I took responsibility for others’ problems, tried to manage their emotions for them, and lacked any capacity to say “no” to unreasonable requests.


“Self-stigma is heavy; people high in it experience reduced self-esteem and see themselves as less capable than other people, and they’re often afraid to seek help.”
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“There is some research suggesting that people who are used to being disliked and going against the social grain are more likely to speak out and blow the whistle on injustice.[12”
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“Others neglect their physical needs because they’ve mentally detached from their bodies.”
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“Walker notes that by never revealing their own needs or discomfort with other people, fawners spare themselves the risk of rejection. But they also fail to connect with people in any meaningful way. It’s a lonesome state to live in. It’s also deeply draining. Many masked Autistic adults struggle to balance full-time work with social lives or hobbies at all because maintaining a conciliatory mask for eight hours per day is just too labor intense to have energy for anything else.[55] The connections we do form may never feel satisfying or authentic to who we truly are, because they rely on us meeting people’s needs reflexively and always telling them what we think they want to hear.”
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“Fawn types avoid emotional investment and potential disappointment by barely showing themselves,” Walker writes, “by hiding behind their helpful personas, over-listening, over-eliciting or overdoing for the other.”
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
― Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
Diego’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Diego’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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