What Different Masks Do You Use?

Different masks are tools people often use to adapt to the circumstances. It’s a way to reinvent yourself to move on. They make you pretend you are capable of anything, and help you protect yourself from what you think may harm you.

Wearing a mask is, in other words, an unconscious defense mechanism that strikes when you feel you are in danger. It is the mechanism that can help you survive. Thus, it is not always a bad thing to wear a mask.

That said, under no circumstances does the mask you are using fulfill its purpose. Instead, it does just the opposite. The kinds of masks, the ones you do not seem to take off even if you wanted to, have been the subject of many psychopathological studies. They are known as the “ego” in gestalt psychology or “cultural conservation” in psychodrama.

When do you need different masks?

People learn to wear different masks from a very young age. In fact, you probably learned to use them when you realized that under certain circumstances you could not always do what you wanted if you wanted to be accepted.

For example, you learn that you should control your frustration or tantrums to get parental approval. Or that you should be patient and kind to your classmates so that they accept you.

These masks set the boundaries in relation to other people. They represent the different roles you need to play in your life. Masks allow you to control impulses and help you develop important abilities such as empathy.

In fact, you probably use some masks for yourself in certain situations. For example, you may need a mask of strength to overcome tough times. Once it has served its purpose, you can take it off.

What different masks do you use?

Masks are a part of life. Some of them can save you, while others can hurt you. What is interesting about these masks is that different people tend to use the same masks.

Here are some of the most common:

• The good baby. This child learned early on that others would accept them if they behaved well. It is difficult for the good child to set boundaries or share his opinion, because they are afraid that they will not be accepted. They are simply trying to please others.
• The warrior. The tough battles people have to fight to overcome adversity create this mask. It helps to push away the fear and indecision that can creep in when they have to take responsibility.

• The apathetic mask. This mask of indifference makes you seem impenetrable to everything that happens around you. It defends you against external threats, as it allows you to hide the suffering.
• The Savior. The Savior needs to save everyone and loves lost cases.
• The sufferer. People who use this mask learned early on that life is miserable and that the only way to get love is to play victim.
• The tough one. This is a very common mask that the most sensitive people wear because they are afraid of being hurt or seem vulnerable. Because of that fear, they have learned to hide their sensitivity and only express anger or aggression.
• “Little Miss Sunshine”. Some people have difficulty accepting emotions such as sadness, anger or loss. Thus, they put a smile on their face and pretend that everything is fine. They escape from their emotions.

• The clown. The clown uses humor to hide from his emotions. This mask is similar to the previous one. One nuance of this mask is that people often think that others will not accept them if they stop fooling around all the time and behave sincerely instead.

When you can not take off a mask

All the masks we mentioned above help you protect yourself from potential threats. Sometimes, however, you spend so much time carrying them that you cannot take them off. As a result, you no longer know who you are. Is the mask part of your essence?

If you ask yourself that question, it means you’ve been wearing that mask for far too long. Thus, the mask that once protected you does not work. Now it is just a barrier that cuts you off from feelings, desires and values. It’s like losing a part of who you really are. This disconnection can lead you to the slippery slope, where you try to use the same mask over and over again.

There are some masks that are very difficult to take off. For example, if you have played the tough guy, you may think that those around you will not love you anymore as soon as they find out you are vulnerable.

After all, you should try to take off all your masks. Look at yourself in the mirror. See who you really are. Connect with your true self so you can love yourself. Until you can be authentic with yourself, you have a hard time showing your true self to anyone else.