Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness are all symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hyperfocus, on the other hand, is a less prevalent sign. This is a condition in which a person is fixated on something that piques his or her curiosity.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients, on the other hand, appear to be significantly more prone to Hyperfocus and Hyperfixation. Hyperfocus is defined by medical specialists as an inability to move one’s attention away from events or activities that genuinely interest them.
ADHD is the most frequent neurodevelopmental disorder in children, according to Trusted Source. However, until the kid enters school age, the signs are typically difficult to detect.
What is ADHD Hyperfocus?
Hyperfocus is a term that describes a long-term preoccupation with a single topic or activity. Hyperfocus causes people to become so absorbed in what they’re doing that they lose track of what’s going on around them. When concentrating hard on topics that interest them, children and adults with ADHD frequently demonstrate hyperfocus.
example:
- You enjoy playing video games.
- Working on a pastime that consumes all of my time.
- Social media has taken over my evenings and days.
- Binge-watch one of your favorite shows.
- Knitting. Crafts.
Hyperfocus is a symptom of ADHD that many people consider to be diametrically opposed to the other symptoms. It is characterized by extremely lengthy periods of intensely concentrated concentration on anything that piques a person’s interest.
A person in a condition of hyperfocus may become completely absorbed in their job, hobbies, or other interests.
The Difference Between Hyperfixation and Addiction
In some ways, it’s a question of degree.
Addiction is a never-ending desire. Friends who have overcome a chemical addiction understand that the temptation to relapse, to seek solace and comfort in drugs or alcohol, will always be present. It is constantly present.
Hyperfocus is unique. It’s a lot of pressure. Then it’s finished. The magic is shattered when I’m locked onto something.
Online therapy can help with ADHD support
How Does ADHD Affect Children and Adults with Hyperfocus?
Playing a video game or watching TV may be the target of hyperfocus for youngsters. Adults may get obsessed with social media or shopping. Whatever catches one’s attention, the end consequence is the same: unless something or someone interferes, hours pass and crucial duties and relationships are neglected.
What does ADHD Hyperfocus feel like?
In some persons with ADHD, hyperfocus refers to a state of deep and intense attention. ADHD is an issue with controlling one’s attention span to preferred tasks, not necessarily a lack of attention. As a result, although certain things are difficult to concentrate on, others are absolutely absorbing.
Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., a psychologist in Silver Spring, Maryland, and author of ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life (#CommissionsEarned), believes that those who assume ADHD implies having a short attention span are misinformed. “A better way to look at it is that persons with ADHD have an attention system that is out of whack.”
What Causes the ADHD Brain to Hyperfocus?
Hyperfocus, like distractibility, is considered to be caused by unusually low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is particularly active in the frontal lobes of the brain. Because of the lack of dopamine, it’s difficult to “change gears” and take on tedious but vital chores.
“Children and adults with ADHD have trouble transferring their attention from one activity to another,” says Russell Barkley, Ph.D., an ADHD expert. “If they’re doing something they love or find psychologically satisfying, they’ll keep doing it long after others would have moved on to something else.” People with ADHD are drawn to activities that provide immediate feedback.”
Larry Silver, M.D. “It’s a way of dealing with distraction,” Silver says. “College kids with ADHD tell me they intentionally go into a state of intense focus to get work done. Younger kids do the same thing unconsciously when they’re doing something pleasurable, like watching a movie or playing a computer game. Often they aren’t even aware that they’re focusing so intensely.”
Is ADHD Hyperfocus Bad?
Hyperfocus isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. In fact, it may be advantageous. Some persons with ADD or ADHD, for example, can focus their attention on something beneficial, such as schoolwork or a job. Others allow themselves to become hyper-focused on something as a reward for finishing a tedious but necessary chore.
However, unrestricted focused attention is frequently a disadvantage. It may lead to academic failure, reduced productivity at work, and strained relationships with friends and family if left unchecked.
Is ADHD a Neurotype?
What are the distinctions between a neurotypical and an ADHD brain? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental illness that causes impulsivity and hyperactivity as well as changes in the brain linked to attention, behavior, and activity levels.
Online therapy can help with ADHD support
Is it Possible to Train Hyperfocus in Children?
If a kid with ADHD has a tendency to become lost in a favorite pastime, parents or teachers should first limit the amount of time the child is permitted to spend on it.
