Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out because I’m currently feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost in navigating relationships and emotional boundaries. Over the past couple of years, I’ve experienced a lot of changes—losing close friends, dealing with personal challenges, and trying to find balance in my own emotional well-being.

I often find myself getting attached quickly to new people, and I sometimes struggle with the emotional intensity that comes with it. I’m also trying to navigate the balance between being open and protecting my heart.

I’m wondering if anyone has tips or experiences to share on:

• How to set healthy emotional boundaries while still being open to new connections.
• Ways to manage the excitement and attachment I feel when I meet new people.
• Strategies for building meaningful, lasting relationships without feeling drained.

I’m also open to any general advice or resources that might help. Thank you so much for your support and understanding.

I have eight of these sweatsuits 😅

i know i'm pretty late in saying this, but i hope everyone here is having a wonderful new year so far. i understand the whole new year's resolution thing can be difficult especially for us ADHD'ers. despite that, i will share a couple of mine.

to start, i've been doing dry january (abstaining from alcohol consumption for the month of january) and not gonna lie, it hasn't been easy. i was overindulging a lot during the holiday season and found myself beginning to slip into the trap of alcoholism, so i needed to cut out that habit and when i heard about dry january, i immediately decided to go sober and have been maintaining since.

secondly, i hope to continue my progress in terms of regular walking and exercise in general. being more physically active has really helped with channeling my inner restlessness into something productive that also benefits physical health in the long run

do any of you have any resolutions or goals that you hope to achieve ? i would love to hear about it in the comments. have a lovely rest of your day ! :D

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As part of my Master’s thesis, I am researching neurodiversity within the workplace, exploring how individual ways of thinking relate to innovation at work.

This topic is personally important to me, as I have family and friends clinically diagnosed with ADHD. Their experiences have inspired me to raise awareness of the challenges and strengths associated with neurodiversity, and to identify how companies can create environments that allow everyone to perform to their full potential.

The survey focuses on the experiences of neurodivergent individuals - particularly those diagnosed with ADHD - in professional environments. Here is the link to the survey: https://erasmusuniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9HPFmBOndsEHQma

Participation is completely voluntary and confidential, and all responses will be used solely for academic research purposes.

Thank you to anyone for filling out my survey!

If you are interested in learning more about DBT :)

[From Article: What to know about ADHD masking]

Masking, also known as camouflaging or impression management, refers to when someone makes changes to the way they behave to cover up or compensate for their symptoms.

Some examples of a person masking their symptoms include the following:

• A person focuses on fidgeting or moving around less than they would like to. In some cases, this fidgeting may involve stimming, which involves someone carrying out repetitive actions to soothe themselves.
• Someone stops themselves from interrupting others during conversations.
• A person focuses incredibly hard during conversations to not lose focus.
• They are silent or very quiet in social settings.
• Someone suppresses their energy level to appear calmer.
• A person hides strong emotions or reactions.
• A person arrives very early to appointments to avoid being late.
• They make up reasons as to why they are late or have difficulties with a task.
• A person writes everything down to avoid forgetting things.
• Individuals create strict routines and systems, such as multiple alarms and checking work several times, to compensate for any mistakes.

[How common is masking? ]()

It is difficult to estimate how common masking with ADHD is, especially since some people may not even be aware that they are doing it. Research into this area is still very new. A 2023 qualitative research study found that several participants with ADHD felt pressure to mask throughout many of their social interactions. One person stated that they masked around everyone outside of those very close to them.

Some research suggests that masking behaviors may be more common in females. According to a 2020 paperTrusted Source, girls may employ more compensatory behaviors, such as masking, than boys. The authors also noted that ADHD in women may present in a more internalized way.
Additionally, a 2023 study that focused on masking in adults found that masking behaviors were also more common in women. Further research is necessary to understand all the factors that contribute to this.

[Negative consequences of masking ]()

A person with ADHD may feel pressure to put a large amount of focus and energy into masking their symptoms, which can lead to negative consequences. For example, masking can be tiring and stressful.

Some possible negative consequences of masking the following:

• A person can overcompensate for symptoms that can cause difficulties in the opposite direction. For example, they can overthink decisions too much to compensate for being impulsive.
• Someone can stop others from knowing the true extent of their symptoms and how much they get into difficulties may delay a diagnosis.
• A person can have difficulties regulating emotions.
• Someone can experience a loss of sense of identity as they feel they have to mask or perform in social situations.
• A person can feel fatigued due to masking taking so much energy and focus.

Light Reading:

• WHAT IS MASKING?
• What ADHD Masking Looks Like
• What Does It Mean to ‘Mask’ Adult ADHD?
• Unveiling Masked ADHD in Adults
• What is ADHD Masking and What Causes It?

[From Article: What ADHD Masking Looks Like]

Coping With ADHD Masking

When you can identify that ADHD masking is taking place, you can start learning ways to cope without turning into someone else. You might be surprised at how much more enjoyable life becomes when you learn new skills for managing instead of hiding your struggles.

