43 year old reframe!

THE 43-YEAR REFRAME – WHY I STOPPED APOLOGISING FOR MY ADHD (And Why You Should Too)

By [Your Name], Founder of The ADHD Reframed Project 2024 Standout Distance Learner & She Inspires "Agent of Change" Finalist

For 43 years, I was an expert in one thing: apologising.

• "I'm so sorry I'm late."

• "I'm sorry, I completely forgot that."

• "I'm sorry if I'm being 'too much' or 'too loud.'"

I built my entire life around an internal narrative that screamed: "You are inherently flawed. Your brain is broken. You are a disorganised mess, and it’s all your fault."

This wasn't just low self-esteem; it was the psychological impact of living with undiagnosed ADHD in a world built for a neurotypical "mould." I navigated the "sharp end" of support work, always fighting for others, while internally feeling like I was failing myself.

The Day I Stopped Apologising: The Reframe

Then, something shifted. The diagnosis came, and with it, a decade of intense, 1st-class academic study. I immersed myself in Social Psychology, Genetics, and Neurobiology. I learned that my brain wasn't "broken"—it was simply wired differently.

My "disorganisation" was a dopamine dysregulation problem. My "forgetfulness" was a working memory deficit. My "being too much" was a high-intensity, interest-based nervous system desperate for stimulation and connection.

This wasn't a character flaw; it was biology. And if it was biology, it could be understood, strategized, and even leveraged.

From Apologist to "Agent of Change" (At 48!)

The results were, frankly, undeniable. At age 48, I enrolled in university as a distance learner. The same brain that was once "too disorganised" to manage a simple filing system went on to achieve 75% in Social Psychology and 72% in Intelligence & Genetics.

In 2024, I received my first-ever educational award: the Standout Student Distance Learner award.

I didn’t just graduate; I became an advocate. My work caught the attention of the She Inspires Awards, where I was named a finalist in the Agent of Change category. I’m now a Strategic Advisor to University Executives, helping them understand how to build truly inclusive environments.

I didn't achieve any of this by learning to be "normal." I achieved it by reframing my ADHD.

Your Brain is Not a Flaw; It’s a Feature.

This is why I created The ADHD Reframed Project. I want you to stop apologising for a brain you didn’t design. I want you to understand your Specialist Intelligence—your rapid dot-joining, your hyperfocus engine, your crisis calm.

It's time to:

• Understand the science: No more guessing games. Learn the neurobiology behind your experiences.

• Identify your strengths: Our Strengths & Strategy Audit helps you discover your unique high-performance traits.

• Advocate unapologetically: My Unfiltered Advocate Masterclass gives you the "Marmite" scripts to get what you need, without guilt.

You were never "too much." You were just being measured by a mould that was far too small.

Ready to break the mould with me?