Brilliant, Not Broken: ADHD, Anxiety, and All the Other Things They Don’t See
They don’t see the tabs open in your brain.
They don’t see the way your heart races when it’s time to answer a simple text.
They don’t see the hyper-focus that keeps you stuck in one task for hours, or the fog that keeps you from starting anything at all.
But you see it.
And I see it.
And in this space, we NAME it.
This week’s episode of Brilliant, Not Broken is one of the most personal ones yet, because I’m talking about what it means to live, love, and lead while navigating ADHD, anxiety, and all the invisible challenges most people never notice. This is not just about a diagnosis. It’s about how we show up in a world that was not built for the way our minds and bodies work. It’s about how we survive when our nervous systems are on overload, our calendars don’t match our capacity, and our silence is misread as disinterest, when it’s really just exhaustion.
What They Don’t See
People often see the parts that are palatable: “She’s always so creative.” “You’re such a hard worker.” “You seem like you have it all together.”
But they don’t see:
The sensory overwhelm that keeps you from picking up the phone
The internal panic that comes with making a simple decision
The spiral of shame when you miss a deadline or ghost a friend, not because you don’t care, but because you just can’t manage another conversation right now
They don’t see how loud it is inside your head. They don’t see the war between “I should be doing more” and “I have nothing left to give.” They don’t see how many steps it takes just to appear okay. But just because they don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not real.
Adaptation Is Not Failure
What the world calls “inconsistency” might actually be you honoring your body’s limits. What people label “flaky” might just be you trying to protect your mental health. What you’ve been taught to call “a lack of motivation” is often your nervous system saying, “We’re at capacity.”
Living with ADHD, anxiety, or trauma-based patterns requires more effort than most people can imagine. So if you’ve made it through the day, even if all you did was survive, you’ve already done more than enough.
Friend, you don’t owe anyone a version of you that looks more “together” than you actually are.
You are allowed to have foggy days. You are allowed to forget things. You are allowed to not be okay. You do not have to perform! Your brilliance isn’t in spite of your struggle, IT INCLUDES IT. And even when your brain betrays your to-do list, your value is still intact.
Reflection
What are the invisible things I’ve been carrying lately?
Where have I been performing instead of resting?
How can I validate my own experience, even when others don’t understand it?
You are not alone in this. You are not too much. And you are certainly not broken. Until next time, rest when you need to. Breathe when it gets loud. And give yourself the grace you keep giving to everybody else.
xo,
Sue
Listen to the episode: Brilliant, Not Broken – Episode 3
Share your reflections @karasolutionsllc, and use the hashtag #BrilliantNotBroken
