What do you think?
Rate this book
Lifting the Fog: A specific guide to inattentive ADHD in adults
These days there are many books about ADHD, but there is little specific information for the layperson on ADHD Inattentive Type. Lifting the Fog provides specific information on inattentive ADHD and practical tips and treatment options for adults dealing with this often overlooked form of the disorder. Although inattentive ADHD has now been recognised by the mental health community as a disorder which affects many children and adults, it's still difficult to find specific, targeted information about inattentive ADHD. There are many differences between inattentive ADHD and the hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD, and much of the generic information about "ADHD" isn't particularly helpful for those with the inattentive form of ADHD. Adults with inattentive ADHD are neither impulsive or hyperactive, but often have greater problems with issues such as absent mindedness, sluggish thinking and lack of confidence. Lifting the Fog isn't just another book on ADHD, it provides specific information about how inattentive ADHD affects adults and how it differs from other forms of ADHD. This concise booklet also includes useful information on the different treatment options available and provides a range of practical tips for helping manage the negative effects of inattentive ADHD (approximately 11, 900 words).
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2012
70 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 25, 2018
I found this book super interesting.
Highlights:
Yellow highlight | Location: 141
Present research suggests both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive ADDers suffer from chemical under-arousal in the frontal lobes of the brain. The main stimulating neurotransmitters (or brain chemicals) in the frontal parts of the brain are dopamine and epinephrine. Dopamine is involved in regulating mood, motivation and concentration, while epinephrine is important in regulating alertness and selective and sustained attention. Present research suggests that inattentive ADDers have greater problems with regulating epinephrine levels, while hyperactive and impulsive ADDers have greater problems with dopamine regulation.
Yellow highlight | Location: 242
Attention Deficit Disorder – Practical coping methods, ADD researcher Barbara Fisher argues that inattentive ADDers tend to be acutely aware of their own limitations and often put off doing things they are quite capable of doing.
Yellow highlight | Location: 284
a subtle shortage of neurotransmitters such as dopamine can cause apathy and irritability. Unfortunately, anti-depressants such as Prozac don’t tend to be of much help in treating mild depression and the best course of treatment is to target the core ADHD symptoms using ADHD medications or treatment strategies. Generally most inattentive ADDers find that when they are feeling more alert and focused, their mood also improves.
Yellow highlight | Location: 318
In his book Calm Energy – How people regulate mood with food and exercise Doctor Robert Thayer recommends doing light to moderate exercise to increase energy levels and using intense exercise to relieve stress and tension. For example, if you are feeling sluggish but want to get some paper work done, then a ten minute walk should make you feel a bit more alert and focused. Conversely, if you are feeling very tense after a stressful day at the office, then an intense exercise session will help you to wind down and relax.
Yellow highlight | Location: 338
Foods which are high in tyrosine or phenylalanine include ripe bananas, nuts, pumpkin seeds, cheese, fish, chicken, eggs and dark chocolate.
Yellow highlight | Location: 555
Psychologist David Berceli has developed a specific exercise for shaking off built up muscle tension which involves lying on the ground with the feet together and the legs spread out in a frog-like position. When the legs are held in this position for a few minutes your
Yellow highlight | Location: 557
legs will begin to shake of their own accord and if you have a high degree of muscle tension then the shaking will quickly spread to other parts of the body. Videos of how to do this stress relieving activity can be found on You Tube. Berceli has also a developed a series of warm up stretches to get the most of the exercise and these are described and illustrated in his book The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process: Transcend Your Toughest Times.
Yellow highlight | Location: 618
Many people with ADHD get side tracked in therapy sessions and often forget to bring up important points they want to talk about. Therefore it’s a got idea to write down the key issues you wish to talk about and bring your list along to your session. That way you’re less likely to get distracted or waste a lot of time talking about minor issues.
Yellow highlight | Location: 670
For many, one of the most liberating things about finding out about inattention ADHD is discovering that people with this form of ADHD often underestimate themselves and put off things that they are capable of doing.
Yellow highlight | Location: 680
Daniel G. Amen, Healing ADD – The breakthrough program that allows you to see and heal the 7 types of ADD Berkley Trade, 2013. Only one chapter of the book deals specifically with inattentive ADD, but the author does explain how ADD can interact with other disorders such as anxiety, depression and OCD and lists specific treatments for each of the different forms of ADD he identifies. Some of Amen’s methods are quite controversial (such as his use of brain scans for ADHD diagnosis and his recommendations for using amino acid supplements) but most of his advice makes scientific sense.
