I was the kid who never seemed to fit anywhere, but I got really good at pretending I did. I learned to study other people like they had a manual I was never given, copying their expressions, timing, and reactions. I thought everyone did this.

In this inaugural episode, I'm sharing the story of the exhausting performance I didn't even know I was giving - from childhood survival masking in an unsafe home to the moment I finally learned it had a name. We'll explore what neurodivergent masking actually looks like, why we do it, and what happens when you start to recognize the costume you've been wearing your whole life.

If you've ever felt like you're constantly performing just to exist in the world, if you come home from social situations completely drained, or if you have different "versions" of yourself for different settings - this episode is for you.

Topics covered:

• What neurodivergent masking looks like in real life
• How trauma can intensify masking behaviors
• The physical and emotional cost of constant performance
• That lightbulb moment when you learn masking has a name
• Why understanding masking is the first step toward authenticity

Welcome to Neurospicy and Navigating. I'm so glad you found your way here.

Episode Length: Approximately 15 minutes

Content Warnings: Discussion of childhood trauma, identity struggles, masking behaviors

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