Hyperfixation and ADHD - TotallyADD (2023)

FAQs

Do people with ADHD always have a Hyperfixation? ›

Hyperfixation is not unique to individuals with ADHD. But almost every child and adult with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) knows what it feels like to become so engrossed in something — a book, a home project, a video game — that they block out the world around them for hours at a time.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for ADHD and can help to reduce the intensity of hyperfixations. CBT helps patients to identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. In addition, CBT teaches patients how to manage their time, set goals, and stay organized.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting) and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought).

What Causes the ADHD Brain to Hyperfocus? Like distractibility, hyperfocus is thought to result from abnormally low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is particularly active in the brain's frontal lobes. This dopamine deficiency makes it hard to “shift gears” to take up boring-but-necessary tasks.

Add to that people who hyperfixate but don't have one of the neurodiverse diagnoses, and the list of possible underlying causes gets very long. But that's OK. It just takes careful detective work from a skilled practitioner to figure out what's really going on.

The timeline for hyperfixation can also vary. Some people will hyperfixate on one thing for months at a time, while other hyperfixation episodes may last just a few days. You might also pick up an interest really quickly and then drop it just as suddenly after some time.

Train Your Hyperfocus

You can't just switch your trait on and off. But you can learn what causes you to zero in on certain things. Case in point: You're likely to lose yourself only in activities that you find interesting. In other words, you can set the stage -- or not -- for going into hyperfocus mode.

People living with ADHD may have a variety of skills and abilities beyond those of their neurotypical counterparts. These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy.

What triggers ADHD meltdowns? ›

While many children have tantrums at some point, it is especially common for children with ADHD to feel irritable. They may have trouble concentrating at school, managing their emotions, or controlling impulses, all of which can cause anger and frustration. This may contribute to tantrums.

Comparing ADHD and Trauma. Trauma can make children feel agitated, troubled, nervous, and on high alert — symptoms that can be mistaken for ADHD. Inattention in children with trauma may also make them disassociate, which can look like a lack of focus — another hallmark symptom of ADHD.

Obsessing and ruminating are often part of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No matter how hard you try to ignore them, those negative thoughts just keep coming back, replaying themselves in an infinite loop.

Hyperfocus is a state of intense concentration where you lose track of time, you really enjoy what you're doing and you seem to be better at that than whatever it is you're doing. Now if you're playing a video game, you're really good at playing that video game.

Hyperfixation, also referred to as hyperfocus, is commonly connected with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, and depression.

Kids with ADHD often experience hyperfocus on things that really interest them, even when they have a hard time paying attention to things that don't interest them. For example, a child might spend hours reading a book they love but struggle to focus on homework.

Over-Focused ADD is the third most common type of ADD. Those with Type 3 ADD can have difficulty shifting their attention. They become hyper-focused on one thing while tuning out everything else. People with Over-Focused ADD tend to get “stuck” in negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Anyone can experience sensory overload. Sensory overload is also a common symptom of certain health conditions. Scientific research and firsthand accounts tell us that autistic people experience sensory information differently.

You absolutely are neurodivergent if you have been diagnosed with a developmental or learning disorder, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome. You may decide to consider yourself neurodivergent if you have no diagnosis but think, behave, or interact in ways that are outside the norm.

What does stimming mean? ›

Stimming – or self-stimulatory behaviour – is repetitive or unusual body movement or noises. Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing.

It can be exceptionally debilitating, but after my major hyperfixation events, that can actually be centered around a single factor, I've learned to deal.

Differences in emotions in people with ADHD can lead to 'shutdowns', where someone is so overwhelmed with emotions that they space out, may find it hard to speak or move and may struggle to articulate what they are feeling until they can process their emotions.

Trouble with oversharing happens for different reasons. People may have trouble with executive function skills like impulse control. Or they may have trouble with social skills and low self-esteem. Kids might overshare to get attention or to look cool.

ADHD choice paralysis.

Also known as analysis paralysis, this is a sense of overwhelm related to too many choices or the need to make a decision.

Stimulant medication can reduce the tendency of an individual with ADHD to hyperfocus, but it won't eliminate the problem. “Stimulants increase the reward value of boring tasks so that people find them a bit more interesting and are able to stay with them longer,” says Dr. Russell Barkley.

The Gift of ADHD: They say that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have almost a sixth sense about people. My sharp sense of intuition is the one personal attribute that I've always been proud of. Since I was little I've been able to smell a two-faced person from a mile away.

