1thing I wish people knew about autism.

People think I’m quiet in social settings… they don’t realise I’m running a full-time customer service department in my head.

Every chat has scripts, rules, and tone checks. By the time I’ve smiled, nodded, and made “appropriate” eye contact, my brain’s clocked a 12-hour shift.

This is what masking looks like for many autistic adults — trying to appear “normal” while your social battery drains faster than a phone on 1%. It’s not being fake; it’s managing survival mode.

If you’ve ever left a social event completely wiped out, you’re not alone. That’s autistic burnout, not weakness.