--- title: "From overwhelmed to overcomer: Lucy’s journey to financial freedom with God’s help" date: 2025-10-14T09:18:00+01:00 author: Bryony Lines canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/from-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help" section: Articles --- Share [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1769260916495219&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help) [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=From%20overwhelmed%20to%20overcomer%3A%20Lucy%E2%80%99s%20journey%20to%20financial%20freedom%20with%20God%E2%80%99s%20help&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help) [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=1769260916495219&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help&display=popup) [](mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20Evangelical%20Alliance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-overwhelmed-to-overcomer-lucys-journey-to-financial-freedom-with-gods-help) #### The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October) is a vital opportunity to listen to, understand, and acknowledge the immense struggles many people face. It’s a day to recognise that those living in poverty are often the first to fight against it, yet their voices are rarely heard. For me, I feel a deep gratitude, and a powerful desire to share how, even when things seem impossible, hope and transformation are within reach – especially with God walking alongside you. My journey into debt began unremarkably, after I graduated from university and into the 2008 financial crisis. Student loans, an overdraft, a credit card – they felt like rites of passage at first. But a string of insecure jobs, unexpected periods of ill-health, and a draining commute slowly began to unravel my carefully constructed financial world. The bank, seeing my reliance on my interest-free overdraft, started to reduce it, turning a manageable facility into a massive debt with crippling interest. When my income plummeted after I had surgery, and I could no longer even meet the minimum payments, the dreaded red letters began to arrive. At the time, I had no idea I had ADHD and autism. Looking back, it all makes painful sense now. I’d often ​‘throw money at problems’ or spend impulsively, driven by a desperate attempt to fix something quickly. The constant financial stress only fed my anxiety and depression, creating a vicious cycle. The shame was overwhelming; the debt felt like a physical weight, crushing me. I got to a point where I just stopped opening my post because I couldn’t bear to see those red letters anymore. Sponsored[](#) [ ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/admissions/open-days) Everything changed the day I finally broke down and told my parents, ​“I can’t do this anymore.” Seeing my desperation, my dad suggested I contact Christians Against Poverty (CAP). From that very first phone call to CAP, and then meeting my wonderful debt coach, Liz, a glimmer of hope appeared. It was like a lifeline in a stormy sea. CAP didn’t just tell me what to do; they walked alongside me. They set up a manageable repayment plan, showed me how to budget – even including a little money for fun, which felt revolutionary – and gently, patiently, took the fear out of finances. Every payment, no matter how small, felt like a step towards freedom, not a punishment. > It was like a lifeline in a stormy sea. CAP didn't just tell me what to do; they walked alongside me.” For someone with ADHD and autism, whose voice about my struggles had been so silent up until then, I felt a fundamental shift happen. Around this time I also received my diagnosis of ADHD. My psychologist explained that debt is surprisingly common for women with ADHD. Suddenly, the difficulty with organisation, the overwhelming feeling of complex paperwork – it all clicked. I understood now that one of the reasons I had struggled with money management was directly linked to the behaviour my ADHD brings. This self-understanding gave me a voice to talk about my struggles, and became a powerful tool, enabling me to manage my money much more effectively. I’m currently working with CAP’s team on their new report, which highlights this very challenge – how for people like me, with neurodivergence, everyday tasks like dealing with complex forms or confusing debt letters can make financial stability incredibly difficult. It’s not just about spending choices; the whole system can feel like it’s set against you. I’m supporting CAP’s goal to strengthen their face-to-face debt help services, which is so vital for neurodivergent people who need face-to-face support to help explain complex issues simply. I’ll never forget the phone call at work telling me I was officially debt-free. I sat in my car during my lunch break, overwhelmed with relief and joy, and just cried. I’ve framed the letter they sent me, and it hangs on my wall as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and the incredible support I received. Today, I budget confidently, save a little each month, and even plan for the spending patterns my ADHD can bring. CAP didn’t just help me clear my debt – they gave me the skills, the confidence and the vital self-understanding to stay financially independent. > CAP didn't just help me clear my debt” — they gave me the skills, the confidence and the vital self-understanding to stay financially independent. For those feeling the weight of financial pressures, especially with the added complexity of neurodiversity, my story is a message of hope that freedom from debt is achievable. Working with CAP to deliver their debt service, my local church was truly salvational. CAP’s debt coaches and money courses provide a lifeline for anyone wanting to turn their finances around, and, like me, discover a path to hope and a new, abundant chapter in their lives. To find out more about the free services CAP offers and how you can support their vital work, especially for those facing neurodivergent challenges, visit: [capuk​.org/​s​t​r​uggle](http://capuk.org/struggle). --- [ ![From debt to destiny: my journey from financial blues to money coach](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Money worries woman by Iryna Melnyk on istock](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Money-worries-woman-by-Iryna-Melnyk-on-istock.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/from-debt-to-destiny-my-journey-from-financial-blues-to-money-coach) [#### From debt to destiny: my journey from financial blues to money coach ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/from-debt-to-destiny-my-journey-from-financial-blues-to-money-coach) CAP money coach Sue Johnson shares how Blue Monday can be an opportunity for hope instead of anxiety [ ![Sue Johnson](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/sue-johnson) [ Sue Johnson ](/author/sue-johnson) 14 January 2025 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/from-debt-to-destiny-my-journey-from-financial-blues-to-money-coach) [ ![Learn to listen, listen to learn: The sacred discipline of listening](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Trung thanh Lgd Deu Bcg IY unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/trung-thanh-LgdDeuBcgIY-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/learn-to-listen) [#### Learn to listen, listen to learn: The sacred discipline of listening ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/learn-to-listen) For National Listening Day on 28 November, Duncan Williams highlights why in a world that barely stops, we must not lose the art of listening well [ ![Duncan Williams](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/duncan-williams) [ Duncan Williams ](/author/duncan-williams) 25 November 2025 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/learn-to-listen) --- ### About Lucy ![]()Lucy is a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) client whose struggle with money management was complicated by ADHD and autism. Now debt free, she is passionate about how CAP’s face-to-face support can make a difference for people experiencing similar challenges. [See more from Lucy](/author/lucy)