Inattentive ADD?

[courier]

I have never been diagnosed with adhd, but I know I have it for certain. was my son who was diagnosed.

[Asier3d]

The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=q3d1SwUXMc0

(http://, not http//)

[JollyBadger]

My experiences with Inattentive ADD have been similar to previous posters. I was not a "hyper" kid, and was generally noted as being quiet and well-behaved, so I managed to fly under the radar throughout my school years without actually being tested or checked.

I mean, I had a lot of problems paying attention in school and teachers would have "talks" with my parents about it, but it was more along the lines of "you're a smart girl, you just need to try harder and stop daydreaming." But since there were no serious behavioral issues, they just thought I was lazy and disorganized. I also mastered the art of looking at the teacher but not listening to them. Staring out the window was too "obvious" that I was in my own little world. So I looked in the teacher's direction but my imagination had me someplace far, far away.

I'd sit at my desk in my room, spaced-out while I was supposed to be doing homework. I'd finally finish it just before bedtime, or maybe that morning before school. Then I'd either leave it on my desk or, when the teacher collected the assignment, I'd be "spaced out" at the time and not realize what was going on, so I wouldn't turn it in.

I think of Inattentive ADD as "mentally impulsive." I lack the physical energy that most people associate with "typical" ADHD. But my brain is always "on the go." Difficulty focusing and concentrating on a single thought for extended periods.

When presented with a list of things to do, or instructions on how to do something, if it's not given to me in some tangible form (like an email, or written out on a piece of paper), I may get so fixated on one thing that I don't even hear the rest of the instructions. Then, by the time the person is finished giving me the whole list, I am hopelessly lost and embarassed about not being able to remember half of what they just told me.

The ironic and frustrating thing about it is that I've tried to "help myself" in those situations by being a furious note-taker. Somehow that always backfires because the person speaking thinks I am not paying attention to them. That's often when they make a comment about my "poor listening skills" and what a sign of disrespect it is. Or they tell me there is no need to "take notes" on what they are talking about.

In both cases, they're wrong. But I still end up feeling like a jerk.

[bomdia]

I totally hear you. I'm like that with taking notes too. And then I started to secretly voice-record certain business meetings hoping to review it after to catch everything, but it takes 2x-3x the time people do 1x, and I'd still miss the point sometimes.

What I realized (at least for myself) is I'm more a visual thinker and need to imagine the whole context like fitting a puzzle. So I still take lots of notes, and still miss some points, but I'd use one of the online mind mapping tools to help me brain-dump and throw everything I know into a blank slate (or a saved page). Seeing the whole process/context help me connect the dots much better.

[JollyBadger]

Originally Posted by bomdia

I totally hear you. I'm like that with taking notes too. And then I started to secretly voice-record certain business meetings hoping to review it after to catch everything, but it takes 2x-3x the time people do 1x, and I'd still miss the point sometimes.

What I realized (at least for myself) is I'm more a visual thinker and need to imagine the whole context like fitting a puzzle. So I still take lots of notes, and still miss some points, but I'd use one of the online mind mapping tools to help me brain-dump and throw everything I know into a blank slate (or a saved page). Seeing the whole process/context help me connect the dots much better.

^^THIS!

I always want to know the "big picture." I want to know why things have to be done a certain way - not because I am "challenging authority" but because it helps me to understand how it all fits together and it keeps me "on track" for doing my share of the work right.

And it's not just work-related - it's everything.

I guess it just gives me a feeling of "purpose."

[FogNoggin]

Originally Posted by JollyBadger

I think of Inattentive ADD as "mentally impulsive." I lack the physical energy that most people associate with "typical" ADHD. But my brain is always "on the go." Difficulty focusing and concentrating on a single thought for extended periods.

Is that where our physical energy is being used up, our brains?
I've always wondered that.
25% of our calories are used by the brain maybe more for us?

I really don't know if I lack physical energy or is it executive function?
Why am I sitting around the house, being unproductive?
I hate this, it's depressing, the world carries on without me.

I hope meds can help if I get to try them.

[sarahsweets]

Inattentive add...huh? what was that?

[name.is.user]

For me, it's like I can't concentrate on anything for very long, because I have too many thoughts about everything else, and my brain just turns into a cluster of thoughts and ideas, which are usually replaced new ideas and thoughts instantly. Anyone else have this?
Also:
- I have to spend 5 minutes every morning looking for my keys, because I always put them in a different place.
- In high school, I never did ANY homework, until 2AM the night before, when I realized it had to get done.
- I find it hard to converse normally with people, so I just make jokes at everything to keep them interested in talking.
- Sometimes, I can't even pay attention during sex. My mind just wanders to other things.
- I already forgot what else I wanted to say for the rest of the post.

[addSpirit]

Originally Posted by name.is.user

...and my brain just turns into a cluster of thoughts and ideas, which are usually replaced new ideas and thoughts instantly. Anyone else have this?

In high school, I never did ANY homework, until 2AM the night before, when I realized it had to get done

Yes, with both I have experience
But, at least we GET clusters of new ideas...called creativity

The trick might be to organize these thoughts. Tell me if you found a solution