If you've ever spent an entire day performing a version of yourself that felt nothing like the real you — holding it together at work, seeming calm when you're not, passing as organized — you already know something about masking. But knowing it and understanding it are two different things. Dr. Sharon Saline returns to help Pete and Nikki unpack what masking actually is: hiding traits, suppressing impulses, and overcompensating to appear more polished than you feel. It's a coping mechanism that can be useful, but for adults with ADHD, chronic masking carries real costs — increased anxiety, emotional exhaustion, a growing disconnect between who you show the world and who you actually are.

More adults are naming the long-term emotional impact of masking, rejection sensitivity, and internalized shame. March’s Mental Health conversations often open space for deeper, identity-based reflection.

 ADHD can shape relationship dynamics in subtle ways. Discover how couples can navigate romance, communication, and emotional balance when one partner has ADHD.