Lately I have seen the word hyperfocus in this forums used in a way that is not consistent with what I understand from Dr. Amen's book. To me, overfocus refers to get stock in thoughts, like in OCD, and also, to try to concentrate on one thing and not being able to do it because the mind is overfocused on things that normal minds shut down, for example, the feeling of the clothes against the skin. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

The thing is I think we are OVERusing the "hyperfocus" or "overfocused" word. I have even seen it used like it is a good thing. That is because they (you) are using the word for another meaning. I am not saying that is wrong, but it creates confusion.

Sorry, I just realized there are two different words circulating on the formus: hyperfocus and Overfocus. I edited the message anyway, but ignore it if it doesn't make sense, please.

Hyperfocus is defined as a tendency towards extreme focus on a particular subject or task, wherein it is very difficult to distract the individual from said task, and often doing so results in restlessness, irritability, and obsessive thinking on the part of the person exhibiting it.

It is demonstrated in ADHD children and adults, as well as many conditions in the Autistic branch of mental disorders. It is generally manifested in children as a long streak of playing with a single toy or toys (often building blocks, etc.), for hours on end, where it is difficult to derail the child, distract them, etc., and they become hostile or angered if forced to change what they're doing (e.g., take a bath, go to bed). If allowed to continue, it will go on for a long period of time (often a few hours, in the case of playing with toys such as blocks, etc.), but will stop abruptly, followed by demonstrating a lack of interest in it.

In older children and adults, it manifests are extreme attention or even obsession over a single topic or activity, which can last for weeks. It also manifests the same way it does in children - extreme focus on, for instance, something on the computer, a game, a book, etc., where the person becomes irritable or angry if distracted, etc.

Another major point is that hyperfocusers tend to "filter out" everything else in the world while they are doing that. Other conversations, other people coming and going, other things going on, all tend to blend into nothingness while the person is hyperfocusing. Sometimes, saying their name will sometimes get their attention, because of the innate nature of name-response.

For example, when I last hyperfocused, it was in building something out of a cardboard box some weeks ago. I don't remember too much of what was going on, I was building. A special ed. teacher staying in my dorm noticed and made a note; it was the first time she had seen hyperfocus in action. When she said my name, I noted that my name had been said, looked, but then quickly returned to the process. I carried on for 3 hours, then I quit. I was done with it, and that was it. Heh



On the other hand, "to try to concentrate on one thing and not being able to do it because the mind is overfocused on things that normal minds shut down, for example, the feeling of the clothes against the skin." is a normal characteristic of ADHD. In people with ADHD, the brain is less capable of prioritizing information. A ticking clock will become an object of attention, while the test does not. The attention moves sporadically around everything in the environment. It is therefore difficult (without drugs, etc.) to maintain focus on one thing: the brain is simply moving too fast.

In the case of a sensitivity to clothes against skin, that is a form of hypersensitivity; often comorbid (and possibly symptomatic of) ADHD, it is a tendency for a certain sensation, feeling, stimuli, etc. to register much more so than others. Common things would be hypersensitive hearing causing pain from listening to mechanical pencil squeaks or TVs, hypersensitivity to the feelings of certain fabrics against the skin, hypersensitivity to certain textures of foods, etc. The hypersensitivity is generally very irritable if not painful to the person.

Example; I am hypersensitive to sound. I can hear, and am often bothered by, TVs on "non-stations" (ie, "video one" where the screen is black), stereos that are on, but idle, mechanical pencils (they squeak and cause me to die. I literally cringe with every pencilstroke), etc.

I don't know what Dr. Amen wrote in his book, but the above is the commonly accepted definitions of both terms, used widely throughout the educational and psychological communities. I reckon Amen wrote something similar, but in the event he did not, it is Amen that may be in error, and not the rest of the world.

Of COURSE hyperfocusing is a good thing! How else would I ever get anything done?

And whenever I DO manage to do something above average (artwork, chores, play chess, etc.) it's because I hyperfocused on it...

I can spend hours on something that interests me like that and nurse every little detail of it into perfection...

Isn't "hyperfocus" much the same as "perseveration?"

Definition of perseveration:
(WordNet Dictionary)
[n] the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or repeating behavior; "his perseveration continued to the point where it was no longer appropriate"
[n] the tendency for a memory or idea to persist or recur without any apparent stimulus for it

Hyperfocus I think of as Kieth & Clam say. It's a good thing often but can be used for avoidance. It's the opposite of what you think of as typical ADHD distractability & poor focus. I think of it as more intentional, self activated.

