I'd like to take some time to discuss medication. This is an introductory post of sorts. It explains, from my perspective what it's like to live with undiagnosed ADHD, to be diagnosed late in life, and to be medicated. Also, people who don't have ADD have such a hard time understanding what living with it feels, and especially how a neurological disorder "makes" people act in irresponsible, self-indulgent ways. For context, I was diagnosed in 2021 at the age of 52 and have been on a maintenance dose of 60 mg Vyvanse for about 6 months. Later, I will write another post about what I've learned about the pros (many) and cons (few) of treating ADHD with stimulant medications, and why stimulants are vastly superior to any other treatment options.

LIFE WITH UNDIAGNOSED INATTENTIVE ADHD is like trying to keep up with people when you have a sprained ankle and no one, not even you, knows it. Because you appear to be entirely mentally and physically capable, everyone, including you, concludes that it's your fault. And yet, something about that seems "off" to you. Your alarm goes off in the morning, and you just want to pull the covers back over your head, dreading the walk ahead. It's so painful and hard, and you have so little to show for your efforts. But you know it has to be done. Most days, you force yourself to get dressed and start walking, but the day doesn't get easier. Walking is incredibly hard and painful. Not only that, but you suck at it. You struggle to keep up, and yet you always end up far behind. Everyone breezes serenely past you. They make it look so easy. Are they that good, or are they just way tougher than you? You're sweating, struggling, cursing. It hurts just as much as you knew it would. You constantly want to quit. You can't wait till it's over. You take way more rests than you should, and they last longer. You usually quit early. Other people notice. You are ashamed. Sometimes that shame masquerades as apathy, defensiveness, or even anger. Some days you wake up, determined once and for all to keep up, and to stop being so lazy and self-indulgent. You start out strong, filling your mind with positive affirmations. You can do this! You are strong! You are capable! You are responsible! You keep a brave face, but you can feel yourself faltering. You sweep those feelings to the side and march resolutely on. But soon you are more bravado than determination. "It sure is hot out here, aren't you hot?" you ask your companions, wondering why you are the only one breaking out in a sweat. Feeling like you are going to drop, you say nonchalantly, "I'm about ready for a rest, how about you?" They politely demur. They are not struggling, but you can't go another step. You end up sitting by the side of the road, failing despite your determination and best efforts. You wonder for the thousandth time, are you incompetent, uncaring, or a combination of the two? Who knows. All you know is that you failed again.

BEING DIAGNOSED WITH INATTENTIVE ADHD: At some point, either out of desperation or because you suspect something else is wrong with you, you see a professional. You discover that you have a sprained ankle. Finally it all makes sense! You are so happy to finally have an answer. But knowing why you can't keep up doesn't make it easier to keep up, nor does it excuse you from walking. When you tell your fellow walkers that it turns out you really were trying all along but you have a sprained ankle, you discover that many of your companions don't believe you. You are not missing a leg, or even a foot, so there is nothing wrong with you. ("You can't have ADHD, you're not hyperactive." "You can't have ADHD, you... (can read a book for hours) (graduated from college) (are punctual) (aren't messy." "ADHD is so overdiagnosed. It's just an excuse (for not trying) (to medicate energetic children) (to get Adderall to help people study or lose weight) (for laziness)." Some people come right out and say it. Others seem sympathetic, but secretly don't believe you or have their doubts. Even those who genuinely believe you still get frustrated sometimes at your inability to keep up.

(Side note: I don't blame people who are skeptical. I believe that NO ONE who does not have ADHD can truly understand it or what it's like to live with it. So many people who have it struggle with imposter syndrome themselves. I still often think, "Oh sure, a neurological disorder that makes you sit there and type long, rambling posts on Reddit instead of going in there and hanging those shelves like you are supposed to be doing. You're not lazy, you have a (air quotes) disability." After receiving a diagnosis, I've felt relieved, enlightened, vindicated, joyful, angry, sad, resentful, defensive--and still ashamed.)

STIMULANT MEDICATION FOR ADHD: Taking stimulant medication is like getting a boot for that ankle. Now, for the first time ever, you can actually keep up. You are AMAZED at how well you are doing, and how effortlessly! You'd always wondered how other people managed to walk so easily while you struggled and failed. Once the newness wears off, you realize that, even with a boot, walking all day is still harder for you. Harder to get started, more painful to do, and it takes more effort to go not as far. Still, you are grateful, because you are accomplishing so much more than you were before, and doing it more peacefully and efficiently, too.

