🌿 High Masking, Low Energy: The Hidden Strain of Performing ‘Okay’

You smile when you’re supposed to.
You show up on time, meet deadlines, say the right things.
Maybe you’re the dependable one. The high-functioning one. The friend others lean on.

And yet... you're exhausted.

Not just tired, but bone-deep weary—like your nervous system is holding its breath all the time. Like one wrong question or flickering light might undo you.

But no one sees it. Because from the outside, you look “fine.”

🎭 What Is Masking?

Masking is the act of hiding parts of yourself—your emotions, needs, or neurodivergent traits—to fit in, avoid conflict, or maintain a sense of safety.

It can sound like:

• “I’m good!” (when you’re falling apart)

• “No worries at all” (when your brain is on fire)

• “Sure, I can take that on” (when you have nothing left to give)

For neurodivergent folks—especially those with ADHD or autism—masking often starts early. Many clients share that they learned to watch others and copy what looked “normal.” For trauma survivors, masking can be a survival skill: stay small, stay agreeable, stay safe.

And while it can help you function in certain environments… it also drains your battery faster than anyone else realizes.

🧠 Why Does Masking Feel So Exhausting?

When you're masking, your brain is constantly calculating:

• “Am I coming off weird?”

• “Did I say too much?”

• “What do they expect from me right now?”

It’s like running a background program all day that takes up all your energy. Add sensory overload, chronic illness, or anxiety to the mix, and it's no wonder you hit a wall by 2 PM—or spend the weekend unable to move.

This isn’t laziness. It’s neurobiological depletion.

😶‍🌫️ The Cost of Performing “Okay”

Because masking often “works” in social or professional spaces, others may not realize how much you’re struggling. That invisibility can feel deeply isolating.

You may notice:

• Shutdowns or meltdowns after being around people

• Trouble speaking or making decisions when you're overwhelmed

• Deep guilt for canceling plans (again)

• Grief over the version of yourself that’s constantly hidden

It’s not uncommon for clients to say, “I don’t even know what I like anymore”—because they’ve spent so long shapeshifting to meet others’ expectations.

🌱 Unmasking Is Not “Letting Yourself Go”

Here’s the truth: unmasking isn’t about giving up. It’s about letting yourself breathe.

That might look like:

• Saying “I’m not okay today” and letting that be enough

• Taking earplugs or fidgets to work without apology

• Creating space in relationships where you don’t have to explain your every reaction

• Letting therapy be a place where you’re not performing

The world may not always feel safe to unmask in—but that doesn’t mean you have to keep disappearing inside yourself.

💛 You Deserve to Be Seen

Many of our clients are high-masking, high-functioning, and deeply exhausted. If you’ve been performing “fine” for too long—and it’s costing you more than anyone knows—you’re not alone.

Therapy can be a space where you don’t have to explain everything… and where your needs are allowed to take up space.

👉 Schedule a call today to connect with one of our therapists and take the first step.