Inattentive ADHD... What's That like?

What does inattentive ADHD look like? This is my attempt to show what inattentive looks like and feels like. Inattentive ADHD usually goes unnoticed because the hyperactivity is more internal than external. We are not constantly moving like the hyper-active counterpart, we are usually in the corner day dreaming. Which is why we are labeled "day dreamers" or "space cadets". It starts out with an attempt to simulate inattentive ADHD at first and then I talk about some of the symptoms and how it may have effected my life growing up with undiagnosed ADHD.

[fordakacar]

When he started doing the zone out thing at the beginning I was like oh that's funny I do that a lot then realized I had zero memory of what he said before that point

[richlew]

This is the only video I found that actually describes what it is like for me with inattentive

[yulebones]

AFABs with inattentive ADHD: the "gifted" kids who burn out sophomore year of college, lose all their friends, fall apart completely, and everyone wonders what happened

[bughuul]

Great video, deserves way more views! I'm 27, at 22, my life was unraveling. Withdrawing out of courses at college, which led me to drop out all together, relationships were suffering, didn't keep friends, or make any new friends. My social anxiety and lack of focus, among countless other things were so bad it led me to seek out evaluation. After evaluation, he told me he didn't think I had ADHD, rather diagnosed me with severe depression and social anxiety. He didn't think I had ADHD because I wasn't disruptive at school as a child/teen. And I scored too high on some memory/intelligence test. I remember the test being such a joke, it was so easy, it felt as if it were for a child. Either way, I took his word for it, I didn't know any different at the time. At 27 my life hasn't gotten any better, probably continually worse. I've tried many different SSRI's and anti-depressants, none have seem to have any positive affects. I've got no focus, no motivation, extreme social anxiety, suicidal, no energy, nothing. Haven't been able to hold down jobs, let alone even get myself out there to get a job in the last few years.

Recently, an ADHD video popped up on my feed, I watched it, watched some more. And one video from Dr. Stephen Humphries totally blew my mind. I started balling after watching it. He basically described my life word for word for 13 minutes. Mainly, by saying, not everyone is a hyper active, disruptive child at school. And intelligence has nothing to do with ADHD. The two main reasons I "didn't" have ADHD at 22. Every self test I take, I score off the charts for ADHD. Symptoms with anxiety/depression are very similar to adhd, hence the diagnosis. Now, no doubt I do deal with severe depression and social anxiety, but I believe ADHD is the true root of all my problems.

As a child, I was very disruptive at home, but not at school. I was shy, quiet, calm, kept to myself, never wanted to get in trouble, make a scene, cause attention to myself. Those hold true to my entire life. And I believe my social anxiety is a big reason for all that. But, I've always, always, been a terrible day dreamer. In school, at church, in the shower, mid conversation, everything. I am intelligent. I was able to get through school on minimal studying/effort into homework. I am a TERRIBLE procrastinator, everything is absolute last minute with me. I never thought I had the hyper focus they talk about with ADHD, but Dr. Humphries mentioned computer games. And that was another eye opener. I have dealt with addiction to computer/xbox games since I was very young, and it's so bad, I was playing 14 hours per day when I didn't have school, or as much as I could when I did have school. And I believe that is my hyper focus. That is what I would focus on all the time, during class, during everything. And I would burnout after a few months, and start a new game. And in between games, everything is so boring, so dull. I can't pay attention to anything else more than 5 minutes without started to day dream.

I have also always struggled with reading, despite being intelligent. I can read fine, I just can't comprehend what I am reading, whether it's day dreaming while trying to read or just being mind numbingly bored. I have to read a paragraph 10 times to understand it. And also like you, when someone is talking to me, I can't listen, I try. I either, start daydreaming, or just think about, okay, how to be normal, keep nodding, or just fixated on what I'm going to say next. I don't interrupt people but I have a very hard time comprehending what they are saying if it's longer than a few seconds.

When I went to college, I did fine the first couple years, didn't make any friends, but met my girlfriend and probably had a B average. But I was an undecided major and taking mainly 101 classes in big lecture halls. The classes were easy. That third year, declared a major, classes got smaller, harder, and they expected you to be more involved. This is where I started to unravel. My study habbits caught up with me, which was basically do absolutely nothing until the day before an exam and cram and pull an all nighter. It would even take until 6 pm that night before my hyperfocus would kick in it was that bad. Anyways, I couldn't keep up, withdrew from a couple classes first semester and then completely withdrew all my classes in the spring and that was when I seeked out evaluation.

