Masking, Burnout, and the Search for an Authentic Self: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Perspective Understanding Neurodivergent Masking, Autistic Burnout, and the Journey Toward Authentic Self in a World That Often Demands Performance Over Safety. At Heartstone Guidance Center, we work with many autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, OCD, and otherwise neurodivergent clients who have spent years, sometimes decades trying to survive in environments that were never designed for their nervous syste

Neurodiversity affirming somatic supports for autistic and ADHD adults For many autistic and ADHD adults, stress is not just emotional — it is deeply physical. The nervous system can become stuck in patterns of hypervigilance, shutdown, overwhelm, masking, people-pleasing, dissociation, or chronic exhaustion. Many neurodivergent people spend years trying to force themselves to function in environments that are sensory-overloading, socially demanding, unpredictable, or fundame