The Neurodivergent Hero Story: Superhero Masks versus Society's Kryptonite

Written in collaboration with: Kayvon Barad (guest writer)

During challenging times in my youth, I turned to writing—fan fiction, group stories (the old play-by-email days), unfinished novels, or simply vivid daydreams. With my imagination, I didn’t just create characters; they became real, animated through me. I could think their thoughts, feel their emotions, and set aside part of my mind to live in these imagined worlds, even as I went about daily life.

Eventually, it became more than just imagination. I began drawing on their strengths as my own. In tough moments, I’d ask myself how they might handle things and learned to channel their best traits when I needed them most. I could call upon Tritous Caraway’s unwavering willpower and focus, D'or Kadar’s unbreakable integrity, or even the magnetic stage presence of the Sinsonido King. Each character—whether caring, fearless, patient, or loyal—became a kind of living mask, there to make me more than I was when I needed it - my superhero mask.

What fascinates me, though, is that each of these personas also had their own vulnerabilities, which I had to balance by calling on the others for support. At best, I’d approach life with the mental resilience of a full team of (cross-genre) allies, backing each other up.

Of course, the downside was the intense mental fatigue—the whole team’s energy were channeled through just one person. The drain varied day to day, depending on the obstacles life threw my way, and at times it felt like sheer, unyielding self-control was the only thing keeping me going. In a sense, society itself had become my Kryptonite.

Opening Story by Kayvon Barad

How does this relate to the author's neurodiversity?

As the author presents autistic life challenges, they have constructed fictional characters that have transitioned from mere fictional entities to practical allies. They begin to rely on the strengths and qualities of their characters in real-world scenarios, effectively “calling upon” each character’s traits to navigate difficult situations.

As we look deeper there are two autistic trait that stand above others:

• Special Interest Rooted in Imagination: Initially, the creation of characters and stories provided a form of escapism and self-expression. Writing fan fiction and immersive storytelling are typical of autistic special interests, offering a safe, private realm where the author feels free and connected to their passions. Here, these characters are created and developed out of pure personal interest and emotional engagement. Note, it is common for fiction-writing authors engage deeply with their characters with 63% reporting that they can hear their creations[1.] with some able to visualise and even converse with them.

  
  

• Masking Through a Multi-Persona Approach: This approach essentially becomes a complex form of adaptive masking moving from special interest to functional tool. By channeling Tritous Caraway's willpower, D'or Kadar's integrity, or the stage presence of the Sinsonido King, the author leverages these personas as a way to meet societal expectations, assert control, or respond in ways they may not naturally feel equipped to do. Each personas, with its own traits and vulnerabilities, masking their natural responses. The character provides a way to hide or amplify parts of themselves, adapting based on what the situation calls for - a unique blend of self-expression and suppression.

  
  

  While it allows the author to harness their creativity as a survival mechanism, it also raises questions about identity: Are they being their true self, or are they merely a patchwork of these characters? This tension is emblematic of the masking experience for many autistic individuals—a blend of resourcefulness and self-compromise

  
  

  This technique aligns with the concept of masking, where autistic individuals suppress their natural personality in an attempt to blend into societal norms and perceived expectations of behaviours. Quoting from Dr Devon Price in ‘Unmasking Autism’[2]:

  
  

  • Camouflaging: Autistic individuals may imitate or mimic neurotypical behaviours to appear more socially adept. This can involve copying facial expressions, tone of voice, or social cues to navigate social interactions, even though these actions may not come naturally to them.

  • Compensation: Autistic masking often involves strategies to suppress or hide behaviours associated with autism to ’maintain the appearance of high independent functioning’.

  
  

Like any form of masking, especially one involving multiple personas, this adaptation takes an immense toll on mental energy. The concept of “society as Kryptonite” resonates here, illustrating how masking drains energy by requiring the author to constantly engaged their “character-mask” to meet daily demands from the crushing weight of external expectations; forcing a constant recalibration of self. Each interaction, task, or environment requires not just adaptation but transformation, turning their strengths into tools for survival. This constant effort reflects the emotional exhaustion many autistic people experience when they attempt to navigate a world that feels demanding or at odds with their true selves.

Conclusion: Diminishing Kryptonite

For the author, decades of intensive masking came at a heavy cost, culminating in increasing anxiety and resulting burnouts. The turning point came when they found a supportive team and a boss who valued authenticity. In an evolving workplace culture that embraced diversity, the author was encouraged to be more open and true to themselves. This shift towards inclusivity allowed them to move away from the exhausting demands of masking and contributed to a broader understanding of the benefits that neurodivergent individuals bring to a diverse workforce. It's worth mentioning that the author, even today, acknowledges that they cannot fully unmasked and although not as tiring the additional price is self doubt which they learnt to be more accepting and less self-critical.

This change empowered the author to redirect the immense energy once spent on masking towards their true passions, including a rekindled love of writing. By embracing their authentic self, they began channeling their neurodivergent strengths—creativity, focus, and resilience—into pursuits that genuinely mattered to them.

While not every neurodivergent person constructs intricate masks, the need for masking decreases as society moves towards greater inclusivity. As the pressure to conform diminishes, the “Kryptonite” of societal expectations weakens, freeing neurodivergent individuals to fully unleash their unique superpowers. This shift enables them to contribute in more innovative and constructive ways, without the constant risk of burnout.

Bonus: Superpower, Kryptonite and Twice-Exceptional?

Over the past few decades, the term "superpower" has gained traction within the neurodiversity movement; with term highlighting neurodivergent superpowers as unique strengths such as exceptional creativity, deep focus, pattern recognition, and innovative problem-solving, offering fresh perspectives and invaluable contributions to various fields.

Perhaps the most famous of quotes goes to Greta Thunberg[3.] in 2019:

Thunberg’s comment some two months ago was her robust response to commentators who had sought to use her Asperger’s to discredit her, claiming she must be a nave puppet and calling her a “weirdo” with a “monotone voice”. She wrote: “I have Asperger’s and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And – given the right circumstances – being different is a superpower. #aspiepower.”

While it can be empowering for some, the term superpower is not without controversy. On one hand, it emphasises exceptional abilities or talents in specific areas; on the other, it risks minimising the significant support needs and societal changes required for neurodivergent individuals to thrive. This duality of extraordinary strengths and underlying struggles is often referred to as being "twice-exceptional"[4].

In the context of this article, "twice-exceptional" highlights how neurodivergent giftedness can obscure underlying challenges, leading to a lack of recognition and support for their struggles. Conversely, their difficulties can overshadow their talents, resulting in underachievement, frustration, and missed opportunities in academic, professional, and social settings. To unlock the full potential of twice-exceptional individuals, it is crucial to acknowledge and address both their strengths and their challenges equally.

Reference

• https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/27/majority-of-authors-hear-their-characters-speak-finds-study

• Price, Devon. Unmasking Autism. The power of embracing out hidden neurodiversity. Octopus Books. 2022.

• https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/03/is-autism-a-superpower-greta-thunberg-and-others-think-it-can-be

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-forgotten-women/202307/is-autism-a-superpower