Episode 5: Masking: The cost of holding it all together

Masking is not simply pretending. Often, it is a way of staying safe, fitting in, or avoiding judgement. But over time, constantly monitoring yourself can become exhausting.In this episode, we explore what masking is, why people do it, and the psychological cost of always “holding it together”. We look at masking through a therapy-informed lens, including neurodivergence, anxiety, emotional regulation, relationships, and work.We also discuss what it means to feel psychologically safe enough to mask less, and how small steps towards boundaries, self-awareness, safe relationships, and self-trust can help people feel less pressure to perform.