“Even if a child is on ADHD medication, playing Nintendo will always be more attractive than studying for a math test, So the child should be allowed to play it only in doses — not at the expense of an entire day.”
says Biederman
Then you must devise a technique to assist your children with refocusing their attention. When it’s time to wrap up the activity, Brady suggests being a little flexible and, if possible, waiting for a natural break, such as the end of a TV show.
If you have a child who hyperfocuses on a favorite activity, you’ll need to counter this tendency by being extra-vigilant about limiting the time spent on the activity and about being careful to stick to his schedule,”
Carol Brady, Ph.D.
Then you must devise a technique to assist your children with refocusing their attention. When it’s time to wrap up the activity, Brady suggests being a little flexible and, if possible, waiting for a natural break, such as the end of a TV show.
Giving the youngster a time restriction and expecting her to quit isn’t adequate.
To make this process go more smoothly, Nadeau suggests taking the time to teach your child about how the brain works. “Your child has to understand why it’s difficult for her to give up something she enjoys,” she advises. “The kid must also understand that, as a result, instructors and parents may be required to interfere from time to time to halt an activity.”
Online therapy can help with ADHD support
ADHD symptoms
ADHD symptoms typically begin in childhood and can last throughout a person’s adolescent and adult years. Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common symptoms.
They usually show up as:
- feeling fidgety or restless
- Interrupting people and chatting a lot.
- prone to becoming easily distracted
- I’m having trouble concentrating.
- Without thinking, you may say or do things.
- Details are overlooked or missed, and thoughtless errors are made.
- have difficulty focusing attention when listening, conversing, or reading
- When talked to, I find it difficult to pay attention.
- are incapable of following directions
- It’s easy to lose concentration or become diverted.
- Tasks and activities are difficult to organize.
How Can I Train My ADHD Hyperfocus?
Managing periods of hyperfocus in people with ADHD necessitates the use of external signals to shift their attention. “You can’t just get up and talk yourself out of this kind of intense attention,” adds Barkley.
When Nadeau, who has ADHD, begins a writing assignment, she typically feels hyperfocus. As a result, she sets a timer to remind herself of appointments and phone calls she needs to make. Computer messages that appear on the screen at predetermined intervals might also be beneficial. Enlisting the assistance of a spouse or coworker is also a good idea. “I worked with one individual who became so engrossed in his job that he trained a colleague to come in and drag him out of his office for meetings,” Nadeau adds.
Tips to manage hyperfocus
The following suggestions may help youngsters cope with hyperfocus:
- Create a timetable for things that cause you to become hyperfocused. Limiting the amount of time they spend watching television or playing video games is one way to do this.
- Make sure the youngster understands that hyperfocus is a sign of their illness. This may assist them in realizing that they need to take action.
- Use certain time points as a signal that the youngster has to redirect their attention, such as the end of a movie. This will keep them from becoming too absorbed in the game.
- Encourage them to participate in activities that will help them to feel less alone and more sociable.
Adults may benefit from the following suggestions:
- Use timers and reminders to help you do all of your important jobs, activities, and chores.
- Set goals for yourself and work toward them one by one. This keeps you from focusing on one thing for too long.
- If you see that hyperfocus is starting to set in, don’t be hesitant to ask individuals in the area to turn off televisions or other distractions.
- Also, request that others phone or email you at certain times. This can help break up times of intense concentration.
Medications for the overall disease may also assist to alleviate hyperfocus and other symptoms.
Online therapy can help with ADHD support
Treatment options for ADHD
People with ADHD can use a range of therapy choices to control their symptoms.
Trying behavior therapy, adopting healthy lifestyle choices, and using medicines are just a few of them. Many people choose a mix of the three options.
Children aged 6 and above should attempt a mix of behavioral treatment and medication, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Before seeking a pharmaceutical suggestion from a doctor, the recommendations indicate that children under the age of 6 attempt behavior therapy.
A kid will work with a therapist to develop new behaviors to replace troublesome ones in behavior therapy. They may also assist the youngster in learning to communicate their emotions in a variety of ways.
Adults can learn to control their condition by exercising frequently, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep as part of a complete treatment plan (which may include medicines and counseling).
Conclusion
It may be challenging for people with ADHD to focus attention or control impulsive actions. Some persons with ADHD, on the other hand, may experience hyperfocus.
A person suffering from hyperfocus may find it difficult to move their focus away from items that fascinate them. It primarily affects adults with ADHD, while it can also impact children and teens with the disorder.
People with ADHD typically use a mix of medication and behavior therapy to control their symptoms.
