You Might Not Know Who You Are (Because of ADHD Masking)
If you’ve lived a lifetime of masking, you might not genuinely know who you are.
In this episode of Hypercast, we dig into ADHD masking—what it is, why we do it, and how it shapes everything from our identity to our relationships, mental health, and even our ability to meet basic needs.
Whether you’ve been masking without realizing it, or you’re in the thick of unmasking and trying to figure out what’s actually you, this conversation holds space for the grief, the confusion, the fear—and the hope that can come with finally being seen.
👉 Subscribe for more honest ADHD conversations:
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🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.
👥 Co-Hosts
Melissa Llewellyn Snider – ADHD coach & Executive Producer of Hypercast
🔗 https://likemindcoaching.com
Brianna Morton – ADHD coach & therapist intern
🔗 https://understandingadhd.ca
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Opening Line: “If you’ve lived a lifetime of masking…”
00:17 – What Is ADHD Masking?
03:10 – Why Masking Feels Necessary (But Comes at a Cost)
05:46 – The Fear of Rejection and How It Fuels Masking
07:40 – How Masking Shows Up in Real Life
09:47 – Is Masking Ever Helpful? When It’s Protective vs. Harmful
11:30 – Overmasking and When It Becomes Dangerous
13:02 – Burnout, Skill Regression, and Suicidality
15:26 – Disconnection From the Body and Needs
16:35 – The Chameleon Effect vs. The Cost of Camouflage
18:00 – How to Begin Unmasking (Step One: Awareness)
19:00 – Melissa’s Personal Story of Reclaiming Identity
21:13 – Skill Regression: What It Is and Why It Happens
23:29 – Neuroplasticity and Rebuilding New Pathways
25:00 – Signs You’re Masking Without Realizing It
26:12 – What You Gain From Unmasking
27:26 – Living Without the Mask—Hope, Honesty, and Connection
28:47 – Final Thoughts: There Is Hope
