The ADHD Tax

What?!  Do individuals diagnosed with ADHD have higher taxes?!

No.  That would be discrimination.

The ADHD Tax refers to the extra money that people with ADHD require in order to navigate life.  This "tax" is a result of forgetfulness, disorganization, and impulsivity around purchases, bills, and responsibilities.

Here are a few examples:

Impulsively purchasing unneeded and duplicate items while shopping for a specific item.

Forgetting several items on the weekly grocery list, thus having to spend extra gas money and time to return to the store, or spend money eating out because not enough groceries are available to cook a full meal.

Losing items such car keys, passport, shoes, and sports equipment, and having to spend extra money to replace these items.

Inattention leads to misusing tools, appliances, sport and hobby gear so that they break and need replacing.

Forgetting to put away milk, yard tools, bikes, etc. and they spoil, rust, or are stolen and need to be replaced.

Neglecting preventative dental care because of forgetfulness and disorganized schedule, resulting in pain and the need for higher-cost procedures.

Paying bills late and incurring late fees.

Impulsively signing up for free trials on subscriptions and forgetting to cancel them, so a monthly fee quietly leaks out of their bank account.

Neglecting to take ADHD medication as prescribed and thus cannot complete their job requirements and are let go.  This is incredibly expensive.

Forgetting to ask their medical provider for a 504 accommodation letter/proof of ADHD and so they do not receive accommodations at college, and either have to repeat classes (very expensive!), or drop out without receiving any benefit from their pricey education.

Inattentive driving results in expensive tickets and even more expensive (and possibly very dangerous) auto accidents.

If this list makes you nod in agreement or cringe with regret, please seek treatment for your ADHD so you can stop paying this unnecessary and fully preventable "tax." 

Be well, and wealthier!

Teresa

Teresa Heald LCSW, MSW, ASDCS