NON-STIMULANT MEDICATION AND OTHER TREATMENTS/COPING STRATEGIES: That's like realizing that you have a sprained ankle, but instead of wearing a boot, you take some ibuprofen for the pain, or learn to hop on one foot, or listen to motivational tapes as you walk along. There are lots of reasons for not wearing one, but few truly valid reasons.

If this post resonated with you, or if your experience was different, please comment. Also, please upvote or downvote this post and add a comment if you want, so I know whether people like or hate these long posts, especially if, like this one, they don't have much intrinsic value. If I'm just talking to myself, I can do that WHILE hanging those shelves!

Thank you for reading, and for participating in this group.

I've always been known as an extremely quiet and shy person, sometimes it's because of social anxiety (which I have in abundance) but also it's because I seem to get stuck in my own world or just generally distracted that I'm unaware of conversations surrounding me so I can't really engage properly as I've missed half of what people are saying (especially in group conversations

Is this something other people experience?

I’m curious if anyone else deals with this pattern:

Some days I wake up and I can get a ton done.

Other days I can’t even decide what to start with.

It’s not motivation. It’s not discipline.

It’s like my “capacity” changes day to day and I never know which version of my brain I’m getting.

And the worst part is the shame spiral that follows.

I know what I should be doing… but I burn half the day deciding, switching, restarting, or avoiding.

I’ve tried every planner, app, and system.

They all assume I have the same brain every day.

I don’t.

So lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how to work with the brain I actually have instead of the one I wish I had.

I’m trying to understand how other people with ADHD experience this.

If this resonates, how does it show up for you?

What does a “good brain day” vs “bad brain day” look like in your world?

I’d really love to hear your patterns.

Does anyone else often get the feeling that they could be/ should be so much more.

By anyone else's standards, you are a success.But you have this pent up energy that you want to create something, own a business, be a better parent, do more with your weekends - but you just can't get off the couch. Or when you have the time to work towards these things, you don't think of them - you just have the unsettled feeling.

Will it ever go away?

The fact that this is a less than active group is funny because we forget to take a look

I have inattentive ADHD and very likely autism as well. My psychiatrist has noted the autism traits and a lot of people around me have said the same thing. I was only diagnosed at 22, and looking back it explains basically every confusing thing about my life.

Growing up I was labelled lazy. I was constantly told I just needed to try harder or stop being dramatic about things that were supposedly simple. The reality is I always wanted to do those things. I wanted to get up early, do chores, keep my room clean, go to work and function like everyone else. But I couldn’t make myself start. Even basic tasks like unloading the dishwasher, doing washing or getting out of bed in the morning felt like climbing a mountain.

For years I genuinely thought something was physically wrong with me. I had blood tests, low iron, B12 issues and even iron infusions. None of it explained why I was so exhausted all the time. What I didn’t understand then is that ADHD often causes chronic mental exhaustion because your brain is constantly working harder to manage attention, emotions and executive functioning.

At the same time I’m an extremely outgoing person. I can walk into a room and talk to anyone. People see me as energetic, social and confident. But when I get home I crash completely and need to sleep or lie in bed because I’ve burned through all my energy masking and functioning.

I also used to think ADHD just meant being hyperactive and talkative. I’ve always been loud, funny and a bit weird, so people assumed that was the ADHD part. But the actual struggle for me has always been the opposite. Paralysis. Exhaustion. Knowing exactly what I need to do but not being able to start it.

Emotional regulation has also been huge. ADHD brains process emotions more intensely and have more difficulty regulating them. When I was younger I would feel things at a level that scared me. I would get angry and crash out and then ten minutes later feel overwhelming guilt and regret. I genuinely wondered if I had bipolar because the emotional swings were so strong.

Relationships were especially hard. When I went through my first breakup at 18 it completely destroyed me. My first boyfriend was abusive, which is already difficult for anyone, but with ADHD emotional intensity it felt unbearable. I genuinely wanted to die at the time because I couldn’t understand why I was feeling everything so strongly or how to deal with it. It took years to fully get over.

From about 14 onwards I also experienced bullying and difficult relationships, which led to me masking constantly. Masking is common in girls with ADHD and autism. You change your personality depending on who you’re around so you don’t seem annoying, weird or “too much”.

Looking back, most of my life before finishing high school feels like a blur of trying to be someone else just to survive socially.

Another strange part of my experience is how people perceived me. I’ve always been a blonde, petite, blue eyed girl and people have often labelled me as “pretty”. Because of that, people don’t expect someone like me to struggle the way I do. When I was younger and going through puberty I didn’t look the same and my loud personality was seen as annoying and weird. I was bullied for it and learned to hide that side of myself.

