A closer look
Imagine having to actively run a highly complex mathematical algorithm just to figure out how long you are supposed to hold eye contact at the water cooler. For many autistic adults, social camouflage is an entirely manual process of observing, analyzing, and perfectly mimicking neurotypical behavior to seamlessly blend in. While it prevents immediate social ostracization, this extreme, relentless performance requires a catastrophic amount of cognitive energy, inevitably leading to devastating autistic burnout and a profoundly terrifying loss of true personal identity.
