01/05/2026
So many women and AFAB adults grow up never realizing they’re autistic — not because autism isn’t there, but because it’s internalized.
We learn to mask.
We learn to perform “okay.”
We learn to survive by shrinking our sensory experience, emotions, and needs.
But that comes with a cost: burnout, overwhelm, shame, medical dismissal, trauma overlap, and a lifetime of feeling misunderstood — even by ourselves.
I just published a deeply personal and educational blog exploring:
• what internalized autism actually is
• how masking and trauma intertwine
• sensory life from the inside out
• what meltdowns and shutdowns REALLY look like in adults
• why so many of us don’t discover autism until later in life
• and my own experience finally unmasking
If this resonates with you — or someone you love — I hope it brings clarity, validation, and relief. You deserve understanding. 💛
📖 Read it here: www.restorativehealinghaven.com