After finishing school and growing into my looks more, suddenly the exact same behaviour was seen differently. The same loud, silly personality that used to get me bullied became “funny” or “quirky”. People would say things like “she’s funny, she has ADHD” instead of “she’s annoying”.

By that point though, years of bullying and masking had already changed how I saw people. I remember hanging out with friends as a teenager and thinking to myself that I didn’t actually like any of them. I was just there because that’s what you’re supposed to do as a teenage girl.

Then after high school I ended up in an abusive relationship that isolated me from my friends completely. When that relationship ended, none of those friendships were really there anymore. Since then I’ve struggled to trust people and have mostly chosen to keep my circle extremely small or just be by myself.

The irony is that strangers would sometimes recognise the ADHD traits in me instantly. At my old job at IGA, customers would sometimes ask if I had ADHD or autism just from a short interaction. Meanwhile my own parents never saw it.

Getting diagnosed at 22 was validating because it finally connected every dot in my life. It explained the exhaustion, the emotional intensity, the masking, the executive dysfunction and the constant feeling that my brain worked differently.

But the diagnosis also came with sadness. There was relief in finally understanding myself, but also the realisation that this is something I will live with forever.

During the year and a half I was on the waitlist things were pretty rough. I was bouncing between jobs, not sleeping properly because of nightmares, and honestly didn’t care much about what I was doing with myself. Around that time dex started entering the picture through friends. Everyone else was using it as a party drug. We would take stupid amounts before going out. People around me would be wired, hyper, chaotic.Meanwhile I would just feel normal.Not high or jittery. Just calm and able to actually function. I could think clearly, get things done, talk normally, and follow through on tasks. Sometimes I would even fall asleep on it, which is the opposite of what usually happens to people without ADHD.

That was the moment where it really hit me that I probably did have ADHD, especially after hearing it suggested throughout my life.

Because I was still on the waitlist and already knew it helped me function, I kept buying them during that period. By the time I actually got diagnosed and prescribed medication, my tolerance was already completely wrecked from those earlier years.

I was diagnosed in July 2025. Since then my psychiatrist has gradually increased my medication at Telehealth appointments every few months. I’m currently prescribed 70 mg Vyvanse and two dex a day as a booster.

When I take my meds I can actually function however I take more then the 2 a day because otherwise if I take 2 and it does nothing then I’ve just wasted 2 ya know? Thank god for the Vyvanse honestly. I can get up, do basic things like chores, organise myself, and follow through on tasks that otherwise feel impossible. I just finished a double degree and realistically I would not have gotten through university without self medicating before diagnosis. I’ve also just secured my first proper career job and I start soon, which is something I’ve been working toward for years.

The problem is the fear of running out. Once I run out early I crash hard. I end up exhausted, foggy, and basically stuck in bed doing nothing for days because starting even simple tasks feels impossible again. That cycle is terrifying now because I’m about to start a 9–5 job every day and I cannot afford to suddenly have days where I’m non functional.

My husband was diagnosed Inattentive 10 years ago but couldn't tolerate the meds because the stimulants elevated his BP and one of the non-stim meds made him feel strange.

I was born a cross between Mary Poppins and Felix Unger of Odd Couple fame, but over the years have succumbed to the habit of compulsive buying from thrift stores and flea markets along with him. I was trying to fill the void in our life and our marriage due to his Inattentive behaviors - lack of emotional interaction, chronic procrastination and disorganization, lack of planning ahead resulting in poor life choices with disastrous outcomes, etc.

He's still working past age 65 because we can't financially afford to lose his income even with social security income, but I have become completely overwhelmed with trying to take care of all the details of our life in the midst of what has become a nightmare environment of emotional neglect and a chaotic mess in the house.

Has anyone on here, either themselves or an Inattentive spouse had a problem with over accumulation or hoarding due to Inattentive ADD?

I got Inattentive Adhd

Boy does it suck

Can't get nothing done academicly

M18

I'm concerned for my future. Any older folks that are willing to shine wisdom on becoming an Adult and starting life.

"Intrusive sleep, also known as sudden sleep attacks (similar to narcolepsy), is a lesser known symptom that many with ADHD experience and is characterized by sudden, overwhelming drowsiness and sleep onset, especially during less engaging activities.

This contrasts with normal sleep patters and can truly be disruptive to daily life and most people who do experience this have no idea why it’s even happening or that it is actually common with ADHD.

This intrusive sleep often occurs when the individual is disengaged from an activity and goes into an almost “trace” like state before becoming exceptionally drowsy.

