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The Masks We Carry
A Neurodivergent Reflection on Childhood Adaptations
As I sit here, peeling back the layers of my adult self, I can’t help but marvel at the collection of masks I’ve accumulated over the years. Each one, a carefully crafted persona, born from the whirlwind of my neurodivergent childhood experiences. These masks, invisible yet tangible, have been both my camouflage and my burden.
Growing up neurodivergent (unbeknownst to me), I learned early on that different situations called for different versions of myself. There was the mask of the perfect student, always eager to please, yet too ‘shy’ to speak up. Then there was the mask of the peacemaker at home, smoothing over conflicts with a smile that belied the storm of emotions raging inside.
In the schoolyard, I donned the mask of the easygoing friend, laughing at jokes I didn’t always understand and agreeing to games that often felt like navigating an alien landscape.
And in moments of solitude, I wore the mask of contentment, convincing even myself that everything was fine, just fine, even as I struggled to process the day’s events.
These masks served their purpose. They helped me navigate the complex social…
