ADHD masking: Are your symptoms being hidden?

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Chapters:
0: 00 Introduction
0: 12 The Truth About ADHD Masking
0: 34 Masking ADHD during childhood
1: 09 Common examples for ADHD Masking
1: 49 ADHD Misadvantages
2: 44 Unlearning
3: 38 Conclusion

Hello! Hi, my name is Alice. I founded The Mini ADHD Coach in August 2020 after I was diagnosed with ADHD at 29..
After years of therapy, questioning, burnout, and career path changes that were chaotic, I finally realized why I was struggling with so many things.
I wanted to share my knowledge to help raise awareness about ADHD and make the community thrive.

To learn more about ADHD, visit
Join me on Instagram @the_mini_adhd_coach

Interesting ArticlesADHD and Feeling always tired: E
ADHD and Impulsivity: e
ADHD and Anxiety: y

ADHD Masking: The Truth.
People with ADHD may not feel comfortable around people who do not have the disorder. As a way to avoid being judged or stigmatized by society, people with ADHD may hide their symptoms.
Masking doesn’t always develop in adults. Sometimes, it can be learned in childhood. Sometimes parents and other adults would tell us to “stop fidgeting,” “stop talking so much,” and “pay attention.” Children with ADHD symptoms discover that they are not safe to be themselves, so they use a mask as a survival tool.
Masking can also be caused by the misunderstanding of ADHD. Because we might be considered rude or strange, it is difficult to be yourself around people with ADHD. What does ADHD masking look in different situations? These are just a few examples.
Sometimes, when someone speaks, we can’t focus on the details or listen enough.
Sometimes hyperactivity can be disguised by pretending calmness. In reality, our minds jump from one thing to the next, so we don’t have time to process what’s going on at the moment. To fit in at social events, we might try to imitate other people’s behaviour. To be able to fit in, we may try to mimic other people’s behavior. It can be exhausting to mask our symptoms, and the disadvantages of this practice far outweigh their benefits.

Masking can lead to delayed ADHD diagnosis. It’s easy to hide the fact that there is an ADHD problem. A psychologist can give us an official diagnosis that will help us get the right treatment plan.
Anxiety and depression are another danger of hiding stress. The stress we keep in our bodies can cause anxiety and depression.
We are not capable of being our true selves and expressing what we really feel. Sometimes we may feel like we are becoming someone else because of our masks.

Credits
Animation: John Norman Santos

Sources

Cuncic, A. (2021). What is ADHD masking? Very well Mind. [ )

Enright, J. (2021). I was so wrapped up in my mask that I lost myself. Medium. [ )

Rogue Neuron (n.d.). ADHD Spotlight: 7 Things You Need to Know About Masking Rogue Neuron. [ )

https://medbusiness.net/adhd-masking-are-your-symptoms-being-hidden/

Co-host Lynne Edris talks about why meal planning and grocery shopping can be a struggle with adult ADHD, and gives you simple ADHD-friendly strategies to make meal planning and food shopping a breeze, saving you money, time, energy and bandwidth!