Post #3863028

💠 So I have/am ADHD, and often I worry about disinhibited social engagement or impulse control in these contexts. e.g. Am I oversharing, am I being overly familiar, is this someone who would take this the way I want them to take it re: pragmatics of whatever may be being said, sarcastic or glib or meme-like in nature, etc. So one strategy I've developed without realizing it, is not to mask, but to assess. 💠 Call it the Civilization II Strategy or SimCity Strategy. In those games, before you built, say, a Granary, or Aqueduct, or some Elephant Archers, or whatever, *advisors* would chime in with "I think you should consider X because Reasons." Adapting/adopting this and applying it to myself, my inner voice let's me sort of evaluate the material matter and whether something is going to get me misunderstood, in trouble, or the less common absolute positive of being well understood and validating of my quirks, sense of humor, and tendencies generally. 💠 Is this Masking? It teeters the line of it, but I like to think of it as interpersonal effectiveness evaluation, and because I go through the process in my head, I hear my own voice and dont just stifle it entirely, though I may NOT share it in particular contexts. In other words, if I just shut myself down reflexively, I feel exhausted, incongruent with enjoying an experience/encounter, and my irritability escalates as the day goes on. I consider it harm reduction & cultural consonance assessment -- is what I'm about to say going to do more good than harm? If so, how bout I amuse myself with it internally but just let it ride by this time & not share it with a hostile crowd. Like a comedian evaluates on stage. #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #Gaming