Thomas Miles

ArtWorks Together 2021 3rd Place Award Winner

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I find that we must reflect on the good and the bad that comes with autism. My experiences vary: I can be so happy and joyous that I will stim (reactions/movements that autistic people may do when there's a sensory overload or an overwhelming sense of joy or stress). But then I can also feel very low and drained, this can be due to masking for a lengthy period of time; long social interactions and intense 1-1 situations- often with strangers.

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These opposite sides of the masking spectrum can be very varying and inconsistent. Now that I am aware of masking and how it is something I do, I worry about the implications from this; how will it affect me as I grow further into adulthood: building my own family and my business. Will I be happy, healthy and me?

This photo is a portrayal of the conflict that comes with masking. How it feels to be in the centre of masking, particularly for a long period of time. You feel yourself doing whatever you can to successfully mask, to hide any autistic traits that people might judge.