Each other used a cut-off of 80 or above or did not take IQ into account. For instance, among the 18 studies under scrutiny that did not explicitly state an IQ cut-off point the mean range of IQ among individuals with ADHD reported in the studies is from 102 to 110.

Shankman: Simply put, ADHD is the brain's inability to produce as much dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline as “regular” people's brains produce. Because of that, our brains have become “faster.” When managed right, that becomes a superpower. Have you found that you tend to think faster than most people? Yes.

The five gifts of ADHD include creativity, emotional sensitivity, exuberance, interpersonal empathy and being nature smart (The Gift of Adult ADD, 2008).

How do you calm ADHD rage? ›

Poor impulse control : ADHD affects executive function, which is the brain's ability to regulate emotions, plan activities, and control impulses. People with ADHD may have more trouble calming themselves when they feel angry, or may engage in more impulsive expressions of anger.

Becoming easily overwhelmed and distracted can sometimes be hallmark symptoms of ADHD. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, people with ADHD might experience symptoms like: restlessness. difficulty focusing.

Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans.

You might start feeling numb or emotionally unavailable. You might also begin to feel a sense of unreality, as if the world around you or even you aren't real. Often, you'll find yourself “checking out” involuntarily or “spacing out” in the middle of doing something.

Maladaptive daydreaming is often associated with ADHD, with many people believing that it is a symptom of the condition, but this isn't entirely accurate. People with ADHD, specifically inattentive or combined ADHD, are more likely to daydream as a result of their mind wondering more, so to speak.

ADHD gives students lots of fantasies. These can be a distraction, but can also give students the power to create a new world. Participants will explore how to re-direct fantasies of escape toward evolution. The distinct functions of studying, thinking and imagination in the classroom will be explored.

Do neurotypical people hyperfocus? ›

Some neurotypical people may occasionally experience a hyperfocus-like state. However, it occurs more often in people with conditions that reflect attention issues, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Indeed, ADHD brains struggle to sustain motivation when rewards are mild or are linked to long-term gratification. As a result, ADHD brains search for stimulation that can increase dopamine more quickly and intensely. Ultimately, the pursuit of pleasurable rewards may become a potent form of self-medication.

Hyperfixation is not unique to individuals with ADHD. But almost every child and adult with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) knows what it feels like to become so engrossed in something — a book, a home project, a video game — that they block out the world around them for hours at a time.

"Hyperfixation" describes an intense and longer-term fixation or preoccupation with a topic or interest, often to the point where it interferes with other aspects of life. Compared to hyperfocus, hyperfixation is more likely to occur in people with autism or ADHD.

For example, a child might spend hours reading a book they love but struggle to focus on homework. Is hyperfocus a symptom of ADHD? Hyperfocus is not a symptom of ADHD. But kids with ADHD often experience hyperfocus, which means paying intense attention to things that interest them.

Obsessing and ruminating are often part of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No matter how hard you try to ignore them, those negative thoughts just keep coming back, replaying themselves in an infinite loop.

People with ADHD aren't the only ones who have hyperfocus. Just about anyone can get lost in something that interests them. A psychologist in the early 1990s came up with a concept called flow. It's when you become fully engaged in a challenging activity you enjoy.

People most commonly hyperfocus on people, places, food, TV shows, hobbies, or even their own thoughts. Sometimes compared to being “in the zone” or “in a flow state,” hyperfixation can lead your teen to become so engrossed in an activity that it limits their ability to perceive life outside of what they're doing.

People living with ADHD may have a variety of skills and abilities beyond those of their neurotypical counterparts. These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy.

No, and it often makes symptoms of anxiety worse. Adderall is not an anti-anxiety medication but rather a stimulant that boosts a person's attention span, motivation and energy.

Does Adderall help with obsessive thoughts? ›

Adderall and other stimulant medications are not a first-line treatment for OCD. In some anecdotal cases, they may worsen OCD symptoms. There is also a higher risk of dependency. However, doctors commonly prescribe them for people who have both OCD and ADHD.

Anxiety, depression, learning disorders, physical health, and many other conditions can cause symptoms that look like ADHD but aren't.

Hyperfocus, broadly and anecdotally speaking, is a phenomenon that reflects one's complete absorption in a task, to a point where a person appears to completely ignore or 'tune out' everything else. It is generally reported to occur when a person is engaged in an activity that is particularly fun or interesting.

ADHD brains overflow with creativity, passion, and excitement — especially for new experiences. They seek out stimulation and then hyperfocus on the source when they find it. One end result: For adults with ADHD, hobbies often accelerate from interests into obsessions in T-minus one week.