Struggling with Expressing My Emotions in Public

There is no such thing as too much unmasking. Masking is a survival tactic, being able to unmask is a good thing. That means you feel safe enough in your environment to be YOU, rather than the convenient person others may want you to be. I've spent several years learning how to unmask and at this point if you asked me to start masking again in my own home, I wouldn't be able to do it. That's not a bad thing, that's a sign of progress and healing. Please don't feel like you're not allowed to unmask. Anyone who reacts negatively to you being visibly/obviously autistic isn't someone you want in your life anyway, so their opinion doesn't matter

The world sucks! I can relate a bit bc I wasn’t masking sensory issues over the pandemic and as things were going back to normalish in spring/summer of 2021 I was having a really hard time. Even walking down the street could be distressing bc I wasn’t used to coping with the noises or accompanying physical side effects anymore. . Exposure has helped, but I’ll never be able to mask my sensory issues to the degree I did before and I wouldn’t want to. I’m happier and less over stimulated this way.

Thank you, I’ll do my best

Friend, you are not getting worse, you are getting better. There is nothing wrong with the way you are. That said I do understand that this is something that is very difficult. I am so sorry that you’re being made to feel like you need to mask. I hate to give advice like this but practice masking for a small time, but please don’t start masking when you don’t absolutely have to. But remember you are perfect the way you are. The problem lies with the world