Joey Vervaart
My Journey
&
How I Rewrote My Label
To Become Who I Was Meant to Be!
For most of my life, I was told I wouldn’t be able to achieve much:
I was 9 when I got my autism diagnosis. And 30 when I finally got the ADHD diagnosis. That’s 21 years of living with only half the manual to my brain. You know what happens when people don’t understand you? They label you anyway. They just use the wrong labels:
“Lazy” instead of “executive dysfunction.” “Difficult” instead of “needs different systems.” “Not trying” instead of “already exhausted from trying.” I didn’t choose those labels. But I heard them from teachers, family, even therapists who should have known better. And when you hear something enough times—especially as a kid—you start believing it’s true.
By the time I finally got my ADHD diagnosis at 30, I didn’t just have AuDHD. I had 21 years of shame, self-doubt, and “not good enough” weighing me down. The diagnoses weren’t the hard part. Unlearning all those wrong labels was. Truth be told, I already changed a lot about my core believes and achieved many things, even before being diagnosed with ADHD.
The Turning Point
I was 19, sitting on my dad’s couch with an eviction notice in my hand. My stepdad had racked up debt in my name, destroyed my credit, and left me homeless. Thankfully my dad had a couch for me to live on.
Depression hit hard. Every label I’d ever heard felt true: “Can’t handle responsibility. Won’t amount to anything. Too much trouble.”
But somewhere under all that shame, I felt the urge for change: This isn’t who I want to be anymore.
So I sought help. Started therapy. And in group therapy, I met someone who became one of my closest friends. She said something that seemed almost too simple:
“Be the best version of yourself.”
Not the version my labels said I was. Not the version others expected. MY version.
That day, I made a choice: Stop looking at my labels. Start listening to my heart and above all, brain.
The Rebuild (Age 19-23)
Four years of grinding. Got help for the debt. Set real goals—mine, not society’s. Learned what self-care actually meant (boundaries, not bubble baths).
Age 23 brought two breakthroughs:
→ Debt-free. Every euro paid back.
→ 50kg lighter. Not from willpower, but from systems built FOR my brain.
If I could rebuild my life from nothing, maybe I could go back to school.
Education & Breakthrough (Age 23-31)
Age 23-27: Built study systems for a brain that hyperfocuses and gets distracted simultaneously. Created routines that prevented burnout instead of causing it.
Age 27: Graduated cum laude. “Too distracted to succeed”? Officially rewritten.
Age 27-29: University. But also EMDR therapy—processing the betrayal and past traumas, the years of blindly following my labels, the shame of feeling “broken.”
Age 30: ADHD diagnosis. The missing piece. Autism at 9 explained half. ADHD at 30 explained the rest. Everything clicked.
I devoured research, built AuDHD-specific systems, and stopped fighting my brain.
Age 31: University graduate. Not despite my neurodivergence—because I finally understood it.
I rewrote my labels: I stopped trying to fit in and started being the best version of myself.
My Transformation
Age 23
DEBT-FREE
Four years of rebuilding. Every euro paid back. Finally free.
50kg
LOST & MAINTAINED
Built systems that worked WITH my brain. Sustainable, not suffering.
Cum Laude
GRADUATED AGE 27
“Too distracted” officially rewritten. Graduated with honors.
Age 31
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE
Not despite my AuDHD. Because I understood it.
Why I Share This Journey
I haven’t “arrived.” I’m still in the middle of my transformation, still learning, still building, still figuring out what works for my AuDHD brain. But what I’ve discovered so far has helped me so much that I want to share it with others who are on the same path.
The mental health system has 23+ week wait times. Most advice ignores how neurodivergent brains work. And too many of us are isolated, believing we’re the only ones struggling. We deserve better. T
hat’s why I created Rewrite My Label: to document what I’m learning in real-time. The frameworks I’m testing. The systems I’m building. The messy middle of unmasking and growth. All of it, honestly shared. Because you’re not broken, and neither am I. We’re just neurodivergent adults learning how to live authentically. And I believe sharing that journey, struggles and breakthroughs alike, can help us both get there.
Beyond the business
When I’m Not Working…
I’m a big believer in work-life balance (learned that the hard way after three burnouts). Here’s what recharges my batteries:
- Fitness: I notice that working out keeps me happy during the day.
- Cooking: One of greatest joys is cooking a nice meal for myself, but even more for friends!
- Walking: My best ideas come during long walks. It’s also how I end my work days.
- Reading: Constantly learning about neuroscience, productivity, but also high fantasy (Harry Potter is my favorite!).
- Music & Podcasts: Always have something playing. Silence is… uncomfortable.
- Time with the people I love: I’m super grateful for the people close to mee. Seeing them recharges me completely.
Future Plans
I’m planning a 100-day backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in late 2026. Why? Because I want to prove to myself (and show others) that neurodivergent people can do the “impossible” things when we build the right systems.
This isn’t just a vacation. It’s a test of everything I teach: sustainable planning, energy management, and building systems that work anywhere in the world.
What I Believe
🧠
You’re Not Broken
Neurodivergence isn’t a defect. It’s a different operating system. The problem isn’t you—it’s that you’ve been given instructions for the wrong brain.
🎯
Systems Over Willpower
Willpower is a limited resource, especially for ADHD brains. Sustainable change comes from building systems that work WITH your brain, not against it.
✨
Labels Can Empower
“Always late” transforms into “I experience time differently, and that’s okay.” “Can’t focus” becomes “I focus deeply on what lights me up.” “Too sensitive” shifts to “I feel things fully and that’s my strength.”
🛡️
Lived Experience Matters
I don’t just study neurodivergence. I live it every day! That lived experience is just as valuable as any certification.
🎮
Make It Fun
Personal development doesn’t have to be boring. My framework focuses on making sure you experience growth and create systems that are fun to use!
🌱
Sustainable Growth
No hustle culture here. I believe in building lives that prevent burnout, not cause it. Slow, steady, sustainable progress.