Obsessing and ruminating are often part of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
If you have ADHD, you're more likely to fixate on something enjoyable or rewarding. This happens because ADHD changes how your brain perceives reward and gratification.
The ADHD brain is prone to hyperfocus and fixations. It is also lousy at perspective taking and seeing things from other perspectives. When these two tendencies collide, parents need to set healthy limits — learn how here.
While most people associate ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity, it can also manifest in more subtle ways, such as through intrusive thoughts and overthinking. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and repetitive thoughts that can be distressing or disturbing.
Clinical experience has shown that patients with ADHD may develop highly perfectionistic standards and rules in reaction to their executive functioning deficits6. The harsh and negative messaging that they received over the years has made them obsess about doing things “the right way.”
Set Time Limits and Good Start Times. If you find yourself getting lost in a hyperfixation, it can be helpful to set time limits for yourself. That way, you can enjoy your hobby without letting it take over your life. It can also be helpful to start your day with a healthy activity.
Autism is very distinct from ADHD, but the core symptoms of ADHD-Combined type, i.e., attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, would appear to also be features of autism. ASD and ADHD are neurobiological disorders characterized by similar underlying neuropsychological “deficits”.
The Social Immaturity factor was composed of items that are not what one might typically expect to be prototypical of the ADHD child: clingy, preferring younger children, clumsy, and acting young, which may overlap with the social deficits of PDD.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
A child who shows a pattern of hyperactive and impulsive symptoms may often: Fidget with or tap his or her hands or feet, or squirm in the seat. Have difficulty staying seated in the classroom or in other situations. Be on the go, in constant motion.
Kids with ADHD often love adventure, and new experiences are more likely to hold their interest. Plan a treasure hunt around the house or go on a nature hike and see who can find the most interesting things. Be sure to bring along a camera so that you can document your child's findings.
Many people with ADHD can also have difficulty identifying and regulating their emotions. If you have a problem identifying you emotions, you will not be able to recognize and identify the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your own feelings and the feelings of others.
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.
The researchers point out that children with ADHD may find it difficult to concentrate for long periods and are challenged by impulsivity and excess energy. Screens may be better able to capture and keep their attention, and screens may help calm and occupy children.
Hyper-fixation and hyper0focus (particularly as they center around our passions and special interests, i.e., interest-based nervous system) are common among both ADHDers and Autistic people. Hyperfocus, as seen in the context of ADHD, can look a lot like hyper-fixation.
With adult ADHD, a person may feel intense emotions and there can be times when we get distracted by our own thoughts that spoil the moment of intimacy or seriousness. This behavior toward our loved ones might cause a misunderstanding, or they might feel we are not taking them seriously.
ADHD brains do not adapt as easily; they have their own rules of engagement. They are motivated by their search for optimal stimulation, rather than by what others label as important. Their degree of arousal differs based on whether the request for attention comes from an internal desire or an external demand.
Similar to the hyperactive symptoms, impulsive symptoms are typically seen by the time a child is four years old and increase during the next three to four years to peak in severity when the child is seven to eight years of age.
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
The mind of a person with ADHD is full of the minutiae of life (“Where are my keys?” “Where did I park the car?”), so there is little room left for new thoughts and memories. Something has to be discarded or forgotten to make room for new information. Often the information individuals with ADHD need is in their memory…
The symptoms include an inability to focus, being easily distracted, hyperactivity, poor organization skills, and impulsiveness. Not everyone who has ADHD has all these symptoms. They vary from person to person and tend to change with age.