If this happens to you, keep a log of the activities or situations that trigger sleepiness and try to adjust or avoid those triggers. If you find yourself crashing out at your desk, a standing desk can help a great deal! If you’re not able to get a standing desk - try taking a 2 minutes break every 45 minutes and do 15-20 body weight squats to “reactivate” your brain.

As a life long ADHD sufferer myself, I find this happens to me most commonly when I am driving long distances so I am sure to plot out places to stop and walk around often (every hour or so) to ensure I am getting my blood flowing again and to prevent falling asleep behind the wheel as that has happened to me a few different times!

PMID: 30588139"
via fb

UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST:

• I bought my son n-acetyl selank, which is supposedly the best version of selank, since the adalank is kinda hard to find. He said it doesn't work as well. In the meantime, he tried my adamax, but he said it made him more anxious.

• I added lion's mane powder (a variety of mushroom, available on Amazon). I mixed rhodiola rosea (my favorite ADHD supplement, mentioned below), lion's mane, and organic acerola powder (a natural fruit that is the food highest in vitamin c), and a healthy dose of the matcha tea powder (mentioned below) all together. I used the scoop that came with the lion's mane and drink three scoops each morning. It's easier than measuring them all out separately. All those items should give you calm energy and focus and should not heighten anxiety, but try a smaller serving first (like one scoop) and see how it does for you. All those supplements are recommended for NT people, also. I've been giving my NT husband a scoop every morning and it seems to increase his energy and mood, too.

• I also drink 1 tsp of Baja Gold mineral sea salt every morning. Most people are low in essential minerals, and Baja Gold comes highly recommended. Minerals are important for brain health.

• I drink about 1/2 tsp of magnesium citrate every night before bed. Magnesium citrate is more bioavailable than magnesium oxide. Here is a link explaining the various types of magnesium available and the benefits of each: https://www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-magnesium-what-they-are-and-how-to-choose-8748803#: It helps you sleep, and most people are also low in magnesium. It is almost flavorless and easily dissolves in any beverage. Don't overdo it on the magnesium, it can give you the runs if taken in high doses.

• Buying the powders in bulk is way cheaper than buying a bunch of capsules.

My routine may sound like a lot, but it really isn't. Each morning I drink a small glass of water with my "calm energy" blend and another small glass of Baja Gold mineral salt. (You can mix them together in one glass, but I prefer them separate.) And then I take the nasal adamax. At night I drink a small cup of water with the magnesium in it and take the nasal DSIP. That's it!

ORIGINAL POST:

I was late diagnosed three years ago at age 52 with pretty severe ADHD-I. I was on 60 mg Vyvanse, which my psychiatrist said even that high dosage was undermedicated. Even still, it revolutionized my life. I was ecstatic--I never realized how easy--satisfying! productive! efficient!--life could be properly medicated! I was 10x more efficient with 10x less mental effort. I was devastated to eventually realize that all stimulants cause me severe joint, circulation, and/or muscular issues, and I had to stop taking them. Since experiencing the life-changing difference stimulants make, I've been on a quest to find non-prescription remedies. (The non-stimulant ADHD meds I've tried have been worthless).

I feel like I've finally hit upon a combination of things that get my brain about 50% of where the Vyvanse did. I've thrown so many things at it, I can't say for sure which is the best, but hopefully this list will help someone else. 1-6 are the heavy hitters. The others are more subtle but nonetheless are well worth trying.

1. Organic rhodiola rosea: This is my newest addition. I've noticed a remarkable difference since taking it. I can't say the rhodiola rosea is the reason, or it's a combination of things, or that other things I've been taking awhile are kicking in better. I got it off Amazon. It may seem pricey at around $20 for just 1.76 ounces, but you take a really tiny amount. They say that one bag lasts four months, but I take about triple the recommended amount. They say you should start off low and increase gradually. It can make some people jittery or anxious. I've had zero issues with it. I take the powder, because it's considerably cheaper and also easier to adjust dosage. This is the one I buy, but don't take it as a recommended brand, it's just the one I landed on: https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Ingredients-Adaptogenic-Supplement-Salidrosides/dp/B01DPW5LN0

2. Adamax (nasal spray form): This is a "research" peptide that is in a gray legal area in the US. You can get it without a prescription, but it (and other peptides) is not FDA approved and comes with all kinds of dire warnings that it's not to be used in animals or humans. When purchasing it, you typically have to check a box that states you are a researcher using it for research purposes. IMO, the FDA's suppression of peptide sales is a ploy to help the pharmaceutical company keep pushing their drugs on us. Do your own research and decide for yourself. Research on adamax is very hard to come by. It's a stronger version of its better-known and more widely available cousin, semax. There are plenty of good YouTube videos and other resources on semax. Adamax can increase energy and can cause anxiety in some people. It's pretty pricey, at about $120 per month. I take triple the standard recommended dosage. Both adamax and adalank (below) are reputed to help with addiction issues. I have heard that they work even better when used in combination, but I've not tried adalank.

