What is masking ADHD?

If you hide your adult ADHD symptoms from other people, that's called masking. Basically, you're trying to seem more “normal” or “regular.” ADHD causes some people to act hyperactive or impulsive. It makes other folks have trouble paying attention. And still other adults have a combination of those symptoms.

How do you tell if you've been masking ADHD?

What is an example of ADHD masking?

Types of ADHD masking include hiding hyperactivity with calmness, sitting quietly at a desk without squirming in one's seat, or responding as you are expected to do during class discussions even though your mind may feel chaotic.

How do you deal with ADHD masking?

For someone to fully unmask, they need to feel safe; they need to know, by observing your actions and behaviors, that there won't be negative consequences to being oneself. The more that you can show real acceptance, the more the ADHDer will be able to unmask.

Is masking ADHD tiring?

It also makes it difficult to admit that we're struggling, because we don't want to let others down. This relentless effort to appear neurotypical is often referred to as “ADHD masking,” and can be a source of real fatigue for people with ADHD.

The Problem with Masking ADHD and Autism (burnout, etc.)

What are the consequences of masking ADHD?

The Consequences of ADHD Masking. ADHD masking, as we know, may delay or sabotage diagnosis, especially in girls and women. Internalized conditions, including anxiety or depression, might develop as a consequence of undiagnosed, untreated, and hidden ADHD.

What is ADHD paralysis?

ADHD paralysis happens when a person with ADHD is overwhelmed by their environment or the amount of information given. As a result, they freeze and aren't able to think or function effectively. This makes it challenging for the individual to focus and complete their tasks—including urgent ones.

What is masking neurodivergent?

Masking is a term explaining how neurodivergent people feel the need to camouflage in social situations to appear neurotypical. Masking is a form of social survival displayed in different ways depending on the behaviours the individual wants to conceal.

What is masking Behaviour?

Masking can be a behavior individuals adopt subconsciously as coping mechanisms or a trauma response, or it can be a conscious behavior an individual adopts to fit in within perceived societal norms. Masking is interconnected with maintaining performative behavior within social structures and cultures.

Can you be mildly ADHD?

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge.

What is an example of masking?

Examples of masking can include, but are not limited to: Mimicking the social behaviour of others, including gestures or facial expressions. Deliberately forcing or faking eye contact during conversations. Hiding or underplaying their own intense interests.

How does intelligence mask ADHD?

High IQ may “mask” the diagnosis of ADHD by compensating for deficits in executive functions in treatment-naïve adults with ADHD.

How do I know if I'm masking?

What undiagnosed ADHD can look like?

People with ADHD may have trouble completing thoughts when talking or finishing magazine articles and books. Failing to pay attention to details or constantly making careless mistakes. Often having trouble organizing tasks and activities. Often avoiding tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time.

What does neurodivergent burnout look like?

The three primary characteristics of neurodivergent burnout include: Chronic exhaustion, reduced tolerance to stimulus, and loss of skills (e.g., reduced executive functioning such as thinking, remembering, creating and executing plans, performing basic self-care skills, and activities in daily living).

What mental illnesses use masking?

What mental health conditions are most often associated with masking? According to Theresa, the term masking has historically been associated with autism and ADHD, although nowadays it's used by people living with all kinds of mental health conditions.

Are you born with ADHD?

Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.

How do you tell if it's ADHD or anxiety?

In sum, children with generalized anxiety disorders will have poor focus because their minds are dominated by anxious, worrisome thoughts. Their anxiety can permeate all academic assignments. In contrast, an inattentive ADHD child's mind can be quiet, but easily distracted, which results in their inattention.

What is the zombie effect of ADHD?

Parents may also describe their child as “spacey” or “zombie-like” after starting ADHD treatment. This can be thought of as hyperfocus from a dose that is too high. In most instances, this is due to too high a dose and treatment should be reduced.

What mental illness can ADHD turn into?

Behavior or Conduct Problems

When these behaviors persist over time, or are severe, they can become a behavior disorder. Children with ADHD are more likely than other children to be diagnosed with a behavior disorder such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder.

What is the leading cause of death for ADHD?

In register studies accidents, suicides, and homicides have been the main causes of death in individuals with ADHD [6,7,8]. Cause-specific mortality for suicide was significantly higher for those with ADHD compared to controls in a longitudinal setting [16].

Is masking a mental illness?

While many think of masking as a neurodivergent behavior, particularly for autistic people or those with ADHD, people with various diagnoses mask for a variety of reasons. Learn how masking manifests for people with various mental health concerns, the problems it can cause, and how to overcome this habit.