ADHD Fixation: The Dark Side of Hyperfocus

A lot is made of ADHD’s super power of hyperfocus. I’ve written about it onseveraloccasions over the years as well. I’ve even created aToDo List technique to simulate it!Should we really label hyperfocus as a superpower, though? I have always been painfully aware ofthe downsides to hyperfocus. I’ll even avoid undertaking certain tasks because I know that I’ll slip into hyperfocus and loose track of time and the events around me. It’s not always a desirable state of mind to be in.Normally,adults with adhd might as well be hamsters on a wheel, furiously running, but not getting anywhere. Suddenly, hyperfocus grants us clarity of vision and purpose, opening the road in front of us into a straight line towards success. When your days are spent fighting against your own brain to get something done, hyperfocus is a big deal.So, what’s so bad about hyperfocus?Hyperfocus without limits is a form of tunnel vision. I like to say that character flaws are talents gone awry. If hyperfocus is a talent, then its flipside is fixation. This ADHD fixation occurs when hyperfocus has no endgame. There is only the project and the drive to complete the project. Everything else is ignored while we relentlessly pursue our goal.“But Douglas!” I hear you say.“Isn’t focusing on completing the project an endgame?”It seems that way, doesn’t it? Hyperfocus is wonderful when the project moves smoothly from start to finish without...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Goodreads Source Type: blogs