Behind the Mask: The Hidden Cost of Mirroring in Autism

Description:

What if the version of someone you know — the one who always fits in, says the right thing, and reads the room perfectly — is actually a mask?

In this powerful episode of Navigating Life with Neurodiversity, we unpack the misunderstood phenomenon of mirroring in autistic individuals. Far from being just mimicry or a social quirk, mirroring is a deep-rooted survival mechanism shaped by trauma, rejection sensitivity, and the relentless demand to conform in a neurotypical world.

We’ll explore:

• 🧠 The neurological and psychological science behind mirroring
• 🧩 How it relates to masking, identity loss, and burnout
• 💔 The emotional toll of people-pleasing and fawning responses
• 🪞 Why mirroring makes autistic individuals vulnerable to manipulation ...