Hyperfocus: The Untapped Superpower of ADHD?

[Kalstolyn]

We all do it sometimes. We get absorbed in something, and hours pass in the blink of an eye. The old adage "time flies when you're having fun" is somewhat true, but for many people with ADHD, or for myself anyways, it should read "time flies when you're concentrating on something." It doesn't have to be fun necessarily, just absorbing. For me, if I'm "in the groove," nothing will bring me out of it, short of the phone ringing (very rare in my house!) or an extremely urgent signal from my bladder that it's time to take a break. This is really great if I'm in the groove doing something productive and positive, like writing a paper for college (this usually takes place at the last minute and requires staying up all night), doing housework or yardwork, or making a gift for a family member. It's not so great if I get stuck in hyperfocus mode while playing video games, surfing the net, reading novels (I'm VERY prone to reading a book from cover to cover without regard for the need to eat, sleep, do homework, etc.), or tinkering with my computers.

So why, one might ask, don't I just channel my focus into productive things? Well, have you ever watched or read any stories about young superheroes or magicians with emerging powers? Generally, they find their powers are either out of control or they work only sporadically. They are unable to rule their powers when they first start to manifest. Thus it is with the ADDer's ability to hyperfocus. I don't choose to use my "powers" in unproductive and harmful ways. I have no idea when things will just click into place in my mind and I can concentrate on something for hours. I'm really fortunate when it happens (and it frequently does) when I'm writing an exam, but if it doesn't I'm screwed.

If I could find a way to control my superpower, to bend it to my will, I would probably be the most productive and successful person on the planet. The way I imagine it, I would be able to follow through on my intentions, finish projects, meet deadlines, and keep appointments. I would, of course, learn where my limits are and thus the issue of overcommitment would be solved. I would be organized, my house would be fit for company (or at least human habitation -- I'm not too sure about that one right now!), and I would actually have the time and energy to cook proper meals for myself and get some exercise, since I would have a regular sleep schedule and be adequately rested. I would not be so broke, either, partially due to the whole cooking proper meals thing, and partially due to not losing or forgetting stuff and having to re-buy it. People would respect and admire me for having things so "together" and being so "with it" all the time. I might even manage to hold a job for longer than 18 months or *gasp!* maintain a romantic relationship!

Sadly, reality and fantasy are two very separate things, and my reality is pretty much the exact opposite of what I just described. I am (very very slowly) learning strategies and tools to temper the inattention that balances out my unpredictable superpower (apparently it's all or nothing for me!) but so far I haven't scratched the surface of controlling the hyperfocus. As a matter of fact, I feel very upset and sometimes even disoriented if something happens to pull me out before I'm ready. I hate it when anyone touches me or even talks to me while I'm concentrating on something. It makes me jump nearly out of my skin, and if I was doing something important, I usually can't go back to it very easily. I'm guessing the startle response is because I'm focusing on one thing to the exclusion of everything else, and I don't process what is going on around me. I could write a whole other article about that one.

So, I have now completely derailed my train of thought. Hopefully someone at least followed me through that rambling and some of it makes sense. If you have any magical artifact that will allow me to control my powers, by all means, please let me know!!!

And now it is 5am, the sky is growing lighter by the second, the sun will be up in half an hour, and I have to be up at 9. I suppose I ought to go to sleep. *insert sheepish look here*

[blah]

Nice to reed your blog. Maybe mine will interest you too: http://adderworld.ning.com/profiles/blogs/hyperfocus-hyper-without

*inserts sheepish look too* It is almost 4am, 3 hours past my bedtime (I hate bedtime, but damn it does make a difference!)

[Fran Ruh]

Hi - I hyperfocus on many things. I worked in methadone maintenance treatment program for 34 years, and everything became a world of paper. If I was updating charts, and someone came into my office, I would jump and get startled. The person thought it was them, but I always them who ever it was that it was me. My doctor stated that since I also have a severe case of inattentive ADHD, and it is so hard for me to concentrate, anything startles me. Also, when I am upset about something, I hang on to it. Many times when I was walking across the street, I was ruminating about something that had happened, and many people honked their horns, because I was not paying attention.I also hyperfocus on things, which cause me to loose a lot of time and energy. I can never gage on how long something is going to take me. Since our brains work differently, than others, I guess it comes with the territory.

