S4 E5: Masking Our Many Faces

We’ve all done it—laughed at jokes we don’t understand, forced eye contact when it feels uncomfortable, or said we’re “fine” while feeling completely overwhelmed. Maybe you even feel like you have a “work self,” a “family self,” and a “real self.” These patterns might be signs of masking. In this week’s episode of The Brain Coach podcast, brain coach Mary Turos explores how and why we mask in social situations, and why it’s especially common for people who are neurodivergent (autism, ADHD, etc.) or who have a history of trauma. Mary breaks down: Social, emotional, and sensory masking The impact: exhaustion, burnout, anxiety, and feeling fake or misunderstood Trauma-based masking and people-pleasing Realistic, gentle ways to start unmasking and setting healthier boundaries while still feeling safe If you’ve ever wondered why you feel drained after social interactions or why different people seem to know different “versions” of you, this episode will help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface, and what you can do about it. For more information, visit www.braincogcoach.com