Name
Unmasking ADHD: Understanding and Treating Shame and Loneliness
Date & Time
Friday, February 27, 2026, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Peter Kozel
Description

People with ADHD often describe struggling to achieve a sense of belonging, often reporting a need to “mask” or “camouflage” themselves to better fit into a neurotypical world. The stigma of ADHD often feels like a shameful secret by those who carry the diagnosis. While there is an adaptive quality to hiding one’s ADHD (or attempting to make it less apparent), it can come with several hidden costs. The aim of the presentation is to better understand why masking takes place, and how this process contributes to internal disruptions (e.g., shame), interpersonal difficulties (e.g., loneliness), as well as the maintenance of stigma. Furthermore, a review of the research that investigates effective techniques (as well as not-so-effective ones) to help our clients learn to unmask so that they can not only fit in but achieve a sense of belonging. Some of these interventions discussed will include psychoeducation, mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and social skills building. Unfortunately, many of these interventions were designed and standardized on neurotypical individuals; modifications are often needed to ensure effectiveness.