Anyone feel like the concept of masking is kinda bs?

Like sure, we’ve all put on a mask at some point, and I’m not discounting that doing it can inibut what if that mask eventually just becomes “you”?

I was textbook growing up. Couldn’t make eye contact, no vocal intonation, walked with a bounce, couldn’t properly use facial expressions. It wasn’t until I decided to really get into self development, and really began copying what confident people do.

I learned how they talked. I put myself in highly social situations until they didn’t faze me anymore. I worked on my appearance and self esteem. Am now regarded by my peers as that “really confident guy”. I am a top performer in my sales job and have an abundant dating life. If I ever decide to tell the people I’m interested in of my diagnosis, I usually get “would’ve never guessed”

I guess all of us have those so-called “special interests,” and mine just happened to be socializing. Still have my “fuck, engage appropriate human response” moments from time to time, but I feel like I’ve more or less rewired myself to become more neurotypical. Just took lots of uncomfortable exposure to things I hated. Desensitization.

Anyone else?