The Hidden Cost of Seeming Calm – Dilpreet Buxi on ADHD and Masking | Ep 129

About this episode

Dilpreet Buxi discusses the challenges of masking anxiety and the unique stress responses of neurodivergent individuals.

Calm on the outside. Spiraling on the inside. Dilpreet Buxi shares what it was like to grow up masking anxiety, living with a constantly racing mind, and slowly realizing his nervous system works differently. If you struggle with chronic stress, masking, emotional dysregulation, or feeling “fine” while everything feels too much inside, this episode explores why stress begins in the body, how autistic and ADHD nervous systems process stress differently, and what actually helps. Dilpreet Buxi is the CEO and Co-founder of Philia Labs, a Melbourne-based company using wearable technology and biomedical engineering to make stress measurable and manageable. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Monash University, his work focuses on supporting autistic people, people with anxiety, and their caregivers through objective stress measurement and early intervention. Episode Highlights: 00:03:05 — Masking anxiety behind calm He describes learning to appear calm while feeling deeply stressed inside. The disconnect between outer presentation and inner reality shaped how he understood himself. 00:07:27 — Realizing he may be neurodivergent After pivoting his company toward supporting autistic…

People in this episode

Host: Jeremy Nagel

Guest: Dilpreet Buxi

Topics covered

• ADHD
• masking
• stress management
• neurodiversity
• emotional dysregulation
• anxiety

Keywords

• calm
• nervous system
• chronic stress
• emotional regulation
• wearable technology
• biomedical engineering

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Philia Labs, Monash University

Books & works: PhD in Electrical Engineering

Places: Melbourne

More episodes of Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

• Are You Planning Your Work More Than You're Doing It? | ADHD & Start-up Building with William Cerdelli · June 1, 2026 · 40 min
• I Thought Everyone Did This | Late Diagnosed ADHD & Autism - Ep 138 with Pip Scott Allen · May 9, 2026 · 38 min
• Understanding Communication Differences in ADHD and Autism - Ep 137 with Elaine Lee · April 30, 2026 · 46 min
• The Reality of Working Full-Time with ADHD and Autism - Ep 136 with Caitlin Hughes · April 5, 2026 · 36 min
• Autism Masking in Early Childhood | Why My Signs Were Missed - Ep 135 with Avalon McWha · March 8, 2026 · 43 min
• Autistic Travel, Work Habits, and Learning to Say No - Ep 134 with Kyriakos Gold · March 1, 2026 · 27 min