[Jody]

Great post Mel. I can identify so well with the experiences you all are describing here. Super-power is a great way to think of the hyper-focus ability, not only because it's a positive way to look at it, but because the ability itself is so powerful when applied to the right tasks.

Have any of you found an effective method of controlling and directing it to important and productive tasks? For me it's hit or miss. When I hit I hit hard, and it's great, but when I don't the result is a horrible waste of time.

If we could develop a reliable method, some trick, or process to go through each time we needed to get something done, we could all literally be superheroes, and rule the world! Does anyone have any repeatable methods. Can you share examples?

Thanks!

[Gary]

Miss K, I know what you mean about completing a project in one breath. On one occasion I got an idea and started writing it down. When I came up for air I'd written a 70 page essay on philosophy. Internally it felt like perhaps 20 minutes. Externally... let's just say that I didn't bother going to bed.

Like you I've been trying very hard to spend time doing more of the things that I love and I do find that it helps to get me into that zone more often.

Also like you I'm trying to make those things pay the bills :) I really need to get that sound booth finished...

[Miss K]

Ohhhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaaah. My hyperfocus has been the best friend to some of my best ADHD inspirations...I get the awesome idea, then the hyperfocus kicks in...several hours later my homework might be left unfinished but man, I've mapped out an entire special event, located all the vendors I need for it, networked with ten different local agencies whose cooperation will be required...and then some. Voila, amazing community project!

If only it would hit more often when I'm at the currently necessary "day job". But when it does, I can totally relate to Joshua's post--I'm suddenly three people.

Everyone has to find the key to tapping their own hyperfocus, but for me, the key is to try to spend more of my time doing the things that I love and I'm working hard to find ways to make those things be the things that will also pay the bills...

[Kalstolyn]

That's cool. I think it is fairly common for us to have great mechanical aptitude and spacial reasoning, but I'm not entirely certain. I haven't done a whole lot of research in that direction, I just know what my psych eval says and what I know of other people I've met who have ADHD. I think because we perceive the world with a different set of filters, we tend to have aptitudes that other people think are odd or unusual. Most of the times things balance out, in my experience.

[Tina Biada]

I forgot to mention that my son is 10 years old. His name is Brandon and the Lego Technic fork-lift he build together is for ages 11-16.

[Tina Biada]

My son was hyperfocused, too. We ordered a fork-lift from Lego-Technic last week on the internet and he asked every day if it had arrived. Finally it came yesterday. He saw the package at the door when he came home from camp at 3:15 p.m and ripped the package open right there and then. He sat there in the corner and started builing his fork-lift and stayed there until he was finished at 9:15 p.m. He almost forgot to eat but finally took a five minute break to refuel. I am so amazed sometimes of the indurance he has when something interests him. He also plays guitar-hero real well getting though all the songs. When I try playing it cuts of the song and I have to reload and start over. But I'm getting better and finally made it through one of the songs. My son and all ADDers are so gifted and I try to celebrate those great moments when he surprises me like that.

[Lisa Forman]

Hi , I hyperfocus too. It often gets in the way cause I forget to eat, sleep and drink water, and don't get up or stretch for a long time. I am not a good switchboard operator and wouldn't want to be the one that tries to get m attentions. Not so smooth in transitions, even with my music or conversation. I often get hyperfocused and stare off in space. Not so good, cause I had somebody hit me on the bus.

A, but I like the magic power thing - cause really if we all call focus on the present through mindfullness that would be so cool to be so into the present

Lisa

[Bryan Hutchinson]

Mel, I very much enjoy reading your blogs too. Excellent real life examples of the frustrations and pleasures of hyper-focusing. Hyper-focusing can be as addictive as I imagine any drug could be. I have found it easier and easier to direct my mind to hyper-focus; however, it is still quite difficult to break out of it, if I don't have a timer/ringer set.

Here's an article I wrote that you might enjoy: The gift of Hyper-Focus is yours