Exploring how adjusting behaviour in social situations can take a lot of ongoing effort and attention.
Thinking about how masking can serve a purpose in some situations but over time this cost of doign this adds up.
Considering what it feels like to be in a space where you can communicate in a way that feels natural to you.
Reflecting on how the people and environments around us can make it easier or harder to be ourselves.
Exploring what it means to support someone by accepting the way they communicate rather than expecting them to adjust.
The presenter describes masking, where a person adjusts their behaviour to fit in with social expectations that feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable. She explains how masking can involve suppressing natural behaviours, using learned social scripts, or trying to appear different from how one actually feels. The presenter describes the effort masking takes, noting that a person may appear fine in the moment but feel drained or flat afterward. The video closes by exploring what it can feel like to have spaces where masking is not needed, and why those spaces matter.
• What did you notice about how masking is described in the video?
• Have you ever adjusted the way you communicate or behave to fit in with a situation or group of people?
• How did it feel during that time?
• How did you feel afterward?
• Are there spaces or people around whom you feel most able to communicate in a way that feels natural to you?
• What makes those spaces or relationships feel safe?
• What could someone do to show another person that they are accepted the way they are?
The questions within this guide are designed to open dialogue and facilitate discussion around the relevant topics. It is up to the user to adapt as needed to best suit the person they are supporting. A neuroaffirming approach was central to the design of these resources and remains essential to their application. This means recognising and respecting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world, ensuring all conversations are led with curiosity, respect, and without judgement. These resources are a starting point. Trust your knowledge of the person you are supporting to shape the conversation from there.
For access to playback speed, transcripts or closed captions, please click the video title in the top left of the player to access the Youtube source where these controls are provisioned.
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