Masking symptoms of ADHD.
Masking of symptoms in ADHD is a topic that has been gaining more attention in recent years. In some cases, individuals with ADHD may go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because they have learned to “mask” or camouflage their symptoms.
Masking in ADHD can take many forms, such as overcompensating for attention deficits by working extra hard or developing coping mechanisms to hide symptoms in social situations. While these strategies can be helpful in the short term, they can also be exhausting and may lead to burnout or feelings of isolation.
It is important to note that masking does not mean that an individual is not experiencing symptoms of ADHD. In fact, masking can actually exacerbate symptoms over time, leading to increased stress and difficulty managing daily tasks. Masking can also result in others thinking that a person with ADHD is “coping” - whereas in fact, they might really be ‘internalising’ their symptoms, hence their ADHD becoming invisible to those around them. When a serious mental health condition is invisible to the outside world, the person with ADHD might suffer in silence, experience stigmatising comments from others, and miss opportunities to receive the support and attention that their condition requires.
Common types of masking include suppressing impulsive urges, procrastination, fidgeting instead of blurting things out or acting hyperactively, putting in huge amounts of effort in order to concentrate and perform, whilst not reaching your potential, and internalising distress and pretending that everything is OK. All of these behaviours and more are common, especially in a significant amount of young girls and women living with ADHD in order to conform to society’s gender expectations. Masking might lead to ADHD symptoms being misattributed to other conditions - for example, masking might lead others to label ADHD symptoms as “anxiety”, “stress”, or “not trying hard enough”. This can result in a person being treated for a condition or problem that they don’t have, which is not only ineffective but prevents the real problem being noticed and supported.
If you suspect that you or someone you know may be masking symptoms of ADHD, it is important to seek out a professional evaluation. A trained mental health professional can help identify symptoms and develop a personalised treatment plan to address them. Treatment options for ADHD may include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet, and sleep habits. With proper diagnosis and treatment, individuals with ADHD can learn to manage symptoms and live fulfilling lives.
Remember, there is no shame in seeking help for ADHD or any other mental health concern. By taking the first step in seeking evaluation and treatment, you are taking an important step towards improving your well-being and quality of life.