Overcommitment & Masking: The Neurodivergent Desire to Do It All

You ever open your calendar and wonder who signed you up for all this—only to realize it was you?In this episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy, PhD, and co-host Russ Catanach dive into the exhausting cycle of masking through overcommitment. It's a familiar pattern of saying yes to everything just to look capable, helpful, or “normal.” Together, they unpack why neurodivergent people often take on too much, how that habit drains energy, and what it really means to check your capacity instead of just your calendar.Regina shares a personal story about agreeing to dog-sit right after Comic-Con (spoiler: it did not go as planned) and how learning to pause before saying yes became a game-changer. Russ reflects on how people-pleasing and masking can blur the line between joy and obligation.From capacity planning to “potato days,” this episode offers practical ways to honor your limits, manage energy instead of time, and break free from the burnout cycle. Because saying no isn’t selfish—it’s self-respect.🎧 You’ll learn:Why masking often leads to chronic overcommitmentHow to tell the difference between a masking yes and an authentic yesWhy checking your energy matters more than checking your scheduleHow “potato days” (rest days) help your brain recoverScripts for saying no without guiltWhether you’re an ADHD overachiever, an autistic perfectionist, or a recovering people-pleaser, this conversation will help you find peace in doing less—and thriving more.