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M

maya~

1mo ago in Tweens & teens

My teen's shame about their diagnosis is becoming identity

They see ADHD/autism as what makes them broken, not as part of who they are. Shame is affecting everything: friendships, academics, how they see their future. Diagnosis has become self-definition, but the definition is…

ParentsCN: Medical#emotional-support#identity#self-worth#shame#shame-identity-crisis
24💬 2New reply 1mo ago
K

kavya~

1mo ago in Tweens & teens

Masking is destroying my teen from the inside

My 13yo acts 'normal' at school (exhaustingly). At home: dysregulation, meltdowns, zero energy. I can see the exhaustion of maintaining a fake self all day. But if they stop masking, school becomes hostile. They're 13…

ParentsCN: Burnout#burnout#emotional-support#identity#masking#masking-burnout-teen
30💬 2New reply 1mo ago
N

noor~

1mo ago in Tweens & teens

My teen just realized they've been masking for years — now what?

My 14yo told me: 'I act normal at school but I'm exhausted.' They didn't use the word masking, but that's exactly it. Years of pretending to focus, sit still, be quiet — and now they're burnt out and don't know who…

ParentsCN: Burnout#burnout#identity#masking
30💬 2New reply 1mo ago
K

kavya~

1mo ago in Tweens & teens

My teen is questioning their identity (and it's tied to neurodivergence)

ADHD teen realizing they might not be cisgender or straight. Identity questions + neurodivergence = complex. They're trying to understand who they are and whether neurodivergence affects it. Adolescence is identity…

Parents#development#emotional-support#identity#identity-exploration#lgbtq
14💬 2New reply 1mo ago
L

leah~

1mo ago in Tweens & teens

Medication makes them 'different' and they hate it

ADHD meds help my teen focus but also make them feel 'flat,' less like themselves. They want to stop. I worry if they stop, they'll crash academically. Helps with one thing, costs something else. If your teen is on…

ParentsCN: Medical#identity#medication#medication-side-effects-identity#practical-advice#side-effects
22💬 2New reply 1mo ago