I have bravely and publicly discussed my unfinished journey to Unmask my ADHD. Of course, publicly to me is writing this post and posting on Threads. It is a start though. Talking about this will hopefully help me find community in others like me.
Community is so important because it gives people a safe space to be themselves and feel seen. Being visible and having an understanding that you are not alone in the world is the benefit. Talking with like minded peers, is the importance of having a village behind you.
Unmasking with ADHD
I am a late Diagnosed ADHD Woman who has spent my entire life masking. Where does my masking begin and where does it end? Not to mention, I believe I’m also autistic, but my therapist does not see the importance of finding that out officially. Either way, unmasking is a huge undertaking.
Unmasking to me is the ability to fully be yourself. To learn who you really are as a human being. Finding your identity.
The first thing I’ve ever done to unmask was to stop smiling all of the time. I know it sounds silly, but smiling was a way to make other people comfortable. I’m over trying to diminish myself to make other people happy. So, I did away with smiling all of the time. I feel the most comfortable with my neutral face.
I mask (a medical mask) in public spaces and that helps with not smiling. It’s freeing to not be perceived as having an attitude or being upset because my neutral face is just my face.
Another way I’ve been learning to unmask is to not hide my stims. I dance, I bounce, I rock back and forth. It’s calming to me. If I feel unsafe with stimming in certain places, I bring fidgets that help me regulate myself. Grocery stores suck ,so I bring a fidget. Restaurants suck (especially when we can’t get a booth) so I fidget.
This Post is Wonky
I know this post is all over the place. I’ve been posting about fashion and being in a creative drought. This is out of the blue, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to talk about. I want to find my community of peers who understand trying to unmask. Check out this NPR article for more information on the importance of unmasking.
Anyway, comment with your unmasking experiences. Do you have ADHD or Autism or both? How does life look for you right now?
Check out my other posts here.
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