Once you realize you're in hyperfocus, move around. A change in position can help you get out of it. Set goals for a project, and take a break when you reach one.
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.
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.
Common examples of hyperfixation include activities like video games, tinkering with a craft project, or watching TV. Periods of high motivation can capture the interest of some people for long periods of time, sometimes longer than they might otherwise have intended.
These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy. Many people view these benefits as “superpowers” because those with ADHD can hone them to their advantage. People with ADHD have a unique perspective that others may find interesting and valuable.
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.
An ASD diagnosis is associated with elevated ADHD traits and symptoms, as well as strengths in attention. In the ASD literature, attentional strengths have been described as maladaptive (e.g., hyperfocus), in contrast with positive portrayals in the typically developing population (e.g., flow).
An individual with OCD may avoid or become inattentive to stimuli that cause stress and anxiety, whereas a person with ADHD will hyperfocus on a stimulating task and can even lose track of time. Typical OCD manifestations such as cleaning and organizing items can actually be a coping mechanism for those with ADHD.
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.
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.
People with Over-Focused ADD get more anxious and worried on a stimulant medication. I use supplements first—L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol. If supplements don't help with symptoms, I prescribe Effexor, Pristique, or Cymbalta. I avoid a higher-protein diet with this type, which can make patients mean.
While these two phenomena may be similar in some ways, hyperfixation is fueled by an intense passion or interest in the activity. In contrast, hyperfocus is task-driven and often accompanied by clear goals and a strong sense of direction.
Hypofocus means limited or low concentration and is the opposite of hyperfocus. The prefix 'hypo' means 'under' or 'deficient'. You can remember this by thinking that hypofocus means to 'under-focus'.
The Mini ADHD Coach Medical Advisor says: “Zoning out is a common core symptom of Inattentive-type ADHD when your brain involuntarily shifts focus from the task at hand. The reason this occurs is due to the differences in connectivity between brain networks that conduct where you should (or want to) focus.
Self-stimulatory behavior, often called “stimming,” is when a child or adult repeats specific movements or sounds as a way to self-soothe or remain engaged in a situation, often referred to as “fidget to focus.” Many people assume that only individuals with autism engage in self-stimulatory behaviors.
“Info dumping,” or talking about an interest or passion, usually in detail and at length, is frequent in both ADHD and autism. In ADHD, the impulsivity plus passion equals a “spilling” kind of feeling, and the motor behind it can feel as if it's whirring.
The five gifts of ADHD include creativity, emotional sensitivity, exuberance, interpersonal empathy, and being nature-smart (The Gift of Adult ADD, 2008).
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do.
Untreated ADHD in adults can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This is because ADHD symptoms can lead to focus, concentration, and impulsivity problems. When these problems are not managed effectively, they can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and low self-esteem.
Here are some common characteristics of a state of hyperfixation: Lose track of time. The person is so focused on one thing that they completely lose track of time. When they emerge from their state of hyperfixation, they have no idea of whether they were 'gone' for an hour or 12 hours.
ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
In essence, people with ADHD can experience more obsessive-compulsive behavior due to their brain's constant struggle with controlling themselves and their actions. Some ADHD group members have said that they often have thoughts of self-harm, sexual acts, or violence running through their minds.