Repair Without Over-Explaining

About this episode

Nikki and Pete discuss the habit of over-apologizing in ADHD individuals and the importance of relationship repair.

--- Register today for our upcoming webinar: Webinar: It’s Not the Clutter… It’s the Decisions! — May 4, 2026, 4pm PT/7pm ET https://takecontroladhd.com/declutter --- If you have ADHD, chances are you've developed a deeply ingrained habit of apologizing — for being late, for forgetting, for talking too long, for existing in a way that feels like an inconvenience. In this episode, Nikki and Pete unpack why over-apologizing is so common in the ADHD experience and how rejection sensitive dysphoria fuels the cycle. They explore what happens on the receiving end when apologies become emotional labor for someone else, and why pre-apologizing can actually undermine your credibility and prevent others from having their own authentic reactions. The conversation moves from apology into repair — a critical distinction. Where an apology is one-directional, repair is a two-party activity built on acknowledging impact, taking responsibility, and resetting the relationship. Nikki walks through the framework of acknowledge, repair, reset, and Pete shares a powerful lesson from his own therapist: your power ends with your skin. You get to own your part, but you don't get to own someone else's…

People in this episode

Hosts: Nikki, Pete

Topics covered

• ADHD
• apologizing
• rejection sensitive dysphoria
• emotional labor
• self-compassion
• relationship repair

Keywords

• ADHD
• apologizing
• repair
• self-compassion
• emotional labor
• rejection sensitive dysphoria
• relationship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TruStory FM

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