Yellow highlight | Location: 699
Edward Hallowell & John Ratey, Delivered from Distraction Ballentine Books, New York, 2005. This is an entertaining, well written, general guide to ADHD with some useful information on inattentive ADHD. I personally prefer it to their earlier (but admittedly very popular) book Driven to Distraction, which wasn’t very well organised.
Yellow highlight | Location: 765
The Mind Amend website has a number of binaural beat recordings that have been produced for people with ADD and ADHD. These recordings can also be accessed for free on You Tube.
Yellow highlight | Location: 770
Introduction to TRE Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises – Shake It Off Slideshow Presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTPFb...
Highlights:
Yellow highlight | Location: 141
Present research suggests both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive ADDers suffer from chemical under-arousal in the frontal lobes of the brain. The main stimulating neurotransmitters (or brain chemicals) in the frontal parts of the brain are dopamine and epinephrine. Dopamine is involved in regulating mood, motivation and concentration, while epinephrine is important in regulating alertness and selective and sustained attention. Present research suggests that inattentive ADDers have greater problems with regulating epinephrine levels, while hyperactive and impulsive ADDers have greater problems with dopamine regulation.
Yellow highlight | Location: 242
Attention Deficit Disorder – Practical coping methods, ADD researcher Barbara Fisher argues that inattentive ADDers tend to be acutely aware of their own limitations and often put off doing things they are quite capable of doing.
Yellow highlight | Location: 284
a subtle shortage of neurotransmitters such as dopamine can cause apathy and irritability. Unfortunately, anti-depressants such as Prozac don’t tend to be of much help in treating mild depression and the best course of treatment is to target the core ADHD symptoms using ADHD medications or treatment strategies. Generally most inattentive ADDers find that when they are feeling more alert and focused, their mood also improves.
Yellow highlight | Location: 318
In his book Calm Energy – How people regulate mood with food and exercise Doctor Robert Thayer recommends doing light to moderate exercise to increase energy levels and using intense exercise to relieve stress and tension. For example, if you are feeling sluggish but want to get some paper work done, then a ten minute walk should make you feel a bit more alert and focused. Conversely, if you are feeling very tense after a stressful day at the office, then an intense exercise session will help you to wind down and relax.
Yellow highlight | Location: 338
Foods which are high in tyrosine or phenylalanine include ripe bananas, nuts, pumpkin seeds, cheese, fish, chicken, eggs and dark chocolate.
Yellow highlight | Location: 555
Psychologist David Berceli has developed a specific exercise for shaking off built up muscle tension which involves lying on the ground with the feet together and the legs spread out in a frog-like position. When the legs are held in this position for a few minutes your
Yellow highlight | Location: 557
legs will begin to shake of their own accord and if you have a high degree of muscle tension then the shaking will quickly spread to other parts of the body. Videos of how to do this stress relieving activity can be found on You Tube. Berceli has also a developed a series of warm up stretches to get the most of the exercise and these are described and illustrated in his book The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process: Transcend Your Toughest Times.
Yellow highlight | Location: 618
Many people with ADHD get side tracked in therapy sessions and often forget to bring up important points they want to talk about. Therefore it’s a got idea to write down the key issues you wish to talk about and bring your list along to your session. That way you’re less likely to get distracted or waste a lot of time talking about minor issues.
Yellow highlight | Location: 670
For many, one of the most liberating things about finding out about inattention ADHD is discovering that people with this form of ADHD often underestimate themselves and put off things that they are capable of doing.
Yellow highlight | Location: 680
Daniel G. Amen, Healing ADD – The breakthrough program that allows you to see and heal the 7 types of ADD Berkley Trade, 2013. Only one chapter of the book deals specifically with inattentive ADD, but the author does explain how ADD can interact with other disorders such as anxiety, depression and OCD and lists specific treatments for each of the different forms of ADD he identifies. Some of Amen’s methods are quite controversial (such as his use of brain scans for ADHD diagnosis and his recommendations for using amino acid supplements) but most of his advice makes scientific sense.
Yellow highlight | Location: 699
Edward Hallowell & John Ratey, Delivered from Distraction Ballentine Books, New York, 2005. This is an entertaining, well written, general guide to ADHD with some useful information on inattentive ADHD. I personally prefer it to their earlier (but admittedly very popular) book Driven to Distraction, which wasn’t very well organised.
