Managing Finances with ADHD
A woman described managing her finances while living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as akin to "holding on to 10 helium balloons in a strong wind."
Laura Bush, 31, from Norwich, shared that her financial difficulties began after she obtained a credit card prior to her ADHD diagnosis in 2023.
She soon found herself overwhelmed by the challenge of managing repayments amounting to thousands of pounds across multiple lenders.
"The anxiety and the shame of it [the debt], there was one point where it consumed me - it was all I could think about and it's such a hard thing to pull yourself out of," she said.
According to the NHS, adults with ADHD often face challenges with organisation, time management, task completion, and frequently misplacing items.
These difficulties can lead to financial consequences, sometimes described as the "ADHD tax," which includes late fees, penalties due to administrative delays, replacing lost items, missed appointments or travel plans, impulsive purchases, and budgeting challenges.
Barbara Sahakian, a neuropsychologist at the University of Cambridge specializing in ADHD, explained that the condition affects the brain's frontal lobe, which is crucial for organisation and focus.
"It's not laziness, it's the executive dysfunction that makes it difficult... People have trouble focusing their attention and keeping it sustained long enough to complete these tasks," she said.
Juggling Subscriptions
Bush initially took out a credit card in her late teens to pay for a trip to Rome in instalments.
When she realized she could not cover the trip expenses with the credit card, she began using it for other impulsive purchases that seemed manageable to repay at the time, a behavior she associated with the dopamine-seeking tendencies linked to ADHD.
She described managing multiple online subscriptions and keeping track of repayments to various lenders as "a lot of mental clutter," noting that conventional budgeting methods did not work for her.
"It's not for lack of trying. I've budgeted all my life and it just doesn't click," she said.
Accumulating thousands of pounds in debt across several lenders, Bush eventually sought assistance from the debt advice charity StepChange.
"With StepChange, it's just keeping track of one balloon," she said.
With the charity's support, Bush has repaid more than half of her debts.
"I can start again. I can do it better this time. I've got more knowledge, I've got my diagnosis," she said.
Research conducted by StepChange revealed that 97% of neurodivergent respondents reported their condition made managing money more difficult, with 85% of those identifying as having ADHD.
My Partner Doesn't Deserve That
Nevaeh Denby, 24, a hospital administrator from Gorleston, Norfolk, who has ADHD, shared that during university she struggled to manage her finances like her peers and did not realize when debt had accumulated.
"You don't actually realise you're in trouble until you are in far too deep," she said.
The irregularity of student finance payments complicated budgeting, leading Denby to rely on an overdraft and income from a part-time job.
While financial pressure is common among students, Denby noted that her ADHD intensified the difficulty of managing money.
She explained that rejection sensitivity, a trait associated with ADHD, heightened feelings of embarrassment or exclusion, sometimes prompting increased spending due to social pressures.
Denby expressed concerns about her ability to establish a stable life due to her ADHD struggles.
"Having been in debt and having seen myself at my poorest and lowest, you always have that lingering fear you will be like that again," she said.
"My partner doesn't deserve that, my family don't deserve to see me like that.
"How am I going to start a family and be financially stable enough to start it?"
She advocated for stronger safeguards within financial services to support individuals with ADHD.
Feelings of Shame
Angela, 34, who requested her surname be withheld, described how her ADHD complicated her interactions with the legal system.
"It's embarrassing, it's debilitating, it's humiliating," she said.
Tasks that might typically take minutes required extended meetings with legal representatives.
While an email exchange with a solicitor usually costs around £35, Angela found processing complex written communication challenging, necessitating face-to-face meetings costing approximately £250.
She estimated that the cost of reasonable adjustments for her neurodivergence amounted to thousands of pounds.
Symptoms of ADHD related to executive dysfunction can impair planning, organisation, and task execution, making it difficult to complete tasks even when aware of what needs to be done.
"We don't need to be made to feel any worse about ourselves than we already do.
If I could turn [ADHD] off, I would," she said.
Diagnosed at 29, Angela reflected that an earlier diagnosis might have helped her manage symptoms and feelings of shame.
"A lot of people experience grief after diagnosis because you're able to look back on your life and think, 'Oh, it wasn't because I was lazy, it wasn't because I was a failure'," she said.
Accessible Systems
A survey by StepChange found that over 60% of neurodivergent respondents had not contacted lenders or debt advice specialists for assistance, and among those who did, only one in three disclosed their condition.
Simon Trevethick from StepChange stated:
"We know neurodivergence is an extra barrier to people reaching out for help, whether that's because they don't feel neurodivergence will be given extra allowances or whether they feel it will hold them back."
The charity aims to make financial systems more accessible for people with ADHD through clearer communication and specialized training for support providers.
A spokesperson for UK Finance noted that financial services are working to better support neurodivergent customers with tailored services and more accessible communication.
"The banking and finance industry remains committed to supporting all customers, including those with ADHD," the spokesperson said.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the challenges faced by individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and highlighted an independent review launched in December to inform future care approaches, including earlier support.
The Law Society of England and Wales emphasized that under the Equality Act 2010, solicitors must make reasonable adjustments, such as offering communication in person or by phone rather than in writing, to ensure all clients can access justice.
If such adjustments are not feasible, alternative solutions should be provided at no additional cost.
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