged mismatch between load (what is being asked of someone) and capacity (what they are able to sustain).
When load consistently exceeds capacity, burnout can occur.
This may present as:
- persistent, overwhelming fatigue
- reduced ability to manage everyday tasks
- increased sensory sensitivity
- difficulty with communication
- loss of previously manageable skills
Importantly, this can happen even when someone appears to be “functioning well” externally.
Why this is often missed
Autism does not always present in obvious or stereotypical ways.
Many individuals – particularly adults, women, and those diagnosed later in life have developed strong masking strategies.
As a result, they may appear to be coping well, while internally experiencing significant strain.
Because these challenges are often invisible, they are frequently misunderstood, minimised, or overlooked.
What this means for healthcare
At Motion Health, this understanding is critical.
Healthcare environments can unintentionally increase load through:
- time pressure
- sensory demands
- communication expectations
- rigid structures
For autistic individuals, this can make accessing care more difficult even when support is needed.
A neuro-affirming approach recognises that:
- individuals should not need to suppress their identity to receive care
- environments and communication styles should be adaptable
- reducing load can significantly improve outcomes
- behaviour is often a response to unmet needs, not something to be “fixed”
At Motion Health, we aim to create a neuro-affirming, inclusive environment where individuals feel understood and supported.
This includes:
- flexible, individualised care
- clear and supportive communication
- consideration of sensory needs
- collaborative goal-setting
- respecting different ways of thinking, communicating, and engaging
Because effective care is not about forcing people to fit a system, it’s about adapting the system to better support the person.
Just because something isn’t always visible
doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
This World Autism Awareness Day, we encourage a shift beyond awareness, towards understanding, acceptance, and meaningful support.
If you or someone you support would benefit from a neuro-affirming approach to care, our team at Motion Health is here to help.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about how we can support you