Yellow highlight | Location: 765
The Mind Amend website has a number of binaural beat recordings that have been produced for people with ADD and ADHD. These recordings can also be accessed for free on You Tube.
Yellow highlight | Location: 770
Introduction to TRE Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises – Shake It Off Slideshow Presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTPFb...
February 14, 2015
I don't write reviews for anything normally, but this one deserves a mention. To have a book finally written about inattentive only ADHD was just fantastic. Too many ADHD books are for the hyperactive side, and then aimed at kids. I learnt things about me that I always thought were just special quirks but it turns out they are from my ADHD type. This isn't a bad thing, it was just like a weight lifted when you find out. Especially if you struggle with that something. The good thing is Michael gives an explanation and a way to help understand and find a way to live with it, not so much fix it but manage it, and that's really helpful. His writing style is easy to understand and for the author to be a sufferer of Inattentive Type well it helps so much more than someone who just studies it. I have taken on board all of the suggestions he gives to help manage my ADHD without any prescriptions and so far they have been successful and helpful. I will be reading this book again. I only wish I could get it in hard copy for my family to read.
November 26, 2014
I struggled for years with disorganization and inattentiveness. I assumed I was just lazy or disorganized and there was nothing I could do about it.
Then I started working as a special educator and came to realize I have a disability myself. It's been hard to admit to myself, but this short ebook has given me a lot of insight into my own issues and what I can do about them. It's not comprehensive by any means, but I was able To finish it in under an hour and got some useful ideas I was able to implement immediately. Too soon to tell if they'll be helpful or not, but I definitely feel like it was a worthwhile use of my time, even if I only took away more information about my condition from it.
Then I started working as a special educator and came to realize I have a disability myself. It's been hard to admit to myself, but this short ebook has given me a lot of insight into my own issues and what I can do about them. It's not comprehensive by any means, but I was able To finish it in under an hour and got some useful ideas I was able to implement immediately. Too soon to tell if they'll be helpful or not, but I definitely feel like it was a worthwhile use of my time, even if I only took away more information about my condition from it.
September 20, 2017
Just Scratches the Surface
This book begins to address the differences between classic and inattentive ADHD. I applaud the effort as the two are very different. More books are needed on the topic of inattentive ADHD.
This book begins to address the differences between classic and inattentive ADHD. I applaud the effort as the two are very different. More books are needed on the topic of inattentive ADHD.
February 27, 2017
Finally! Very clear and concise - a very refreshing, straightforward guide to ADHD - inattentive. Appreciated is the advice on dealing with it, and the techniques one can use to help have success in day to day dealings with the world around them. Passing this on to all friends, family touched by those with ADHD-inattentive so they may have a better understanding of individuals with this condition.
April 27, 2025
3.5⭐️ Overall I thought this was good. I have combo adhd so not everything applied to me, but it was nice hearing about inattentive adhd as so much literature out there only focuses on hyperactive adhd. I highlighted quite a bit that I resonated with. However, I think some of the advice is a bit shit to be honest. I would take it all with a grain of salt, but if you find even one or two tips useful I’d say it’s worth it.
May 26, 2019
Exactly what I needed
This is a quick, user-friendly orientation to some of the specific challenges an individual with ADD-Inattentive type faces. Short sections helped me stay focused enough to finish in almost one sitting, which was a big help for me.
This book makes for a nice jumping off/in point for exploring life with ADHD.
This is a quick, user-friendly orientation to some of the specific challenges an individual with ADD-Inattentive type faces. Short sections helped me stay focused enough to finish in almost one sitting, which was a big help for me.
This book makes for a nice jumping off/in point for exploring life with ADHD.
June 9, 2020
A good quick reference guide to ADHD
I love this quick refreshing reminder and learning more about adult with ADHD. I love it as I am dyslexia with ADD.
I definitely will be re reading this book again soon.
Thanks Sean
I love this quick refreshing reminder and learning more about adult with ADHD. I love it as I am dyslexia with ADD.
I definitely will be re reading this book again soon.
Thanks Sean
May 6, 2015
Well, I was very happy to find something that focuses specifically on inattentive type, because there is not very much information about that.
October 23, 2015
I didn't know about inattentive ADD
The book has helped me understand there are differences in ADD. Helped me to understand myself. Why I have anxiety.
The book has helped me understand there are differences in ADD. Helped me to understand myself. Why I have anxiety.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews