@hopeful33250 Teresa, I for one, am grateful that you ask. It means a lot that someone wants to try to understand "how we tick". Speaking from my own corner, for me masking is putting on a front of interaction with others, making all attempts to fit in and "be like a neurotypical". Tamping down the stimuli of crowds/smells/sounds, working hard to not retreat in to my safe spot when in groups. Shopping at 6AM when it is less crowded. As @sirgalahad mentioned, I have our young cat to distract me, my Zentangle/crochet/quilting/journaling to assist in recharging me, and focusing on these help keep me from wigging out. Hope this helps, Ginger