Does the ADHD Tax Need to Be So High?

We suffer from the "ADHD Tax" every day, most of the time without even knowing it. So what exactly is the ADHD Tax, and why does it need to be so high?

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Research Provided by: Farah Mahmud

Citations:
Pelham, J Consult Clin Psychol, 88, 2, 2020

Doshi, J Amer Acad Child Adol Psychiatry, 51, 10, 2012

Daley, Euro psychiatry, 61, 2019

Pelham, J Ped Psychol, 32, 6, 2007

Daley, Euro psychiatry, 61, 2019

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[HowtoADHD]

What's the worst ADHD Tax you've ever had to pay?

[matthewderoche]

Every 3 months, I go through my statements and cancel services. It’s shocking every time how many random things I’ve signed up for because I am “totally going to get into this”.

[christiabreu]

Not the worst ADHD tax but the best way my local ISP responded was when they noticed we weren't using a service that we payed for(cable tv) they cancelled it for us and credited our account for the months we didn't use it so we didn't have to pay for our internet for like 6 months. They also didn't notify us lol so when my husband noticed they weren't charging us he called and they explained what happened. That's how to get a customer for life for sure

[MSmithNYC]

The worst ADHD Tax I've had to pay is simply being undiagnosed. The loss in quality of life is much more than financial. After more than a dozen years in therapy in my late 30s I'm finally having a neuropsychological assessment. I didn't even know it was a thing before, but I"m hopeful for some clarity - not for the diagnosis of the problem, but the opportunity for a tangible solution.

[Xerxes]

For me the worst ADHD tax is time; as Dr Russel Barkley says, "being roughly 30% behind their peers in emotional development". I'm in my early thirties now and only now do I feel like I've reached the point in my life that most hit in their mid 20's.

[singularity___]

It's stuff like this that makes me want to scream even louder when people minimize how difficult it can be living with ADHD/as a neurodivergent person in a world very muchso NOT designed for us by saying stuff like "oh everyone forgets things!" or (one of the ones I hate the most) "everyone is a little ADHD!!"

[jimwilliams]

My mother, who had anxiety, taught me to be anxious and hypervigilant, which I was predisposed to anyway (check every five minutes that your keys are still in your pocket), so the first part (late fees, missed flights) has never been too bad, though that's changing as I get older and everyone wants me to use web interfaces to manage things. (IMO, web 2.0 services are NOT ADHD friendly!)

But when you got to time, relationships, and especially health...at 61, those costs, direct and indirect, have gotten quite onerous. The hypervigilance -- the stress, plus overtorquing my executive functioning to try and compensate for its being weak in the first place -- has come to collect its fee for services rendered.

[shwetanavani]

Even more than the monetary value of Adhd tax what really makes me feel angry is the mental stress and anxiety that I've had to go through. It's the shame and the guilt. It's the judgement from others. Because it didn't have to be that way. So what if I do things in a weird way? So what if I make silly mistakes sometimes? Rather than shaming me, they could have shown a little bit of compassion. I have a lot of anger and disappointment 😔

[thebestjuliaever]

One of the big ones for me is not returning things within the return window. Biggest reason I hate shopping online because it’s so hard to get over that hurdle. Some brands include a return label with the product so you can just slap it on the same box and send it back - THAT is amazing.

[nataliebarroga]

I’ve been avoiding going to the public library for years because I just was sure I would end up with late fees and the hassle of trying to renew things - only to be pleasantly surprised that they now auto-renew (unless someone else is waiting for the item) and don’t have late fees. They don’t charge unless you actually lose the item and never return it (which would still contribute to the adhd tax, but I’ve not lost one yet), and even then, they will return the cost to you if you find the book and return it!
A much more adhd friendly system than the library I grew up with.
They even email when something is coming up due so I don’t have to remember the dates in my head. So nice.

[quintessenceSL]

Something someone else pointed out was back in the day, you could maintain most of your adult responsibilities with slight effort as most of the bookkeeping was managed by someone else, whether it would be your employer or government.

Now most of that has been offloaded on to you, to keep track of receipts, paperwork, identity protection, etc.; either to pay someone else to do it, or incur substantial penalties for failing to manage it yourself.

So it's not just an ADHD tax. It's a tax on everybody as services do less yet expect more.

[usuallyclueless]

My ADHD tax was almost: £25K. (international student fees are 3x the local student fees)
I say 'almost' because my University gave me another chance to redo the assessments for my masters degree without being counted as a failure.
And this was before my formal diagnosis.
So now my ADHD tax is a whole year gone with nothing to show for it, plus the rent and expenses living in a significantly more expensive country.

[cammerations]

My ADHD tax is that I work in a toxic, high stress highly stimulating environment. Despite the toxicity I feel like I can't move on because other jobs bore me unbearably.

[MintyVoid]

it's indescribable how frustrating it is that a lot of the issues are systemic. Like those of us with mental disabilities are literally disabled, labelled as needing help and support, yet struggle to simple live life. We know we need help, everyone knows we need help, so where is the fucking help! It's so tiring too, constantly battling against things (and failing a lot) that we can't control or don't have support in order to control it more. *screams into pillow*

Like imagine being diagnosed with cancer and then told 'good luck' by said doctor as they walk out the door immediately after.

[shanoodle]

The ADHD tax is paaainful. It is insanely difficult for me to hold down a job, so impulsively spending money I don’t have is very real, especially on subscriptions I never use and the online shopping.

[perseraphone]

This hits too close to home... Late fees and medical collections aside, the worst ADHD tax I paid recently was losing my Vespa. Movers forgot it and refused to pay to ship it across the country, and I put off finding new transport for it until it was stolen anyways. I'll miss you, Lola. 😭❤

[roraraptor]

Multiple extra years in uni because of mandatory assignments that caused debilitating stress rather than motivate, despite not even counting towards my grades. Still ongoing. 🙃

[thumbsarehandy.]

I've cancelled therapy appointments last minute because I just couldn't get myself to go (pre-covid) and then never went back because I was too embarrassed and ashamed. That's happened with multiple therapists. Just one of the nonmonetary ADHD taxes I've paid in excess.

[Arabea]

The worst ADHD tax I've had to pay - and continue to pay - is being late to work. I also have depression and anxiety, so between the three of them my executive function never had a chance lol. I have a long history of being late to work, sometimes by only just a couple minutes, and employers have been consistently inflexible and harsh about it. Even when I applied for accommodations, most of the time I was either denied or what I was given was a joke. It's really difficult and deals a huge blow to my self-esteem and ability to financially support myself

[TheNinnyfee]

Not to mention the costs of shame and depression we get from failing and isolation because we are different, especially when undiagnosed. And the costs for our loved ones because we cannot function like this. :, (