about
speech pathologist. late-diagnosed ADHDer. chronic overthinker. probably rehearsing this sentence in my head right now.
I spent years assuming I was the problem ... that if socialising felt exhausting, that was a me thing. a personality flaw. a sign I just needed to try harder. it took 27 years and an ADHD diagnosis to understand that the exhaustion wasn't weakness. it was the cost of a brain working overtime to do things that felt automatic for everyone else.
then I started seeing it in my clients, too. people who were managing, performing, holding it together ... and quietly running on empty. they didn't always have the words for it. I wanted to give them some.
that's what unmasking conversations is. the honest, specific, human explanation I wish someone had handed me a long time ago. if it helps you understand yourself a little better ... or helps someone in your life understand you ... that's everything.