UNMASKING: The neurodivergent identity crisis hidden behind a lifetime of pretending
LATE BLOOMERS19 Nov 2025

UNMASKING: The neurodivergent identity crisis hidden behind a lifetime of pretending

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox finally talk about unmasking — pretending to be someone you’re not, pretending to be neurotypical, pretending you’re fine, and pretending you don’t have needs. Rich shares how his old mask looked like being the “life and soul of the party,” hyper-masculine and always social, while Rox talks about hiding chaos, messy flats, people-pleasing, fawning, and lying about things like lateness out of shame.

They explore why neurodivergent people mask — to fit in, avoid rejection, and feel acceptable — and the cost of it: exhaustion, anxiety, overwhelm, and relationships where the real you is never seen. Rich and Rox share personal moments of overstimulation, needing quiet rooms, crying, mouldy cups, chaotic homes, and acting through fear of being “caught out.”

They also talk about how unmasking takes time, feels awkward, and starts with small truths shared with the safest person. And even though it’s scary, they show why it leads to more connection, more honesty, and finally being known for who you really are.

20% off Loop Earplugs: https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/lp-adhdlove


Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(88)

5: THE ANTI SOCIAL CONTRACT: 20 New Rules For An ADHD & Autistic World

5: THE ANTI SOCIAL CONTRACT: 20 New Rules For An ADHD & Autistic World

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox are throwing out the social rulebook and writing their own. Twenty new rules for a world built for ADHD and autistic brains instead of against them — because e...

26 Aug 33min

3: ADHD IN DISGUISE: 10 “weird” things I didn’t realise were signs of ADHD

3: ADHD IN DISGUISE: 10 “weird” things I didn’t realise were signs of ADHD

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox go through ten weirdly specific things that turned out to be ADHD in disguise. Bendy joints, dopamine dressing, owning 12 water bottles for no reason, and not ...

19 Aug 31min

4: SURVIVING PERIMENOPAUSE: what happens when your ADHD brain can't keep up (With Dr Jolene Brighten)

4: SURVIVING PERIMENOPAUSE: what happens when your ADHD brain can't keep up (With Dr Jolene Brighten)

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox sit down with Dr. Jolene Brighten to talk about something nobody's telling ADHD women — perimenopause doesn't wait until you're 50, and for a lot of you it's a...

12 Aug 1h 7min

2: THE MEMORY EPISODE: The ADHD, Autism & AuDHD Guide to Memory

2: THE MEMORY EPISODE: The ADHD, Autism & AuDHD Guide to Memory

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox break down the six types of memory — and why ADHD and autism hit almost every single one in opposite directions.ADHD struggles hardest with working memory and ...

5 Aug 32min

1: NEURODIVERGENT SURVIVAL GUIDE  10 Rules For Living In A Neurotypical World

1: NEURODIVERGENT SURVIVAL GUIDE 10 Rules For Living In A Neurotypical World

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox are laying down the ten commandments for surviving a world that wasn't built for your brain. No cards, no notes — Rox is running the whole manifesto from memor...

29 Jul 27min

THE EMPATHY PROBLEM: Why ADHD and Autistic People Often Misunderstand Each Other’s Empathy

THE EMPATHY PROBLEM: Why ADHD and Autistic People Often Misunderstand Each Other’s Empathy

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox are asking the question nobody wants to answer honestly — who's actually more empathetic, ADHD or autism? Spoiler: everyone's had it backwards.They break down ...

22 Jul 32min

THE NEURODIVERGENT LOVE RULES: The Relationship Advice ADHD & Autistic Couples Actually Need

THE NEURODIVERGENT LOVE RULES: The Relationship Advice ADHD & Autistic Couples Actually Need

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox are taking apart five pieces of relationship advice everyone treats as gospel — and explaining why they fall apart completely when one or both of you is neurod...

15 Jul 27min

HOT TAKES: 10 things the neurodivergent community won't say out loud

HOT TAKES: 10 things the neurodivergent community won't say out loud

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox are doing something different. Ten neurodivergent hot takes, controversial questions, and genuinely unpopular opinions — and they're trying really hard not to ...

8 Jul 37min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
foreldreradet
rss-orjasater
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
sinnsyn
hverdagspsyken
rss-var-forste-kaffe
rss-kunsten-a-leve
mikkels-paskenotter
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-impressions-2
fryktlos
hr-podden-2
kvallm
hagespiren-podcast