S5 E15 - Untangling ADHD & Masking: The Hidden Cost of Pretending to Be “Normal”
ADHD Untangled30 Jun 2025

S5 E15 - Untangling ADHD & Masking: The Hidden Cost of Pretending to Be “Normal”

Ever felt like you’ve spent your whole life pretending to be someone you’re not… without even realising it?

This one’s for you.

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the masks we wear – the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the chameleon, the ‘good girl’ or ‘good boy’ – all those roles we slip into without meaning to, just to feel safe, accepted, or "normal."

But unmasking? That’s a whole other story.

Together with Dr. Miguel (our go-to neuroscience and nervous system expert), we get real about the cost of masking, why unmasking isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing, and why it can feel so bloody exhausting trying to “just be yourself” when your nervous system doesn’t feel safe.

We explore:

  • The science behind masking, stress, and burnout
  • Why unmasking is less about big reveals and more about small, honest steps
  • The messiness of identity (and why it's OK to be in-between)
  • ADHD, intuition, and how your body always knows when you're faking it
  • And the wild parallels between coming out as neurodivergent and coming out as queer

PLUS: a hilarious (and painfully relatable) game of ‘Guess That Mask’ involving marathon medals, thank-you cards, and a very mysterious peach 🍑

Whether you're just starting to unmask or you're deep in it, this episode is your reminder: there’s no perfect way to be real. You don’t owe anyone a performance – just your presence.

Take an imperfect breath, let the dog off the leash, and come as you are.

And untangle ADHD with us


ADHD COACHING

IT’S TIME TO TURN YOUR ADHD STRUGGLES INTO STRENGTHS AND SHOW UP IN THE WAY YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO!


Have you ever felt the need to change who you are in order to fit in?

me too!

And I’ve spent so many years hectically running around this world trying to be everything and everyone else but my true myself

Party girl, house wife, rebel, addict, yogi…. To name a few

Hoping that eventually, something would work and something would fix me and make me normal…

None of it ever did.

But two things in my life that have allowed me to live a more meaningful and authentic life and that is Yoga & My ADHD Diagnosis, which is why I am on a Mission to support as many individuals with ADHD to turn their struggle into strength with ADHD through Movement & ADHD Coaching.


Find out more about my coaching & training programmes below!

1-1 Coaching with Rosie

ADHD Certified Trainings
https://academy1.untangledco.com/home-page

The ADHD Movement Group Coaching


@adhd_untangled
untangledco.com


Episoder(102)

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