I have the inattentive type of ADHD, and I feel like I don’t really relate to the way others describe the condition. I don’t experience that constant mental chatter that everyone seems to talk about. I definitely have a lot of random thoughts, though—I’m a serial googler and will stop whatever I’m doing to look something up. My executive dysfunction makes me feel depressed, and my working memory is probably the worst in existence. I also don’t really fit the stereotype of the person who just stares out the window daydreaming while someone is talking to them.
30 Likes
Yeah, I have a very similar experience.
I deal with a lot of brain fog too, but in my case, it’s actually caused by other physical health conditions. I still have the typical ADHD symptoms on top of that, though.
2 Likes
That sounds like me. I’m more of a daydreamer, though; I spent a lot of my childhood just staring out the window. I don’t really have the ‘chatter’ either, just a bunch of random thoughts that are hard to follow. To be honest, I’m jealous of people with that high-energy vibe for hobbies. I’ve been using BrainProtect (i buy here) to help with the mental clarity side of things, and it’s actually been quite helpful for me.
1 Like
I have chronic depression and usually feel fatigued and withdrawn, but on the rare occasions my mood lifts, I can feel that chaotic ADHD energy coming back. I start talking more, interrupting, and jumping between topics. It’s a weird shift from usually feeling so quiet.
1 Like
I appreciate you sharing this. I often feel like an imposter because my experience is so different from the common narrative. While I do daydream and interrupt people, I mostly feel like I’m trying to walk through deep water, both mentally and physically. I think some depression has definitely played a role in that feeling too.
1 Like
Yes. Though sometimes I also get stuck in these obsessive, negative loops of thought, which is a fun addition to the general brain lag and exhaustion.
2 Likes
I’m inattentive ADHD and was a big daydreamer as a kid. I didn’t realize I had mental chatter until my brain fog started clearing. It turns out I have major food intolerances to gluten, oats, and rice that were causing massive fatigue and brain fog. Once I changed my diet, things improved significantly. I also found out I had low ferritin, which was making me exhausted and physically weak. It’s definitely worth getting your blood work checked to see if your levels are actually optimal, as so many physical factors can contribute to that foggy feeling.
Definitely. I’ve found that I need regular exercise—both weights and cardio—to feel like a normal person. It helps immensely.
I didn’t think I had a noisy brain until I started Vyvanse and everything finally went quiet. I’m also primarily inattentive, but I’m realizing now how many symptoms I just assumed were normal before I got diagnosed.
I’m so glad so many people replied to this! It makes me feel much better about my own situation. The imposter syndrome is so tough; I still sometimes feel like I must have exaggerated my symptoms during my assessment, even though I know I didn’t.
Some days are like that for me. I’m much more likely to ‘rot’ in bed than to be the type who can’t sit still. I actually feel jealous of people who have the energy to always be doing something—just thinking about it is exhausting.
2 Likes
I think many stereotypes are geared toward the hyperactive or combined types. People who are strictly inattentive don’t see their experiences reflected as often. It’s curious how daydreaming became such a huge part of the stereotype when it’s not a formal symptom. Most people I know with the inattentive type deal with exactly what you mentioned—intense brain fog and poor working memory. My sister is like that; her brain isn’t ‘busy,’ she just has trouble steering her focus. Interestingly, she has a great memory for her job, but it doesn’t carry over to her social life where she’s very forgetful and loses things.
2 Likes
That’s basically my life. Constant fog, a feeling of resistance toward tasks, and a lingering sense of boredom. I do still daydream a lot, though.
1 Like
Yep, my main issues are being tired, slow, and having a terrible memory. I also struggle with losing things constantly. I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, which is likely making my ADHD symptoms worse, so I’m hoping treatment helps clear some of the fog.
Yes! I was always like this, but then I started an office job at 31 and realized just how much the ADHD affects me. I was diagnosed as inattentive, but I’ve found that I actually need some hyperactivity to function. I don’t get the ‘chatter,’ but it feels like white noise or a head full of bees. It’s hard to focus when your thoughts are constantly dodging around all that internal buzzing.
I’ve read about Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome, which often overlaps with inattentive ADHD. It used to be called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo because of the slow processing speed associated with it. It might be worth looking into if those symptoms resonate with you.
1 Like
Hello from another inattentive type! The fatigue often leads to total paralysis for me. I forget so many things—I know I need lists, but I either get overwhelmed by them or just forget to check them.