What are the effects of ADHD masking?

Have you ever felt like you’re putting on a show just to fit in?

For people with ADHD, hiding their symptoms to meet expectations and avoid judgment can be a daily reality.

This is called ADHD masking and often involves suppressing behaviors or copying others to blend in.

ADHD masking happens when people hide their ADHD traits, either consciously or unconsciously, to fit in or meet expectations. This often involves mimicking others' behavior and suppressing their natural tendencies to avoid judgment or negative attention, especially in social settings.

What behaviors do people with ADHD often mask? 

• Lack of focus, such as struggling to maintain focus on tasks or conversations 🧠

• Restlessness, such as fidgeting or struggling to sit still 🪑

• Impulsivity, including interrupting conversations or talking excessively 💬

• Emotional responses, like frustration, overwhelm, or excitement that might seem "too much" to others 😅

ADHD masking can make it hard to spot the real challenges behind the effort to blend in.

Below are some common ways ADHD masking can show up in daily life:

• Pretending to listen during conversations while thinking about something else 🤔

• Using generic responses to seem engaged when zoning out 😐

• Copying others' body language or conversational styles to fit in 🪞

• Being quiet and overly cautious when speaking 🤫

• Overachieving at work or school to avoid looking lazy 🏆

ADHD masking might have short-term benefits, but it can take a toll on people in various ways:

Delays a Diagnosis

• Naomi seems like the "perfect student," staying quiet and organized, but she’s struggling behind the scenes.

• By masking her struggles, she makes it harder for others to recognize ADHD as the cause, delaying her diagnosis and needed support.

Worsens Mental Health

• Javier puts in a continuous effort to hide his ADHD symptoms.

• Over time, the mental effort has left him feeling drained, anxious, and sometimes even depressed.

Worsens Physical Health

• Ryan’s stress from ADHD masking disrupts his sleep and appetite, leaving him feeling exhausted.

• The lack of energy and poor self-care impact Ryan’s sleep quality, eating habits, and physical activity levels.

Lowers Self-Esteem

• Sophia holds back her excitement and impulsive ideas, worrying that her peers will become annoyed.

• She’s started to feel like her true self isn’t good enough, and she avoids social gatherings to escape the stress of pretending.

It's important to manage ADHD symptoms in healthy ways and develop coping skills for self-regulation, especially to avoid the strain of ADHD masking.

A mental health professional can provide strategies to help you understand and effectively manage your symptoms.