What’s in Your Amazon Cart (and What It Says About Your Nervous System)

Aug 14

Last month, I opened my Amazon cart and laughed.

There were three different planners (all undated, because… ADHD), a weighted stuffed animal I convinced myself I needed for “work stress,” and a fancy water bottle that promised to fix my hydration habits once and for all.

None of these things were inherently bad. In fact, I can justify every single one.

But when I took a step back and asked myself what I was really trying to solve by clicking “add to cart,” the answer wasn’t organization, stress relief, or thirst.

It was dysregulation.

ADHD and Dopamine: Why Shopping Hits Differently

When you live with ADHD—or any form of neurodivergence, really—your nervous system doesn’t operate on the same schedule or reward system as neurotypical folks.

Shopping, especially online, delivers a perfect trifecta:

✨ Novelty (new! exciting!)
🧠 Dopamine (the reward chemical ADHD brains are constantly craving)
📦 Delayed gratification that mimics the “productive anticipation” of getting things done—even when you haven’t done anything yet.

And we haven’t even touched on control. Or escapism. Or shame avoidance. We’ll get there.

You’re Not “Bad With Money.” You’re Overstimulated, Under-Supported, and Seeking Safety.

If you’ve ever opened a package and completely forgotten what you ordered, or stared at your bank statement wondering how the hell you spent $173 on “miscellaneous,” I want you to hear me clearly:

That doesn’t make you irresponsible.

It means your nervous system has been quietly whispering:
I need something.
I’m too tired.
I don’t know what else to do.
Please, give me something that works.

So… you buy the journal.
Or the $26 face mask you saw in an influencer’s ADHD skincare routine.
Or the drawer organizers that will definitely turn your executive dysfunction into an aesthetic dream life.

Let’s translate some of those purchases together, shall we?

What’s In Your Cart — and What Your Brain Might Actually Be Asking For

🔹 Another planner
Your brain is screaming for structure—but structure that doesn’t feel like punishment. You want flexibility, not rigidity. A system that works with your energy, not against it.

🔹 Productivity books and courses you never open
You’re chasing clarity. Hoping this time you’ll find the missing puzzle piece that finally makes things click.

🔹 Self-care tools: serums, supplements, heat wraps
You’re not vain. You’re trying to soothe a nervous system stuck in overdrive.

🔹 Kitchen gadgets or tools for a new hobby
You’re craving purpose. Something that lights you up. A spark of creativity. A sense of follow-through—without judgment if you lose interest.

🔹 Impulse gifts for friends or kids
You feel like you’re falling short in your relationships. This is your way of showing love, making up for missed birthdays or forgotten replies.

The ADHD Tax: When Your Spending Is Really About Survival

We talk a lot about the ADHD tax—those frustrating little penalties for living in a world that doesn’t support your brain.

Forgetting to cancel a subscription before the free trial ends
Buying ingredients again because you didn’t realize you already had them
Getting late fees for bills you thought you paid
Ordering takeout when the idea of prepping a meal feels emotionally impossible

What we don’t talk about enough is the emotional ADHD tax.

The one where every unfinished project, every abandoned budget template, every unopened journal becomes proof (in your mind) that you’re failing.

That’s the most expensive part.

Shame Is Loud. But It’s Not The Truth.

When my clients talk about spending, their stories aren’t really about money.

They’re about overwhelm, urgency, and trying to function in a world that feels too loud, too fast, and too inflexible for how they process and operate.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

Why do I keep buying things I don’t use?
Why can’t I stick to a budget like everyone else?
Am I just self-sabotaging?

Here’s what I want you to try instead.

3 Better Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Click “Buy Now”

What am I feeling right now—really?
Lonely? Bored? Overstimulated? Anxious? That feeling deserves to be witnessed before it turns into a purchase.
What am I hoping this thing will solve or soothe?
Get curious, not critical. Maybe you want more rest. Maybe you’re trying to feel capable. Maybe you just need something to look forward to.
Is there a support need underneath this?
Could this be a signal that you need a body double, a break, or a budget system that isn’t designed for neurotypical consistency?

This isn’t about guilt-tripping yourself out of joy.
It’s about learning what your nervous system is asking for—and whether there might be a more sustainable way to give it that support.

You Don’t Need To Stop Shopping. You Need To Start Listening.

Let me be clear: buying things isn’t the problem. Buying things without clarity, compassion, or strategy is what turns short-term relief into long-term shame.

When we approach spending from a place of nervous system awareness, emotional honesty, and values-based intention?

We stop judging ourselves.
We stop swinging between restriction and regret.
We start building money habits that actually support our lives—not just our image of what life should look like.

Want To Understand Your Spending Style Before The Holiday Sales Hit?

This fall, I’m hosting a workshop for neurodivergent adults who are ready to stop battling their brains around money—and start building systems and self-awareness that actually fit.

Whether you:

Have five unopened journals and a $400 ADHD impulse purchase graveyard
Can’t remember what you subscribed to, or why
Or you panic every time your partner brings up the budget…

You are not alone.

You don’t need more discipline.
You need a nervous-system-smart money strategy—one that’s built with your brain in mind.

👉 DM me “WORKSHOP” on Instagram or join the waitlist here to get early access and workshop details when they drop.

Let’s decode your Amazon cart—and your nervous system—together.

P.S.
If you do need a dopamine hit that won’t land you in a shame spiral, I’ve got you:
🛒 Here’s my ADHD-friendly Amazon shop full of actually-useful tools
💬 Want to talk through what kind of scaffolding might work for your brain? Book a call with me here—no pressure, just real conversation.

Let’s make the next thing you add to your cart actually help.