Becoming Comfortable in Your Own Skin
Do you remember tripping in front of the cool kids at school? Feeling wickedly embarrassed after stumbling through your lines? Feeling your skin tingle as the spotlight of attention fell on you at exactly the wrong moment? I know I do.
For many adults with ADHD, the sense of being socially awkward has been a part of their daily experience since, well, forever. That’s my story, too. When you’re the socially awkward kid, it stays with you for a very long time. For us as adults, most upcoming social events, whether you’re truly in the spotlight or not, are met with resistance and dread. The voice in your head about everything that could go wrong, mixed with your lack of self-confidence, makes anticipating what’s to come feel like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
But here’s what I want to tell you. If you’re like me and have the life experiences to back up being the awkward kid, you’re never really going to feel comfortable. Not instantaneously for sure. Why? Because feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin means feeling confident about what’s to come. And that is easier said than done.
Part of the truth here is that being neurodivergent can mean that you’re never really at ease with yourself. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to get there. Finding your way through the maze of self-confidence is how you shift your life to one that’s less stressful and easier on your mind and heart.
Today I use various practices to reduce the pressure to “get it right” and instead focus on being my best self, flaws and all. Here are five ways to go from feeling social awkward to more comfortable in your own skin.