Why ADHD Makes Money So Hard (And What To Do About It)

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Chelsea sits down with Dr. Sasha Hamdani to talk about money, ADHD, and why the former seems to be so difficult for people who struggle with the latter.

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[just_be_]

Last few minutes of this interview is amazing and I don't hear enough of- ADHD isn't a superpower. It's a disorder. It affects your whole life. It is not some fun personality quirk.

[BeyondEcstasy]

Chelsea is a financial therapist! Unlike a lot of other personal finance influencers who basically attack people for poor financial behavior, Chelsea shows a lot of understanding and compassion. ❤

[kirbycobain]

I am so grateful for that last part, the "ADHD is my superpower" bs seems to be a major reason that it isn't taken seriously as the debilitating condition that it is. It IS a disorder, by definition, and it negatively impacts daily functioning, almost constantly. It is not fun, it is not quirky, it is a disability, plain and simple.

[sparkymularkey]

I have ADHD (diagnosed, medicated, etc.) and I am only just now hearing about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria! 😮 I had no idea there was a term to describe the very real physical and emotional pain and despair that I feel whenever I feel rejected or ignored or criticized. I've tried so hard to "toughen up" and "grow a thicker skin" and "just let it go, " and I really feel like I've improved a lot, but the pain is very real!

[mielimedina]

The impulse to spend money that I don’t really have is strong and really tough to overcome! I spent $11 on boba tea and snacks yesterday for the feel-good chemicals, but I’m currently between jobs and only have a couple hundred dollars left, and I know I’ll be ok and finally get a job in a panic, but this cycle is really also depressing, and the combination of ADHD, impulsivity, and persistent depression make a strong hurricane that I don’t know how to shelter from, and I can’t keep finding shelter in little unnecessary purchases that add up.

[amberburch]

I was diagnosed ADHD as an adult, and it makes all my impulse spending make sense but I still can't seem to stop! I keep blowing my budget on compost worms

[squenneville]

For myself, I’ve found repetitive but interesting solo work that is divided across the day works best for me. I’m a dental hygienist so my day is divided into 1hr segments, and each case/client is similar enough that I can use systems to ensure quality care, but different enough that it keeps me interested. Another benefit is the high hourly wage- this allows me to work part time and make a full time salary. I can’t keep up with a 9-5. I am happiest and at my best working 3 days per week.

[addictedmako]

I have ADHD, and when it comes to finances I have two modes: spend everything on impulse buys or keep rigid control over every penny and deprive myself of ANY fun rewards.
Sure, I've gotten a lot better about putting aside some money in a "Whatever TF I Want" category, but it gets spent pretty quickly at the beginning of the month and I'm left on deprivation mode for the next three weeks until I get paid again.

[kiarar.]

I saw the title and I’m like “why are they attacking me?!” 😂 honestly, I really needed this because it’s been harder to manage money lately. It’s like my ADHD has kicked in even more.

Me forgetting things and buying doubles/triples, and forgetting to unsubscribe from stuff, not returning things on time, forgetting to pay things on time… it’s all killing me 😭😭😭😭 uuughhhh

[abbyabroad]

At 37 and just got diagnosed last year. I’ve been in debt my entire life and would be successful at paying it down or off for a period of months or years (hyperfocus), only to get distracted by some new passion and just never finish. I am now seeing a financial therapist and hope it will help.

[wynnewhitten-holmes]

The reason Autism was in that one question is possibly because the co-occurrence of ADHD and Autism is very high, estimated somewhere in the range of 60-70%. Depending on your location it may be easier to get an ADHD dx than an Autism dx, and before 2013 you couldn't get both under the DSM; consequently many ADHDers don't realise they are also Autistic (and vice versa).

[bettyweigh]

I'm so happy I made productive decisions about my finances that changed my life forever. I'm a single mother living in Canada, bought my second house in September and hoping to retire next year at 49 if things keep going smoothly for me

[WhatsBliss]

I struggle so much with rejection sensitivity. I feel like every week in therapy I end up talking about being afraid of being judged/dismissed/thought less of. It feels like the root of my self-worth and social-anxiety problems. But I'm also very pragmatic and methodical like Chelsea! So it's a constant back and forth of getting frustrated with my own mind for caring so much about something that I know is unimportant.

[colettithekid]

Credit cards are an ADHD person’s worst nightmare! Harsh late payment penalties. Painful automatic payment setup. Impulsive bonus offers…

[nihadmahouni]

Thank you for choosing to call her Dr. Hamdani! She earned it and it's important to be acknowledged :)

[onyx]

As someone with ADHD, thank you for this episode! To control my impulse spending, I add the item to my wishlist and and give myself 24-48 hours to decide if I really want the item.

[mellomallowy]

Ok when she forgot the question - THAT IS ME! So many times having a good conversation, but my brain goes down a weird path it thought was related but then I forget what the question was and the thought is lost.

The interview I didn't know I needed. Thank you for addressing this in such a compassionate manner 😊😊❤

[erinm]

30 year old mom of 2 who just got diagnosed- When she got into rejection sensitive dysphoria I felt SO KNOWN. it is literally impossible for me to let things roll off my back.

[thegingerfluff]

Thank you so much for talking about this! I feel like no one takes ADHD seriously and it seriously impacts every aspect of my life! Just like Dr. Hamdani mentioned, it's everything from feeding myself to performing at work. It can be really difficult to manage and the current popular narrative makes it seem like a joke. It can be especially damaging when managing other chronic illnesses that are more physical and may require regular medication; if I can't even eat and sleep at regular intervals, how am I supposed to manage this physical illness?? Budgeting around impulsive purchases and potential job instability is also incredibly challenging and it's an added struggle that people without ADHD largely don't have to factor in. Thank you so much for bringing awareness to the struggles and challenges associated with this disorder; I hope to see a shift in the narrative around this!

[lizwallace]

Usually a silent viewer, but as someone who so deeply resonates with caring about EVERYTHING, I find that sometimes it can be helpful to repeatedly hear it’s okay to not care about someone else’s opinion. It is almost like a mantra. It serves as a constant reminder that me not caring about someone’s opinion doesn’t make me a bad person. And I need to hear that 👏🏼 r e g u l a r l y 👏🏼