The Performance Paradox

This article explains how individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often make excessive efforts to adapt to social expectations in everyday life. The act of masking one’s true self to appear “normal” in environments such as the workplace is referred to in psychology as camouflaging, and it requires a significant expenditure of energy. While they may appear to function smoothly on the surface, many experience extreme exhaustion after returning home, sometimes to the point of being unable to move. From the perspective of a licensed psychologist, the article unpacks the underlying mechanisms behind this invisible struggle and psychological burden. It sheds light on the profound fatigue caused by the constant need to perform in daily life.