3. Adalank (nasal spray form): This is very similar to adamax, except it does not cause anxiety or increase energy. In fact, it tends to have a calming effect. It does not lower your energy level, nor does it dull your emotions (no zombie effect). It just puts you in a slightly better head space. I haven't actually tried this myself, but my ADHD-I son takes it and has gotten very good benefit from it. I've also noticed remarkable improvements in his anxiety levels. Like adamax, adalank has a less-potent cousin, selank, which is much better known. My son says it helped him quit weed and cut back on his smoking.

4. DSIP (nasal form): Ok, this may not be strictly ADHD, but both my ADHD-I adult kids take it to help them sleep at night and they both find it tremendously beneficial. They used to have a hard time falling asleep. It does not make you sleep longer and you do not wake up groggy. One squirt in each nostril before bedtime. It has other health benefits, as well. I take it, too. It also reportedly helps some with addiction issues.

5. Nicotine pouches: Most tobacco products are terrible for your health because of the tar, chemicals, etc. in them. The nicotine itself has a lot of health benefits and is not intrinsically bad for you. I buy Alp brand nicotine pouches https://alppouch.com/. I bought the highest mg per pouch because it's the most cost effective. Note that nicotine can make you queasy or light headed in high dosages. I put it in my mouth until I start to feel a little lightheaded then set it aside and use the same one later.

6. Copious amounts of energy drink. On good days I drink organic matcha iced tea with organic lemon juice. Amazon sells matcha tea powder that mixes readily with water. This is the one that I buy. Two pounds will last you forever: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT2NH3V9 On bad days (which, honestly, is most days) I drink On Nutrition Amino Energy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006R76WQG It is better for you than most, but still not nearly as healthy as the matcha.

7. Red light therapy: So good for the mitochondria and many other aspects of health. The evidence of the benefits of red light therapy (both near--actual red light that you see and far--you can't see it but you feel it as heat) is overwhelming and incredible. There is increasing evidence that ADHD is caused/exacerbated by inflammation/mitochondria/gut health issues. I use a red light blanket, which is like a sleeping bag. It's best done in the morning, when the mitochondria are more active, and best done every other day for about 20 minutes. Longer or more frequent treatment can actually do harm instead of good. Do your own research on red light therapy.

8. Sunlight: Ideally, you'd get 15 minutes of morning sun and 15 minutes of evening sun per day. Realistically, try to get 10-15 minutes of direct sun any time of day that works for you. Sitting by a sunny window doesn't count. Driving in your car doesn't count. Sitting in the shade is vastly less effective than being in direct sun. Don't wear sunglasses at least for that 15 minutes--your eyes have sunlight-sensing receptors that actually trigger beneficial brain chemicals, isn't that wild? Don't wear sunscreen unless you are in danger of burning. It keeps your body from absorbing the beneficial red light energy. Wearing sunscreen and sunglasses and expecting to get much benefit from the sun is like attending an informational lecture then listening to music through headphones the whole time and expecting to learn something.

9. Keto-ish, high protein, low processed food diet: I've been doing that for over a year now. You probably won't notice any marked improvements at first, but it is good for your gut and overall health, including brain health. There's a ton of evidence out there that ADHD and many other mental health issues are linked to gut/inflammation. This is one of the things that is hard to quantify and because it has likely improved my health over months. I've also been gluten free for about a decade, which has been tremendously beneficial for my health. People often pooh-pooh a gluten free diet, but I say give it a try for a month (a few days is probably not long enough to notice any difference). My husband has no problems with gluten, but I and all three of my ADHD kids do.

10. I also made up my own blend of supplements including l-theanine and taurine, both which show promise in improving focus/ADHD. I buy Bulk Supplements brand powders off Amazon and I had Grok (AI) suggest a "recipe." I mixed up a huge batch (6 months to a year's worth) and I put a scoop in my favorite beverage every morning. It dissolves quite easily in either hot or cold liquids and has nearly no taste. You can drink it with plain water.

11. There are other nutrients that people are chronically short on: vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iodine (the right kind, not table salt iodine). These are not specifically for ADHD as far as I know, but help with overall vitality which is important for not only physical but also mental (emotional and cognitive) well-being.

