17: ADHD and Money: Break the Spend-Avoid Cycle
17: ADHD and Money: Break the Spend-Avoid Cycle  
Podcast: ADHD with Jenna Free
Published On: Mon Jul 21 2025
Description: If you feel like you handle money fine until you don't, and then you're staring at a credit card bill wondering where it all went, this episode is for you. I'm breaking down why ADHD makes money hard through a nervous system lens instead of a discipline one. This is for the adult who has tried every budgeting hack and still feels like their spending is out of their control. I walk through four things that get in the way: survival mode keeping you locked into short-term thinking, spending as a quick fix for dysregulation, rushing that leads to impulsive purchases, and the shame and avoidance cycle that makes it harder to face your finances the longer you put it off. I also get into why that "I need this right now" pull is usually dysregulation talking, and how to slow down enough to tell the difference. 00:00 – ADHD, Money, and Survival Mode 02:21 – The Impact of Survival Mode on Spending 12:18 – Financial Shame, Guilt, and Avoidance 13:42 – The ADHD Money Snowball Cycle 14:50 – Spotting Urgency in Spending Triggers   Check out the show notes and other resources at https://jennafree.com/blog/adhd-and-money-spend-avoid-cycle   Let's stay connected! Want to thrive more with ADHD? Come hang out with me on Instagram! Get out of paralysis, be more productive, and enjoy your life again! Join an upcoming group!