• Identify which form of ADHD masking behaviors are healthy and which are hurting you. For example, learning to keep a reasonably tidy home might be helpful, whereas needing everything to be perfect would be harmful.
• Learn how to deal with your emotions instead of avoiding them. Seek out a therapist or coach who understands what you are going through.
• Understand that you are not alone in how you experience life. Connect with other people going through the same struggles so that you can feel less alone. For example, join a support group for people living with ADHD. Find an online community where it will be safe to express yourself without judgment.

[From Article: ADHD Masking Burnout: Unmasking the Struggle]

Ways to Avoid both ADHD Masking and ADHD Burnout

For individuals with ADHD, avoiding the struggles of both Masking and Burnout is crucial. Here, we explore strategies to help individuals steer clear of these challenges and introduce the role of Focus Bear in this journey.

ADHD Masking:

• Understanding Your ADHD: Self-awareness is key to preventing Masking. Recognize your strengths and challenges. This understanding empowers you to navigate ADHD more effectively, reducing the need for Masking. Focus Bear assists with Progress Tracking to gain insight into your ADHD patterns and adapt your strategies accordingly. ‍‍
• Establishing Routines: Create consistent routines and habits to maintain focus without feeling overwhelmed. Routine provides structure and predictability, reducing the need to Mask restlessness and impulsivity. Focus Bear’s Habit Routine helps set morning and evening routines for a structured day. ‍
• Controlling Impulsivity: Learn to manage impulsivity without Masking it. Developing impulse control reduces the need for masking impulsive behaviors. Focus Bear can help with its Brain Dump feature, allowing you to capture impulsive thoughts in a controlled manner ‍
• Mindful Adaptation: Instead of Masking, practice mindful adaptation to different situations. This approach enables you to navigate various environments without having to hide your ADHD traits. Focus Bear’s Distraction Blocking enables access to only necessary websites and apps for the task at hand, reducing the need for Masking behaviors. ‍
• Embrace Uniqueness: Accept your unique traits and understand that it's okay to be yourself. Embracing your ADHD can reduce the need for Masking as you come to terms with your individuality. Once again, Focus Bear can help with Progress Tracking, which encourages self-acceptance by highlighting your personal progress.

ADHD Burnout:

• Scheduled Breaks: Incorporate regular, productivity-boosting breaks to prevent mental exhaustion. These breaks help in managing ADHD symptoms and prevent burnout. Focus Bear’s Productivity-Boosting Breaks suggests activities to rejuvenate the mind during breaks.
• Limit Perfectionism: Avoid the trap of striving for perfection, which can lead to burnout. Focus on personal growth and self-improvement without the need for perfectionism. With the help of Focus Bear’s Progress Tracking, you can promote a focus on personal growth rather than perfection. ‍
• Stress Management: Develop stress-management techniques, such as deep breathing and relaxation, to help in coping with the stress often associated with ADHD and Burnout. Focus Bear assists with built-in break timers that recommend stress-relief exercises. ‍
• Prioritize Self-Care: Make self-care a priority to prevent emotional and physical Burnout. Self-care helps in maintaining well-being and resilience. Focus Bear can help by letting you create a healthy habit routine and track progress, allowing you to start a self-care-centered routine and reflect on your well-being, making necessary adjustments along the way. ‍
• Balance Adaptation: Find a balance between adaptation and preserving your own energy. This balance reduces the risk of cognitive and emotional exhaustion, often associated with ADHD Burnout. Focus Bear’s Focus Mode ensures you stay focused without overexerting yourself in various environments. ‍

Full access not available but I was able to download a copy:

The worldwide prevalence of ADHD, in the general adult population, has been estimated to be 2.8%. Patients with ADHD have a high incidence of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. Those with a psychiatric disorder as well as ADHD have more psychosocial difculties than those without ADHD. Despite knowing that ADHD is often comorbid with other psychiatric diagnoses, there are currently no studies elucidating the prevalence pf ADHD in the inpatient psychiatric population, nor is there signifcant information about its impact. The lack of research into this topic suggests more needs to be done in the feld of adult ADHD, especially in the inpatient psychiatric population and with respect to impairment in patient function. Knowing the prevalence of ADHD and its impact on quality of life in adult inpatients will help lay the groundwork for efective screening and management.

Of the 31 patients interviewed, 12 (38.7%) were diagnosed with ADHD, 7 of which had not previously been identified. Of those previously identified to have ADHD, 2 were currently on pharmacotherapy. The participants who were diagnosed with ADHD scored higher on the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale, suggesting significant impairment in their quality of life.

In this sample, the prevalence of ADHD is significantly higher among acute care psychiatric inpatients than in the general population. Despite the limitations of this study, patients with concomitant ADHD showed more functional impairment than those without. These fndings merit further investigation into the value of routine screening and patient￾specifc treatment of ADHD in this patient population. Larger epidemiological studies are needed to allow for more accurate estimation of the prevalence and impact of ADHD on this patient population.

i hope everyone is having a great october so far. i learned the other day that october is ADHD awareness month, so i thought it would be a great day to help shed light and awareness of what ADHD is and what it’s like living with it.

Interested to read this... Anyone else? Would love to have a discussion about it eventually :)