What do people mean who speak of "masking symptoms"

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I was in my mid 20's before I regularly made eye contact with people and in my mid thirties before I got it down pat. Is that masking symptoms?

I found out fairly recently that I was still flapping my hands many times when I would get particularly nervous or excited - per the recommendation of my shrink I acquired a squeeze ball to dissipate that energy and calm myself in a less demonstrative way. Is that masking symptoms?

I had gone off anti-depressants years ago because my very high dosage of Anafranil was making me jittery. But recently in an attempt to get my anxiety issues under better control I started on a mild dose of Zoloft which has stabilized my mood swings enough to noticeably reduce my anxiety. Is that masking symptoms?

I once spoke in long monologues and still do once a while - but I try now to have conversations that are more interactive. Is that masking symptoms?

I'm not sure what some people mean when they use the term "masking symptoms." For me the steps I have taken have improved the quality of my life and now they come natural for me. I'm still a tad bit weird and odd. Nothing can take that away from me and I don't want to think just like NT's or be just like an NT. I will still listen to the same song or watch the same movie for days in a row. When I am home alone or around someone I am absolutely 100% comfortable with - I don't hold anything back. But, I simply found that some things make my interaction with the world less stressful and improve my quality of life. At the same time I realize fully that there are many people on the spectrum who cannot redirect their social interaction and perhaps should not try too hard because it may be too stressful for them.

It's really hard to say. I like to think of it as managing them... not masking them. It makes me feel less weary of my diagnosis.