‘My ADHD left me deep in debt with my bills piling up – I couldn’t afford to live anymore’
When Lucy Rogers* finally opened a letter she had been ignoring for months informing her that her utility bill had increased, it was the final straw. “I remember just getting into work and bursting into tears… I said, ‘I can’t physically afford to live anymore.’”
“I was so tired and exhausted at that point, and working as an adult was very challenging because of my ADHD.”
In debt for most of her adult life, Mrs. Rogers entered her home every day and avoided eye contact with the mailbox, unable to bear the pile of letters demanding payment for her bills.
Some were marked red, meaning urgent, and were usually only opened when his mother came and made him do it.
The pressure was relentless, and anxiety built up with every unpaid bill. He kept taking out more loans and became stuck in a cycle where he couldn’t find the mental space to escape. As the cost of living rose and their direct debt rose by £100 every six months, the burden became unbearable.
“I finally broke down and finally couldn’t bear the weight of that relentless terror and the pressure of having to fulfill all those obligations,” he said. Independent.
“Honestly, I thought about killing myself that day and I thought: ‘I can’t handle this anymore, I can’t handle people asking me for this much money.'”
According to Monzo, ADHD can cost individuals an additional £1,600 each year through impulse spending, missed bills and difficulty sticking to a budget.
A survey of more than 500 people by YouGov found that 80 percent of women and 71 percent of men said money problems caused by ADHD lead to anxiety.
Ms Rogers, 38, from Devon, was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago. There is also Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid and can cause weight loss, fatigue, excessive sweating, and anxiety, among other things.
“I struggled through most of my early adulthood not knowing I had ADHD and wondering why I found everything so difficult compared to my peer group,” she said.
“Even with automatic payments, I couldn’t keep track of bills. I had difficulty budgeting and making sure there was enough money left over at the end of the month.”
He had around £200 of disposable income each month, which usually ran out about 10 days before payday. Because she was too tired to cook due to her autoimmune condition, she often burned through her money by ordering takeout.
The NHS estimates that around 2.5 million people in England have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
For many people, debt pushes them to crisis point. Tasks like managing money, spending wisely, filling out financial forms, and even opening bills are difficult and can impact mental health.
Many of Ms. Rogers’ money struggles stemmed from executive dysfunction, a common symptom of ADHD that affects the brain’s ability to manage thoughts, emotions and behavior.
Professor Barbara Sahakian, an ADHD expert at the University of Cambridge, said: “The key core cognitive and behavioral symptoms are impulsivity, hyperactivity and/or inattention.”
Many people with ADHD will act on impulse and buy something they can’t afford, even if it causes problems for them later, he said.
Mrs. Rogers’ biggest purchase request was books. “I would get lost in a story and forget what my life was like,” he said.
Executive dysfunction also includes problems with planning, problem-solving and risky decision-making, which can make it difficult to think about how a decision will affect the future, Prof Sahakian said.
“Paying your bills is, for most of us, something we would worry about if we didn’t do it,” Prof Sahakian added.
But for people with ADHD, daily tasks like paying bills can be difficult. “They don’t have the ability to retain things as well as other people,” he explained.
“Maybe these things can fade from working memory, allowing something more interesting to emerge.”
Ms Rogers believes there needs to be better support and financial education in school and wishes she had been given more training in budgeting and money management from a younger age.
A Department for Education spokesman said: “Through our Plan for Change, we will ensure young people leave education with a good understanding of how to manage their finances.”
He also thinks banks need to intervene more proactively when people are struggling to pay their bills or are repeatedly going into overdrafts.
The Financial Conduct Authority said: “People struggling with debt don’t have to face it alone. If you’re worried about keeping up with payments, reach out to your lender – they have a range of support options and will work with you to decide what’s best for you. You can also get free debt advice at: MoneyHelper.”
When Mrs. Rogers reaches her breaking point, Christians Against PovertyA debt advice charity that helped him develop a plan to deal with his debt. After getting help, she decided to give up her one-bedroom flat and move into a shared house.
She said it was “a great feeling” to be able to save money for the first time, adding: “It was the educational process of paying off my debt that gave me the confidence, experience and education to handle my debt.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or finding it difficult to cope, you can speak to Samaritans confidentially on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org or visit . Samaritans Website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are a US resident and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit: 988lifeline.org To access online chat on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis helpline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country you can go www.befrienders.org To find a helpline near you.
* Name changed
