Mirroring can be a type of ADHD masking since it suppresses ADHD behaviors and replaces them with more socially acceptable alternatives. Some clinicians refer to mirroring as a type of impression management. According to sociologist Erving Goffman, humans are actors playing roles to improve social interaction.
Masking can take on many forms
Suppressing stimming behaviors. Mimicking or copying accents (usually unintentionally) Scripting conversations.
One type of ADHD masking — known as mirroring — involves intentionally or unintentionally mimicking the speech, movements, or behaviors of someone else. While ADHD mirroring and body doubling may seem similar at first glance, you can work alongside a body double without imitating them in any way.
Perception/observation/curiosity
Individuals with ADHD often perceive (intuitively) connections or “flows” that are not appreciated by others. They often enjoy taking a “bird's eye view” of things, and asking the “what-if” questions.
They might feel badly about the way their symptoms affect others, or they might not care. Although there are differences in brain function to consider, ADHDers can also be just like neurotypical people in that they can have varying levels of empathy.
Adults with ADHD frequently think being sociable with others is an all-or-nothing part of their lives. Either they're oversharing and talking too much, or they're withdrawn and staying home alone. Hyperactivity in adults is often expressed as being overly talkative and boisterous.
“Like Attracts Like”: People with ADHD are attracted to other people with ADHD because they inherently understand each other more than any “Muggle” could.
For example, children with ADHD often fail to attend to others' eyes during emotion recognition [15] and are not using others' gaze direction to guide their attention [16].
But in the world of ADHD, a body double is someone who sits with a person with ADHD as he tackles tasks that might be difficult to complete alone. Many people with ADHD find it easier to stay focused on housework, homework, bill paying, and other tasks when someone else is around to keep them company.
The Cyclical Nature of Social Challenges
They can become easily overwhelmed, impatient, or frustrated. In social interactions, when children with ADHD become distracted or dominate the conversation, their peers may view them as uninterested and unkind. These children will likely be avoided by peers.
Many of the traits associated with ADHD — disorganization, procrastination, forgetfulness — are often considered by others to be traits of "immature adults". It's hard not to feel like you're failing at adulthood when everyone else seems to manage just fine.
People with ADHD may have a hard time developing healthy social skills from childhood through adulthood, especially if their condition goes untreated. That said, it's possible to improve your social skills at any point in life. The first step starts with understanding the potential challenges.
Why people with ADHD might lie or exaggerate. Impulsivity often plays a role in why people with ADHD lie. Sam Goldstein, PhD, a licensed psychologist in Utah, explains people with ADHD have a tendency to act without thinking first while under stress (impulsive behavior).
Put simply; masking is intentionally shifting your behavior to hide your differences. For example, a woman with ADHD might smile and nod during a conversation even though she tuned out long ago, or she may secretly work late into the night to overcompensate for not staying on task for a deadline.
Be on the lookout for nonverbal clues.
These include body language, such as moving away from you, cutting conversations short, or crossing their arms or legs. Also note facial expressions, such as red faces, scowls, tight lips, or hurt or angry eyes.
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error, and it is more common in children with ADHD. Convergence insufficiency: Convergence insufficiency means that the eyes lose alignment when a person tries to focus on a nearby object, causing blurry or double vision.
Eye contact is supposed to mean something, and for some of us, it means too much – so we avoid it. It is considered to be a way of communicating that a person is listening, but for some of us, it's impossible to look and listen at the same time. It can cause a sensory overload.
Toxic relationships hound many people with ADHD, whose persistent symptoms and battered self-esteem make them especially susceptible to “love bombing,” “trauma bonding,” and other romantic red flags. Here, learn how to spot signs of an unhealthy relationship.
At a glance
ADHD can sometimes affect how teens experience love. Trouble managing emotions can make feelings more intense. There are ways you can help your teen handle the ups and downs of being in love.
Equally true (though less recognized) is the fact that partners with ADHD are among the most loyal, generous, engaged, and genuinely fun people you could meet. And after a lifetime of criticism for their ADHD faults, they need for their partners to recognize these good qualities — and vice versa, for that matter.
Their shyness may also be a result of their symptoms. A person with Inattentive ADHD type can easily feel embarrassed due to inattention, so they may choose to stay quiet and avoid any possible wrongdoings or mistakes ❌.
“It could look like fidgeting, being impatient, having racing or nonstop thoughts, always moving (always cleaning, needing to do something and unable to sit still), or social anxiety.” Other characteristics of the ADHD introvert, according to Juliano-Villani, may include: procrastination. time blindness.
While extroverted traits like these are part of the ADHD experience for some people, they're not everyone's experience. In fact, many people with ADHD identify with introverted traits. Whether that's needing time alone to recharge, spending lots of time in their own head or feeling overwhelmed by external stimuli.