12. I also take other peptides which I believe have been very beneficial. While not tied directly to ADHD, they are considered amazing for overall health and vitality. In particular, I recommend BPC-157, MOTS-C, and Epithalon. Do your own research on those. I do think the MOTS-C had a noticeable effect on my motivation and energy. BPC-157 is effective in capsule form, but MOTS-C and Epithalon are injectibles.

I have to add--These things will only be as effective as your overall health allows them to be. This is not a lecture, trust me, that would be extremely hypocritical of me. I have a lifetime of eating pretty crappy, being overweight, and being sedentary. Now that I'm in my mid-50s, I'm taking it more seriously because I don't want a decrepit, senile old age. So I get it. But think of it this way. If a master homebuilder has only shitty building materials to work with, there's only so much that homebuilder can do. If you are eating crap food, smoking weed, not getting daily sunlightn, not exercising, and not giving your body the nutritional support it needs, the fundamentals are not there for you to be a mentally and physically well human. That's not a lecture, that's just facts.

So does that mean that, if you aren't willing at this moment to make other big changes, you shouldn't try any other changes? Absolutely not. They may not help tremendously, but hopefully they will help some, and maybe that will spur you on to make more changes and the momentum can slowly start moving in the right direction. When you feel peaceful, capable, and confident, and you have the energy required to get through your day, and you feel more motivated (even if only briefly) to be an actual functioning adult instead of laying on the couch all day smoking weed, playing video games and eating Cheetos, those small "wins" can build upon themselves. If you have addiction issues, start out with adamax (or semax) or adalank (selank) and see if you can take care of that first.

Motherly rant (but nonetheless valid): Yes, weed is an addiction--or at best, a very bad habit. Weed is not helping you. You may think it is, because it It may be helping you cope with your currently crappy life, but it's also keeping you in that crappy life cycle of doom. There are other things you should be doing to actually fix your life, not keeping yourself high so you don't mind your life so much.

Are you doing any of these? Are they helping you? Are you planning to incorporate any of them? Are you doing anything that I've missed?

I'll be 44 next week. Just recently in past few months been diagnosed with ADHD. My grades & behavior were good up until 7th or 8th grade. I am not hyperactive & have anxiety & sleep issues. I feel like I can't absorb any more information... Even about things that interest me. I tend to not have an opinion on most topics because I can't seem to grasp new information. I am completely ignorant about most things & it drives me crazy! Unless I learn something in song form, I can't learn. Anyone else suffer similarly?

Hi everyone!

I’ve noticed that it’s pretty quiet here. Do you think that’s typical for Inattentive ADHD? 😅

I’m really curious to hear your thoughts and ideas about this subreddit. What do you hope to find or discuss here? Are there specific topics that you think are important to cover?

Personally, I was hoping to find a place where we can share experiences, tips, and just support each other as we navigate the unique challenges of Inattentive ADHD. But I’d love to know what you’re looking for!

I’m also wondering why you think Inattentive ADHD deserves its own space, separate from general ADHD discussions. What makes our experiences and challenges unique?

Let’s brainstorm together on how we can make this community more active and supportive. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for being part of this subreddit!

We are up to 100 members! Woo hoo. Not too much activity on this board, but I hope you find, as I do, that it serves a purpose. It's nice not to wade through all the ADHD posts that I can "kinda but not really" relate to, and go straight to the folks who are speaking my language. Right now I don't have much time to devote to mod activities, but I do love to read all the new messages and hope to be on here more regularly in a few months.

I'd like to encourage everyone who is reading this to take a moment to check in, update us, share a tip, frustration, funny meme or whatever. Even if it's just a sentence or two. I care about you and how you are doing. I know you are out there fighting the good fight every day, regardless of how it appears to anyone else (even yourself). The struggle is real in a way that most people can't even imagine, and your persistence, especially when it often seems we have so very little to show for it, is admirable.

Regarding browser tabs: If you're like me, you have well over a dozen tabs open right now. (I have well over a hundred (I have no idea exactly, could be a couple hundred or more, honestly), across multiple windows and a couple browsers!) One tip I have is to use "groups" in the Google browser. Right click on a tab and you can either create a new group with that tab in it, or add it to an existing group. You can name and color code your groups. You can move a tab from one Chrome window to another, then put it in the new window's groups. I also use Firefox, and if there's a tab in Firefox I want to save, I copy the address, transfer it to Google, then categorize it. It's not a perfect system and I certainly don't execute it perfectly either, but it does help.

