Section 2 of the Awakening Assessment just showed me that the "people pleaser" I became was never really me. The real me won a creativity contest at 10 and felt most confident doing what "felt right." I learned to hide that to fit in, and I'm only now realizing what I traded away.

I’ve been learning about how ADHD can be amplified during grief. Isn’t everything? I’m curious who else has experienced that and what you’ve done to support yourself! My ADHD is a little amplified this week!

I am thinking I should feel fortunate for finding this in my feed. I struggled with issues my entire life and didn't know what the h#!! was wrong with me. I am really hoping to make progress in that regard.

The mask I’ve been wearing most:The strong, self-reliant achiever who always has the answers and keeps everything together. How exhausting it’s been:Carrying the pressure to perform, solve problems, and stay in control has left little room for rest, vulnerability, or asking for support. It’s created success on the outside, but often at the cost of connection with myself. What I loved as a kid (before the masks):Being outdoors, exploring, creating, building things, and following my curiosity without worrying about expectations or what anyone thought.

Biggest insight: Seeing how my brain is trying to protect me from being hurt again by occupying me with safer activities. My open loop is: organize / clear my desk. One word for how I feel right now: Awakened