Dutch Uncle: Right, let’s cut through the bollocks about ADHD masking, shall we?

You’re knackered from pretending to be neurotypical, and here’s the brutal truth:

You’re probably doing it more than you need to, in places where it doesn’t bloody matter, for people who aren’t worth the performance. That exhaustion you’re feeling? It’s your brain screaming that this isn’t sustainable.

Dutch uncle, the advice adults with ADHD need to hear

The Hard Truth About Your Masking Habit

You’ve convinced yourself that masking is necessary for survival, but let’s examine that properly. Half the time, you’re performing for people who wouldn’t notice if you stopped. The colleague who barely acknowledges you? They’re not tracking your fidgeting. That distant relative at family gatherings? They’re too busy with their own drama to clock your stimming.

You’re burning cognitive resources like you’re Jeff Bezos with money, except you’re not getting rich from it – you’re getting burnt out. And for what? To maintain relationships with people who’d reject your authentic self? That’s not connection, mate – that’s cosplay.