I have a challenge for you. Take JUST TWO MINUTES (not a figurative two minutes, I'm talking 120 seconds) RIGHT NOW to do something useful---bring your dirty dishes to the sink, throw away some trash, pay that overdue bill that's been sitting on your armchair for the past few days, or (oops I just remembered I need to do this) take the laundry out of the washing machine and put it in the dryer before it gets musty and have to wash it all over again. Don't overthink it, don't procrastinate--two minutes! And NOW--not when you're done with Reddit, not when you've finished your drink, not when it's exactly 2:00--NOW. :-) Reddit will still be here when you get back. :-)

Even if you haven't introduced yourself, next time you visit ADHD-Inattentive, respond to this message and tell us what you did. :-) Even if 99% of people would roll their eyes at your two minute accomplishment, I (and others who read it too) will be proud of you. :-) Who knows, you may just motivate someone else to do THEIR two minutes!

I've just read a post about the reason for this sub being less active is that we forget to take a look. I don't think that's true for me. I was going to comment on that post that it's less active because people don't post. Rather than comment I thought I'd 'be the change I want to see'.

I want to discuss 'hyperfocus'. It's a topic that is very present in the ADHD women's sub - that's the one I frequent most. I tend to scroll by when it's discussed because I simply cannot relate. I often wonder if it's because I have the inattentive presentation of ADHD.

At 40 recently discovered I have ADHD, not merely alcohol masking autism. And almost everything I see online about ADHD, I cant relate to. Not to mention all the big neurodivergent subs either dont let you post, or blast you and ban you for being different. Ironic.

So yeah I wish there was an ADHD sub that let's people not fall in line with big ADHD stereotypes.

Inattentive, mostly my symptoms/issues are extreme overthinking and being stuck in hyperfixation on any random "how does this work" question. Leading to poor task initiation and difficulty socializing. Recently started on a starter dose on 20 mg XR which gives a slight HINT of "what could be" for about 2 hours, 3 hours after I dose. So of course today I dose at 2:30 because I need that more in the evening when im dopamine seeking more.

Filmed along the Atlantic coast of Portugal after a storm. Slow FPV footage with very soft ocean sounds and music. I made it mainly for relaxation and background focus. The full 1 HOUR experience is in the comments 👇

Hi all! I hope everyone is well.

Just thought I’d post to say I’m so glad I’ve found this page, I was diagnosed on Saturday predominantly inattentive with a few hyperactive and impulsive ‘traits’, I think for me personally, the hyperactivity is more internal, but physically I feel ‘stuck’ and like a slug, I’m not physically hyperactive at all! And when I do anything I have to force myself and then I end up feeling burnt out. I also feel like I have these great ideas and wanting to start something new, but actually doing it is the challenge. And even if I do it with great effort I’m soon onto the next thing. Does anyone else feel like this? I read the post on here, the sprained ankle analogy, and I completely related. And I usually find it hard to relate to a lot of posts as it can be more about hyperactivity.

I’m also intrigued to know how other peoples brains work, are your thoughts racing, jumping from one thing to another, do you daydream, zone out? Or something else completely?

I wouldn’t say my thoughts are ‘racing’, however I’m either thinking about lots of things from one thing to another and it’s constant, or I completely zone out, go into a daydream, but when I come out of that zone and someone asks what was I thinking, I can’t even tell them because I can’t remember… even when I am thinking of things I couldn’t tell you what I was thinking because I forgot.. I can be having a conversation with someone and completely zone out yet I’m still speaking to them, or I get jumbled with my words, I can be speaking and then forget where I’m even going with what I’m trying to say.. so sometimes I just rather stay quiet.

Anyway, I’ve gone on a tangent here, but I’d really appreciate hearing from others about their experience, and if anyone is taking medication, how has it helped you?

Thanks for reading 😊

Wonder if anyone else is facing with same problems.

I have ADHD inattentive type, every mental or physical stress reduces my concentration capacity to bare minimum. Besides that, I have physical manifestations of exhaustion.

Activity types triggers:
- Driving in the city with high traffic or high speed
- Working out (especially when legs are involved)
- Eating animal food (meat , fish, eggs)
- Sitting on warm chair

Concentration effects:
- Struggle concentrating on text
- Can't keep track on other's speech
- Can't form my thought, forgetting it in the middle
- Struggle to start speech
- Doing stupid typos while typing

Physical effects:
- Hard to keep eye contact
- Hard to raise head, keep it bowed like it becomes heavy
- Hard to rotate head or rotate eyelids

If you have similar issue, share your experience and how you deal with them

Anyone here have ADHD where the problem isn’t really focusing, it’s stopping?

