Reclaiming selfhood: towards a conceptualisation of the autistic unmasking process.

INTRODUCTION: Many autistic people adapt to a neurotypical world through masking, which can lead to exhaustion and harm to mental and physical health. As a result, there is increasingly interest in 'unmasking' in ways that improve quality of life and reduce stress. This study analyses qualitative data to explore unmasking among autistic adults. METHODS: This was a neurodivergent-led study. Twenty-nine autistic adults (17 with co-occurring ADHD) were interviewed one to four times as part of a larger project on autistic flourishing. Data related to unmasking were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Unmasking occurred through a circular process consisting of four categories (1): Identify the need to unmask (2), Gain a deeper understanding of one's masking (3), Using unmasking strategies, and (4) Managing the consequences of unmasking. CONCLUSION: Unmasking can be both challenging and freeing for autistic adults and may be best approached gradually. Supportive environments and professionals who understand masking and its long-term impact and do not encourage masking are important.