Neurodiversity Celebration Week - Masking, Burnout & Psychological Safety at Work

Send us Fan MailEpisode Summary:In Part 4 of our Neurodiversity Celebration Week mini-series, Sarah and Cassie dive deep into the topic of masking, what it is, why neurodivergent people do it, and the long-term impact it can have on mental health, identity, and performance at work.They share personal stories and coaching insights on how masking relates to rejection sensitivity, anxiety, burnout, and the struggle to ask for help. The conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety, communication preferences, and recognising your own needs, even when you’ve been conditioned to suppress them.You’ll also hear practical ideas like creating a “user guide” for your neurodivergent needs, building supportive team dynamics, and how leadership can foster inclusive, high-performing workplaces.Topics Discussed:What masking is & how it shows up in ADHD, autism & late-diagnosed adultsThe link between masking, rejection sensitivity, and people-pleasingHow masking impacts career progression, mental health & emotional safetyThe danger of internalising blame & suppressing needsWhy many neurodivergent employees end up on performance plansHow to identify emotions using body signals & the neurodivergent emotions wheelCreating a personal “user guide” for line managersThe power of psychological safety, validation & co-creating inclusive teamsTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome & what we mean by "masking" 02:30 – Masking in school vs. university vs. workplace 06:15 – People-pleasing, suppression & burnout 09:00 – Cassie’s story: the cost of not asking for help 12:00 – Being “found out” & fear of being seen 15:30 – Why performance management often misses the point 18:00 – The struggle to identify what support you even need 21:00 – The Neurodivergent Emotions Wheel 25:00 – Asking for help (and why it's so hard to do) 29:30 – The problem with “just bring solutions” advice 32:00 – Creating your own user manual at work 35:00 – How profiling tools support inclusive team dynamics 38:00 – Why compassion, curiosity & co-creation matter 41:00 – Final reflections on validation, safety & performanceKey Quotes:"Masking is tightly connected to rejection sensitivity—and just trying to survive." "I wore calm like a badge of honour, but inside was absolute chaos." "It's not that I don’t want help—I just don’t know what help I need." "You've never knowingly managed someone neurodivergent." "When people feel seen, heard and safe—that's when we get their best."Links & Resources:Cassie Footman – LinkedInNeurodiversity Celebration Week Official SiteEmotion Sensation Feeling Wheel - Lindsay BramanConnect With SarahWebsite: www.sarahatkinsdesign.comFollow on InstagramConnect on LinkedInBuy the 2026 Energetics of Being Journal on Amazon