Category: Identity and Self Concept
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Autism Masking vs. Autism Camouflaging: What’s the Difference?
My sense of identity has taken a real hit over the past few years, and I’m just getting to the point where I’m ready to explore it more openly. So join me. As a neurodivergent parent, I’m faced with demands that often leave me feeling depleted and overwhelmed. And that means I’m chronically under-resourced when…
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When Unmasking Feels Like Collapse: What Cleaning My Bathroom Taught Me About Self-Confidence and Healing
I hope you’re ready for a rant, because that’s what you’re getting today. What is unmasking? I’m still figuring that out myself. From what I can gather, it’s an under-researched and barely-understood part of being neurodivergent. And I’m definitely in the thick of it right now. My mind and body are exhausted. I can’t tell what’s truly…
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Identity Formation and Neurodivergence
We often talk about identity like it’s something you’re supposed to just know. As if, one day, it simply arrives—clear, consistent, fully formed. You’re expected to be able to answer questions like:“Who are you?”“What do you believe in?”“What do you want in life?”And answer them with confidence, stability, and certainty. But for many neurodivergent people,…
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How to Highlight Past Strengths in the Midst of an Identity Spiral
You’re standing in the kitchen, or staring at your screen, and suddenly it hits you: “I don’t know who I am anymore.” Your accomplishments feel like someone else’s.Your confidence has gone quiet.Your mind spirals into shame, whispering, “Was I ever really capable?”“Have I just been pretending this whole time?” If this sounds familiar, you’re not…
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How to Reframe Negative Self-Talk: A Neurodivergent-Friendly Guide to Inner Compassion
“I can’t believe I messed that up again.”“I should be better at this by now.”“What’s wrong with me?” These aren’t just passing thoughts. For many of us—especially neurodivergent folks—these become part of our inner soundtrack.They sneak in quietly, echo old wounds, and repeat often enough that they start to sound like truth. Negative self-talk is…
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“Who Am I?”: Identity Spirals and the Neurodivergent Search for Self
“I keep thinking I’ve figured myself out… but then something happens, and I’m right back at zero.” If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Who am I, really?”—not once, but over and over—you’re not broken.You’re just navigating a question that doesn’t have a single, final answer. For many neurodivergent people, identity isn’t something we find once…
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What Is Interoception? Understanding the Sense That Helps You Feel Your Body’s Signals
Have you ever realized you were hungry only after snapping at someone? Or felt suddenly overwhelmed without knowing why—until you noticed your heart racing or your breath stuck in your chest? These are moments when your interoception was trying to speak up. Interoception is your body’s way of telling you what’s going on inside. It’s…
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What Is Alexithymia? Understanding Emotional Blind Spots
Have you ever felt something intense—tightness in your chest, a lump in your throat, a restless kind of tension—but couldn’t name what it was? Maybe someone asked, “What’s wrong?” and you genuinely didn’t know how to answer. Not because nothing was wrong—but because the words just weren’t there. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.…
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What Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria? Understanding the Hidden Pain Behind Perceived Rejection
Have you ever felt crushed by something as small as a neutral comment? Maybe an unanswered text message left you spiraling into self-doubt, or mild feedback at work made you feel like a complete failure. If so, you might be experiencing something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD. It’s more common than many realize, especially…
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A Beginner-Friendly Glossary for Understanding Neurodivergence and Executive Function
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in Accountability, Blog, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Neurobiology, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryWhen you first start learning about executive function or neurodivergence, it can feel like stepping into a conversation mid-sentence. Words are used like everyone already knows what they mean. Concepts like task initiation, masking, or emotional regulation are mentioned without explanation. And terms like neurodivergent, working memory, or identity spiral might sound familiar—but foggy. That’s…