AIMING BETWEEN
THE LINES
Answering your questions and breaking the stigmas around special education
Permission to Disappoint: Escaping the People-Pleasing Trap
We’ve been taught that being agreeable, helpful, and accommodating is the polite thing to do—but when you start saying “yes” at the expense of your own well-being, it’s no longer kindness. It’s self-erasure. In Permission to Disappoint: Escaping the People-Pleasing Trap, we explore why the need to please others runs so deep, how it quietly drains your energy and self-worth, and what it looks like to finally start honoring your own needs—without apology.
Polished but Drained: The Perfectionism Behind Neurodivergent Masking
“Masking isn’t just about ‘acting normal’—it’s about survival. For many neurodivergent individuals, every social interaction is a performance, every workday a test in self-control. They may appear calm, focused, or even exceptional on the outside, while inside they’re navigating a storm of anxiety, exhaustion, and self-doubt. The polished exterior hides the toll of perfectionism and the pain of never feeling fully seen. Over time, this double life doesn’t just drain energy—it erodes identity.”