If you, like me, pay attention either in spurts or overwhelmingly on one thing (called “hyperfocusing”), then your teachers or bosses may start to view you as if you don’t align with the “norm.” Thus, you unknowingly begin to edit and adapt—to mask—for survival. This begins a repeating cycle of censoring, attempting to fit in, and overall altering your performance of your “self” in the world, leading to depression, anxiety, burnout, or worse.
