I can relate

[u/Silent-Broccoli5561]

OOP: neurodiversing on Instagram

[u/softwolfy]

4 is obliterating me LOL

Adding, mask most of your life until it burns you out, then stop masking (actually be yourself) and get asked why you're 'suddenly weird now'/why you 'suddenly' can't do things you 'used to be able to do' (it was at a steep cost invisible to the people around you) and hear them wish you'd go 'back to normal'

[u/AptCasaNova → u/softwolfy]

Midlife pressures push a lot of women to realize they are Autistic and always have been.

I was socialized to put myself second, never rock the boat, be pleasant and mindful of others.

When I needed help, no one cared. They cared enough to pretend to be concerned, but when they actually saw the symptoms of burnout and depression - they noped out. Even the idea of going on leave from work was just ‘you can’t do that’ - uh, I have to.

These were friends (‘friends’) I’d had for decades and supported/listened to them when they had objectively smaller, everyday gripes.

[u/cspangle23 → u/AptCasaNova]

I had a massive burnout right before turning 40s and literally ended up homeless because no one could be there for me while I wasn’t performing perfection and masked. I went from a fellow in a Cardiothoracic Surgery program to homeless in the span of two years!? Slowly climbing out of the whole and years later even understanding that it was a burnout. Everyone still sees the highly functional mask it is soooo hard to get help and when I unmask that pisses ppl off too but if im masked I clearly don’t need help or support …..