I feel like I've been wronged by those people. The last 5 years have been miserable for me. Nothing has worked, I'm scared of just about everything socially. No energy, no motivation, no focus. Everything, literally everything about ADHD, I score off the charts or am answering with EXTREMELY AGREE to questions. I get excited about very little, but when I do, I hyper focus on it. All I can think about, whether it's a video game, when I met my girlfriend, when I started a small business, hell, even my small movie collection. But everything else... so dull. I like to watch movies alone (I love movies) because I get really bored and like to pause it and finish it later, sometimes it takes 4 times of doing that before finishing it. I have 30 tabs open on my computer at all times. Whether it's an article I want to get back to and never do, or a youtube video I started, and say I'll finish later. Frankly, I could go on and on with countless more examples.

I am sorry for the insanely long comment, doubt anyone even reads it but I am fixated on this at the moment, it's all I can think about, I had to write it out somewhere! I am in the process of seeking out evaluation somewhere different again, somewhere more professional. My family has been somewhat supportive and are helping me with this. I just want the verification that, wow, maybe it wasn't all my fault for being a massive fuck up. A lazy underachiever.

Anyways, awesome video, got a sub from me and I hope you get more recognition for this.

[charlesminckler]

Teachers often tried to catch me not paying attention. I developed an ability to rewind time, a few seconds like an instant replay, and I could answer. So I was never diagnosed until ADHD destroyed my jobs over and over.

[Zytri]

I’m at a loss for words. I’ve spent my whole life bouncing between thinking I was lazy, dumb, or just unable to deal with the “normal” that everyone else did. I’ve tried to explain this to myself and others and could never quite articulate it—this video captures it perfectly.

I don’t know how to describe what I feel after watching this. But thank you.

[FrankMorrison-vukc]

I got diagnosed with ADHD 18 years ago as a teenage. Spent my whole life fighting ADHD. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

[rb]

I’m a 43 year old woman who was just diagnosed last year. It’s been an absolute revelation. I fell through the cracks as a kid because I was quiet, smart, and well behaved. Really, really wish I’ve could’ve gotten the help I needed because inside I was struggling so hard.

[heatherjohnson]

My 9yr old son was just diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD, and I've been busy researching facts and testimonies of people who have parented and/or have it. While doing so, I came across your video and my son happened to sit with me. He immediately said "I totally get this" and wanted to watch more of your channel. Thank you for sharing your story, taking the time to teach those that are new to this, and giving a space to those with Inattentive ADHD to feel like they are not alone. My son's eyes lit up and he felt understood. I actually felt like I was able to understand my son better because of you. So thank you! We are looking forward to watching more of your videos!

[spiderliliez]

The fact that I had to play this over and over because it fades out from my attention haha. Classic.

[Theleaddog]

I wasn’t a clown. I tried to hide. Iived a life of trauma at home, in school and in my community. I was never safe and I had this disability untreated too.

[KamalaTheClown]

Thank you for this video. This is how I was/still am. I’m the goofy one that people laugh at my goofiness. I use it to mask my “slowness” as it seems everyone around me is quicker to understand everything. I feel like I’m less intelligent than everyone around me and I feel like I’m always failing at everything!

[Seiaeka]

So this is where my entire life went... I have not been diagnosed, but the more research I do, I feel like this is the answer.

[MidnyghtLuna]

The fact that while watching this video, I had to go back sometimes because I started thinking too deeply about scenarios with my ADD. I’ve been diagnosed for a while but man that felt weird

[xArnthorx]

Internal hyperactivity... I've never heard of it described that way but it makes so much sense. Do other poeple not day dream all the time? Is it not normal to be constantly having to call your mind back into the room? Do other people not struggle with having to focus on what the other person is saying? I'm not diagnosed but this is making me question if I have ADHD, among other symptoms.

[jeffreyl]

Wow, this was an excellent explanation of inattentive ADD. Has anyone experienced being able to stay on the computer for long hours? It's very satisfying for me, almost or close to daydreaming. Anything that pops in my head I look it up.

[elizabethwilliams]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[ryanvictormark]

Wow.... I never considered I'd have ADHD... but this is exactly what I experience on a daily basis.

[bradandsarahibbard]

Emotional dysregulation was strong for me growing up. But not in the angry outburst sense. I was lonely a lot even though I had friends. I remember always feeling, at least into middle school and on, that my friends never really wanted to hang out with me. They could all come to my house together and hang out and my parents didnt care. But i always felt that they just did that to hang out with each other. I was a hopeless romantic and I couldnt keep track of anything like birthdays or important dates or money, which lead to problems into adult life. And it seems like it only gets more difficult, especially with kids who jlhave similar problems.
Thank you for the video. Today has been hard and it really helps to see im not alone.

[TessThompsTube]

I will be 66 in a few weeks. I’ve not been diagnosed, but ADHD inattentive type would explain a lot! Recently, I have found a way to focus while doing meal prep and other chores- I listen to podcasts or audiobooks. This doesn’t always work. But it decreases the number of times I just stand in the middle of the room talking to myself in my head. So much more on this video that hits home too.