ADHD Masking Explained: School Success, Home Struggles, and the Emotional Toll

I know how heartbreaking and confusing it can be when a child seems fine and compliant at school only to experience meltdowns the moment they step foot at home. Today, I sit down with Meredith Carder, an ADHD coach, to dive deep into masking in ADHD. Meredith shares her own journey of being diagnosed later in life and sheds light on the immense mental and physical toll that trying to fit in takes on kids and adults. We explore how masking leads to late diagnoses (especially in girls) and discuss practical strategies to help our kids feel safe enough to drop the mask and get their regulatory needs met.

We discuss:

• Meredith Carder shares her experience as a late-diagnosed adult and parent advocate

• How children exert so much mental energy masking at school that they experience meltdowns once safely home

• That many girls especially mask their symptoms, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses

• How chronic masking can lead to adult perfectionism, people-pleasing habits and burnout cycles

• Indicators of masking like extreme rigidity, hair twirling, leg bouncing, excessive apologizing and school refusal

To connect with Meredith Carder follow her on Instagram @Hummingbird_adhd and check out all her resources at https://meredithcarder.com/. Buy her book It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life https://link.amazon/B0fwsM6F9 (paid link)

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