The Good, the Bad, and the Hyperfocus

What is Hyperfocus?

Have you ever heard of the term hyperfocus? You may have heard a friend or co-worker talking about it, or you may have read about it online. Hyperfocus is something that persons with ADHD may experience many times in their lives. At its core, hyperfocus is when someone is very intently focused on one activity for a long period of time. Typically, with ADHD, this means that they go into a sort of trance-like or "zoned out" state, forgetting about all their other tasks and responsibilities for the day. They may lose track of time and not realize that they've spent hours working on something. It often just does not register in their mind when others try to communicate with them that they are in a state of hyperfocus.

You might be asking yourself, well, if people with ADHD can focus this well, is ADHD really the problem at all? It sounds like they are fine! This is what most people think of when someone explains the term hyperfocus. However, it is important to understand that ADHD is not just one particular symptom, but rather a number of symptoms impacting one another. Psychologist Kathleen Nadeau explains that ADHD is best defined as "a dysregulated attention system" instead of just an issue primarily related with focus.

What Hyperfocus is actually...

Here's the catch: most people with ADHD hyperfocus on the things that they enjoy the most, be it hobbies or activities that are stimulating and interesting to them. Chores, daily tasks, and work tasks are often not a part of hyperfocus, so it means that all of those daily important tasks get put on the backburner while someone is in hyperfocus mode. It usually comes on very spontaneously.

For example, let's say a person with ADHD wakes up feeling super inspired. Instead of doing their morning chores, eating breakfast, and showering, they spend hours creating a beautiful painting. By the time 2pm rolls around, they realize they've spent half their day working on this one project. This can lead to increased levels of anxiety and stress for the individual with ADHD. They may have missed an important meeting, plan, or have many things to do the rest of the day that will now be impacted by their failure to switch to the important tasks for the day.

What Causes Hyperfocus?

During hyperfocus, dopamine, the feel good chemical in the brain, is being released increasingly, and a lot of neurodivergent folks tend to have lower levels of dopamine than the average person. According to ADDitude magazine, "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". This can certainly have an enormous impact on a person's focus and executive functioning skills.

Do You Think Hyperfocus is a Good Thing, or a Bad Thing?

Hyperfocus isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many successful artists, professionals, and other adults with ADHD thrive in their careers and lives utilizing hyperfocus to create and do amazing things. The most important thing to know is that it is possible to manage hyperfocus and use it to your advantage.

For example, many persons with ADHD have what is called an "accountability buddy". This is a person they might check in with throughout the day (a friend or family member) to update them on the progress of their day. This can be especially useful if a person is going through a period of intense hyperfocus for an extended period of time, as it can help keep them on track and receive support from friends and family.

Ways to "Snap out of it" When You Need To...

Sometimes, setting time limits and reminders on your phone can do the trick. It usually takes a little bit of time for someone to "snap out" of hyperfocus mode, since sometimes it almost feels like a trance; everything else is blocked from the mind in this state. It is useful for persons with ADHD to have many different solutions that can grab their attention out of hyperfocus throughout the day so that they may complete daily important tasks. The solution a person chooses will largely depend on their own personal preferences and what they know works for them personally.

Immediate Gratification

Individuals with ADHD are more likely to enjoy tasks that have immediate gratification or "rewards". This is why, for instance, persons with ADHD may be drawn to posting their hobbies and interests on social media or doing something that involves seeing immediate results after completing the project. It is important to know that instant gratification is a strategy that works for some persons with ADHD because it can also be used to help. However, it may not help everyone.

The Correlation Between ADHD and Self-Employment

Knowing how hyperfocus impacts you is the key to understanding how to manage it. Probably one of the most fascinating things about hyperfocus is how it impacts adults with ADHD in the workforce. While most of us would think that persons with ADHD need a highly structured work environment, some research shows that the opposite of that is true for a lot of people.

ADDitude magazine mentions that, "a job that provides public accountability, along with more immediate enjoyable consequences can be ideal for those with ADHD". This is why a lot of people with ADHD decide to go into business for themselves. "35 percent of people with ADHD are self-employed by the time they are in their thirties--a figure that is far higher than the norm!" From my own experience, it kind of feels more satisfying to work for yourself and constantly be improving on your basic work skills on your own. It can be a struggle that can have many negative impacts on a person's life, including financial woes due to unemployment, but it can also become a great personal strength.

Conclusion

Hyperfocus can be a both good and bad, depending on the individual and the circumstances. It is important for those with ADHD to learn how to hone in on their best skills and abilities and try to utilize hyperfocus in a way that will benefit them the most in life. However, many people struggle very much with this particular aspect of ADHD; some will always have a struggle with hyperfocus with little in the way to manage it. It all largely depends on the person and the symptoms of their ADHD that impact them the most on a regular basis.

It is always important for you and those with ADHD to know that there are options and strategies out there, and it never hurts to seek support and help from a professional, friends, or family. Seeking this kind of support and inner strength could be the key to managing the symptoms of hyperfocus. So the next time your ADHD friend starts hyper-focusing, be encouraging and supportive to them. Find out ways that you can help them, and if you have ADHD, know that you are not alone in your experiences!