What We Talked About in This Live for May Mental Health Awareness Month: Burnout, Masking & Unmasking your Mental Health
In this Substack Live, I opened up about something deeply personal—and widely shared: Burnout. As a psychiatrist and someone with lived experience, I shared how burnout isn’t just stress or overwhelm. It’s a full-body, full-brain experience—especially in neurodivergent minds.
We explored:
Why burnout looks different in neurodivergent people, especially those with ADHD
The role of masking—how hiding your true self to “fit in” builds quiet exhaustion over years
Why sensory overload, perfectionism, and people-pleasing deepen burnout
How burnout can linger for years and what keeps us stuck in the loop
The emotional cost: shame, isolation, and not feeling “seen”, even by professionals
Practical tools: the power of self-awareness, journaling, and community support
The importance of finding environments where you don’t have to mask—your own version of a “Blue Zone”
And perhaps most importantly, I reminded us all: Community is medicine. Connection is healing.
Looking ahead—I’ll be hosting more Substack Lives throughout May, diving into different aspects of mental health and recovery. I’ll continue creating space for reflection, support, and self-understanding.
In the meantime:
Join my Burnout & Neurodivergence Masterclass in May
Explore this and other resources on my website: https://linktr.ee/dranneyvarghese
Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about 1:1 coaching or The Calm and Confident Circle group coaching.
Or simply stay tuned and subscribe if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss what’s next.
Thank you for being here. I’m so glad we’re connected.
Wishing you good mental health not just for May, but every day.
Until next time….
Dr Anney
©️ 2025 Dr Anney Varghese FRCPsych
Psychiatrist | Educator | Creator | Fellow Traveller
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