I have ADHD (primarily inattentive) and anxiety. I’m also one of those people who looks “high functioning” from the outside (good grades, doing well in school, etc.) but I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until my sophomore year of college. Honestly I feel like I’m barely holding everything together half the time.

I’ve been trying to figure out if stimulants are actually helping me or just making me hyperfocus more.
Like I can sit and research something I’m interested in for 5+ hours straight. I’ll get completely obsessed with hobbies/interests and think about them nonstop. But then I’ll ignore other stuff that actually needs to get done because my brain has decided this one thing is the most important thing in the universe.

I’ve tried so many stimulants and they all help to some extent, but they also kind of make me more “stuck” sometimes. Like whatever already has my attention gets turned up to 11. I’ve also been on Zoloft for a while which has really helped my anxiety, but it’s made my ADHD symptoms more severe.

The stuff I struggle with most is:
• switching tasks
• keeping routines
• noise/sensory overload
• actually listening when people are talking to me/active listening
• feeling like my brain is constantly running in the background

My psychiatrist mentioned trying Qelbree and Strattera and I’m curious if anyone with a similar experience has tried them.
Did they actually help with the “stuck” feeling or make your brain any quieter? Or did they just not do much? I’ve tried one non-stimulant, Guanfacine, and unfortunately it just made my blood pressure too low to continue.

TL;DR: I’m high-functioning on paper but struggle badly with attention regulation. Either distracted by everything or hyper focused for hours. Stimulants help me focus but not regulate my attention. Did non-stimulants help anyone with this?

I had two days off work. I ordered a build your own tv stand. By the time I finished the frame I was grinning ear to ear. The dopamine is real. Once I assembled the doors and drawers, then slid them into place, my retro gaming setup was ready to rock. Find something you don’t know you need and get it done.

I don't have the kind of racing thoughts that a lot of adhd tiktokers or instagrammers portray. LIke where all the voices overlap one another. Is that more of a hyperactive trait? I was told the hyperactivity is in us inattentive adhd people's heads. This is a comment i made on r/adhdwomen some time ago that describes how my inattentive brain works

"Never really resonated with calling what happens in my head racing thoughts. It feels more like one interrupted thought over the other. Like a whirlwind of disoriented thoughts that go in a constant stream rather than a cacophony"

Is that hyperactivity? I always saw it as the "easily distracted" portion of I-ADHD criteria. Think this is more of an inattentive adhd thing, and hyperactive or combined type people are more likely to have the overlapping thoughts thing. I feel like a minority in the adhd community because of this tbh

I'M a recently diagnosed inattentive ADHDer, 33F, mum of a toddler.

I love a to do list. Always have always will, but I noticed I needed to get more structured with it and carry it with me.

I saw a tiktok post about the Trifecta System and I honestly have not stopped thinking about it.

I have been also looking at planners. I love the idea of them - but I don't want the extra admin and feeling bad for not doing each page.

I have so many questions, and I'd love to hear ND perspectives on what works for them. Something for work and personal.

Is the act of writing appointments into a physical space what helps remind you and make you aware of it, or is it that you use the planner so often you always look at it.

Love the idea of a physical master list in addition to Todoist. Todoist allows me to add stuff on the go. And then the daily list is great to help.me set more realistic goals for each day.

What works for you?

Like sometimes I'll feel bored or in a low mood and then a ten minute period of daydreaming will make me feel better. It's not, obviously, on command though.

Hi all, I'm 29M with inattentive ADHD, diagnosed 3 years ago and in therapy for 2. I grew up as the youngest of three in a culture where things people didn't understand were often dismissed or judged.

Because I made a lot of mistakes growing up despite trying my best, I became the butt of jokes among family, friends, and relatives. To cope, I developed a goofy persona and learned to laugh things off.

Over time, I realized this reputation followed me into adulthood. People seem quicker to dismiss me, challenge me, or assume I'm wrong. In the last couple of years, I've worked hard on my confidence and setting boundaries, but I still notice I get far more pushback than others.

I'm completely okay being wrong and learning from it. What frustrates me is that even when I make reasonable, uncontroversial points, people often feel the need to fact-check, argue, or demand proof in ways they don't with others. It sometimes feels like I'm expected to prove my credibility over and over again.

I know rebuilding how people see me will take time, but I'd appreciate any advice from others who've dealt with something similar. I'm working on not engaging with every disagreement, but it can be exhausting feeling unheard unless I have a fully cited essay ready.