Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD Masking is the condition when people with ADHD present themselves in a particular manner that makes them feel like they are living a life that is devoid of their condition.
Do you squander your precious time and energy trying to “act normal” at the expense of your mental health? That's ADHD masking, which may include suppressing symptoms, trying to hide your ADHD in public settings, or denying the real effect ADHD has on your life.
Masking is when a person with ADHD acts in a “socially acceptable” way to fit in and form better connections with those around them. This usually involves camouflaging their symptoms by controlling their impulses, rehearsing responses, and copying the behaviors of those who don't have ADHD.
Masking can delay diagnosis
Not everyone with ADHD is able to fully mask, especially if the disorder is severe. But for those supposed “high functioning” ADHDers, the mask may have been constructed so well during childhood, that it masks all symptoms of the disorder and prevents diagnosis.
It's not uncommon for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to try to mask their symptoms. They may do this consciously or subconsciously.
Based on the hypothesis that high intelligence may mimic ADHD without the “true” disorder being present, it can be hypothesized that highly intelligent individuals with ADHD symptoms will not show the cognitive impairments that are usually found in (average intelligent) individuals with ADHD (Fig.
It's not always easy to tell if someone is masking because they behave in opposition to how they feel. However, if someone is constantly smiling or agrees with everyone else all the time, they might be masking a mental health problem. The same is true if they frequently copy your facial expressions or body language.
High-functioning ADHD isn't a formal diagnosis. It's a phrase used to describe people living with ADHD who see little to no major impact on daily life. Just because you've reached great success or have found ways to work around ADHD symptoms doesn't mean ADHD might not be affecting you.
Masking may involve suppressing certain behaviours we find soothing but that others think are 'weird', such as stimming or intense interests. It can also mean mimicking the behaviour of those around us, such as copying non-verbal behaviours, and developing complex social scripts to get by in social situations.
When people with ADHD are activated, they are often plagued by self-sabotaging, negative internal talk that prevents them from believing they can do things. It can be conscious or unconscious and can keep folks from setting, working towards, and reaching goals. It holds them back from doing what they want to do.
Differences in emotions in people with ADHD can lead to 'shutdowns', where someone is so overwhelmed with emotions that they space out, may find it hard to speak or move and may struggle to articulate what they are feeling until they can process their emotions.
A person with ADHD may feel the need to mask their symptoms around others to feel safe and fit in. Someone who continuously masks and excessively worries about their behaviors can become exhausting and have a negative effect on them. An individual with ADHD should not feel the need to hide parts of themselves.
For instance, among the 18 studies under scrutiny that did not explicitly state an IQ cut-off point the mean range of IQ among individuals with ADHD reported in the studies is from 102 to 110. Given that lower IQ is associated with ADHD this suggests that individuals with ADHD may be inaccurately represented.
There is significant overlap of characteristics among people with ADHD, high IQ, and creativity — like curiosity, impatience, high energy, low tolerance for boredom, charisma, nonconformity, risk-taking, and resistance to authority.
How can you tell if your child is intellectually gifted, has ADHD, or both? This can be a challenge because the two share some commonalities. Children in both groups often have high energy levels and a low tolerance for boredom. They are frequently curious, creative and may enjoy high-risk activities.
If you have ADHD, you probably know what it feels like to be impulsive. While that may manifest as interrupting conversations or making risky life decisions for some, others struggle with an unrelenting urge to pick at their skin.
When a person has ADHD, it is common for her to engage in negative “self-talk,” a constant stream of thinking that is self-critical. This can lead to or aggravate depression, anxiety, or feelings of hopelessness. Learning coping strategies like self-compassion can help to more effectively manage thoughts and emotions.
Across genders, masking is associated with more symptoms of generalized and social anxiety, as well as depression. One study found that those who said they used masking had higher rates of suicidality. Autistic individuals also report extreme anxiety and stress after spending time suppressing their natural behaviors.