Inattentive ADHD: The Quiet Struggle You Can’t See

When most people think of ADHD, they imagine someone hyperactive — talking non-stop, fidgeting, bouncing from one thing to the next.

But for people with Inattentive ADHD, the reality looks very different.

And because it’s quieter, softer, and easier to miss — many people don’t get diagnosed until adulthood (especially women and nonbinary people).

👀 What Inattentive ADHD Actually Looks Like

• Forgetting what you were just saying mid-sentence

• Losing your keys, phone, wallet — daily

• Zoning out during conversations (even ones you care about)

• Struggling to finish tasks, even if you really want to

• Making careless mistakes (even though you double-checked)

• Feeling like your brain has a "fog" that won't clear

• Being called “lazy” or “spacey” instead of recognised for struggling

It’s not about not caring.
It’s about your brain struggling to regulate focus — where attention is needed, when it’s needed.

🧠 Predominantly Inattentive ADHD: What It Means

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) defines ADHD into three types:

• Hyperactive-Impulsive

• Inattentive

• Combined

If you meet the criteria mainly for inattention but not hyperactivity, you're considered Predominantly Inattentive Type.

🧩 Key Differences Between Hyperactive and Inattentive ADHD

Hyperactive ADHDInattentive ADHDExternal energy (moving, fidgeting)Internal drifting (daydreaming, zoning out)Talkative, impulsiveForgetful, easily distractedObvious to othersEasy to miss or mislabelDiagnosed earlier (often in kids)Diagnosed later (often in adults)

🩺 Why It’s Often Missed

• Inattentive ADHD doesn’t “disrupt” — it disappears

• Girls, women, and people socialised to “behave” mask symptoms better

• It gets mistaken for anxiety, depression, or laziness

• Cultural biases expect attention issues to be loud, not quiet

🌱 If You Recognise Yourself Here...

You are not alone.
You are not lazy.
You are not broken.

You’ve just been trying to survive in a system that didn’t see your struggles.

Next steps you can take:

• Start tracking your symptoms (even simple notes help)

• Seek an ADHD assessment or private screening

• Explore gentle tools that work with your brain, not against it

• Give yourself permission to need reminders, supports, and resets

(You can explore tracking + routine tools like this bundle if you're ready.)

💬 Final Thought

Inattentive ADHD isn’t a moral failure.
It’s a brain wiring difference. And with the right support, you can stop blaming yourself — and start working with the way your brain moves through the world.

Focus, gently. 🌿