Overfocused is not good, the word implies it's too much focus whereas hyperfocus is a lot of focus it's not necessarily too much.

Overfocus I think of used by Amen as more a physical description of involuntary biochemical tendency of certain parts of the brain to become overactive. He also talks about Limbic Hyperactivity where the emotional part of the brain is overfocused causing depression; Temporal Lobe Hyperactivity where the anger part of the brain near the temples is overfocused; Ring of Fire were numerous parts of the brain are working overtime; Anxiety (basal ganglia hyperactivity); and the main one associated with the word "Overfocus" is Cyngulate Hyperactivity which he describes as the gearshift of the brain that causes obsessive thoughts & a tendency to be unable to get out of whatever automatic thoughts are taking over. This is the one that's refered to as "Overfocused ADD". Consider getting a song stuck in your head or obsessing on negative thoughts or addiction including pathological gambling.

Schitzophrenia & Bipolar are treated with anticonvulsant meds which are special sorts of sedatives designed to calm overactivity & release the brain from overfocusing in particular areas. They slow the action of particular neurotransmitters. ADHD is the result of underfocusing of the frontal lobes, ritalin adds more juice to kick them into gear, the opposite of anticonvulsants.

When I started the thread I hadn't noticed that there were two different words: hyperfocus and overfocus. And I mean that I wrote "hyper" or "over" without being aware that the spelling was different.

Thanks for clarifying the difference between the two of them.

So, this is my conclusion:

Overfocus, as used by Dr. Amen, is what *Paulbf* graciously described, which is what I was talking about.

Hyperfocus is what *KMiller* described, which is different from overfocus, and can be, and usually is a good thing.

Paulbf, you just said it all. I agree that hyperfocus is more intentional and self activated. Also, I think of it as something "bigger" and less repetitive (if repetitive at all) than just songs repeating in your head, for example. It can be a project or something that can take weeks, as KMiller said.

You are welcome. I hyperfocused while replying (grin).

I really don't know if I have ADHD or something related because I tend to hyperfocus real easy & I really don't have much of a problem with underfocusing at all. I am distractable & do get bored and I require that I only do what's interesting & refuse to do uninteresting things but if I have to I generally can do anything, I rarely get my brain too slow in that way people talk about with severe ADHD. I'm not overwhelmed by distractions I just prefer wandering. I do have trouble staying on task with boring activities. I don't think I ever underfocus, I just focus on what interests me. Is that a critical difference that explains why stimulant meds don't seem to help me?

People say they are able to concentrate on boring tasks with stimulants but I'm already able to concentrate if I want to and I don't think they really make me more tolerant of boring things much (maybe somewhat but nothing dramatic). Stimulants do not make me less distractable. I'm just as likely to wander off on them. I'm just as impatient, maybe more so. I'm tempted to get Amen to scan my brain & find out what's really going on in there. I have an awful time at this self observation sometimes, it's all too ambiguous I can't pin down what's happening.

My latest diagnosis was "repressed anxiety" which manifests as a kind of overfocusing, it makes me difficult, impatient, unsatisfied and inappropriately curious, always looking for another more difficult more interesting way to do things, always refusing to go with the flow, mistrusting, ignoring any notion of being cooperative or relaxing. I'm tense but I've always had the impression I'm very laid back & easy going but I'm not. That's why he made up that label "repressed anxiety". It is an odd thing.

Maybe I am overfocused and should be on some sort of anticonvulsant sedative. On effexor I did feel a relief at being less anxious, more relaxed but then I got sort of a "who cares" attitude & was not very motivated and lost my passion. I was not taking stimulants at that time. Maybe I should be taking both stimulants and an SSRI or something else.

Paulbf:
Could it be that your just like that or do you think it is a problem that really disables you? If I thought I had a problem I would consider the Brain SPECT if I had the money. Someone here said it is about $1000 to $3000.

Yes it's a problem. I'm unable to accomplish what I want in life, unable to hold a job or keep productive while self employed. I've lost my marriage of 11 years. It is a lot of money but not working is costing me too & traditional psychiatrist fees and mis-matched medication experiments waste lots of money & months/years of time.