Behaviors
11 terms
Camouflaging
Another term for masking—hiding or altering autistic traits to meet expectations.
Demand Avoidance (contextualized)
Strong avoidance of demands, often increasing with perceived loss of autonomy, novelty, or uncertainty.
Masking
Consciously or unconsciously hiding one's neurodivergent traits to fit in with neurotypical expectations.
Neurodivergent Masking Fatigue
Exhaustion and stress that build up after prolonged masking of neurodivergent traits.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
A contested profile of autism describing extreme avoidance of everyday demands, often linked to anxiety and a strong need for autonomy.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
A profile within the autism spectrum characterized by extreme avoidance of everyday demands, driven by anxiety and a strong need for autonomy/control.
Sensory Avoidance
Reducing or avoiding certain inputs (noise, light, textures, smells) to prevent overload and stay regulated.
Sensory Seeking
Preferring or seeking extra sensory input (movement, pressure, sound, texture) to feel regulated.
Stimming
Repetitive body movements or sounds that help regulate sensory input and emotions.
Time Blindness
Time blindness is the difficulty sensing how much time has passed or accurately estimating how long tasks will take, making it hard to manage schedules and deadlines.
Unmasking
The process of reducing masking behaviors and living more authentically.