Why LGBTQ+ People Feel Exhausted: Masking, Code Switching & The “Game of Belonging”

What happens when belonging requires us to hide parts of ourselves? In this conversation, I explore masking and code-switching as survival strategies for LGBTQ+ people—and the exhaustion that comes from constantly adapting ourselves to feel safe and accepted. We talk about queer perfectionism, shame, and the difference between fitting in and actually being seen, as well as what it can look like to step out of the “game of belonging” and begin living more authentically.