Hyperfocus Revisited?

[Crisgo79]

Does anyone hyperfocus? Some say those with A.D.D have a tendency to hyperfocus. For example I am beginning to find that when I am videotaping things on assignment for the news, that when I videotape things I am so focused on the moment to the point where I am videotaping things from all angles, holding the shots long enough and putting a large effort into getting the best video to edit. On simple assignments I am finding that I am videotaping almost too much video because I am so focused. In a very face paced buisiness, I am finding that patience, staying cool, persistance and staying on your feet is what wins. Anyone else hyperfocusing on the job?

Yes...I have....when under pressure...and something -- a task -- HAS to get done....even if there is TONS of noise around me....I'm able to drown it all out...and hyperfocus...it's an incredible coping mechanism of ADD'ers..sometimes it feels like the only option when you feel like your in the sink or swim situation...like autopilot...incidentally, your from Binghamton New York? Not to get off subject.. Very pretty up there, right? Near catskill mountains...?? I believe I was up that way once upon a time...Anyway, is this hyperfocusing this working for you?

[Andrew]

Yep. As I commented on this in another discussion string on this subject, I find that sometimes the only way I can get a complicated, or complex (or distastful) task is by hyperfocusing.

I find that it is an asset on those types of tasks, but can interfere in situations where I am expected to multi-task. In those situations like that, my challenge is to find balance between hyperfocus and multi-tasking.

[misclee]

Yes! I will find myself hyperfocused on something...often something standing in the way of me doing what I actually should be doing. But in general...I think it is because I can see things from so many different angles at the same time, that I find myself exploring every aspect of something others might see as uni-demensional. I could go on and on about this, but I'd better stop or I might hyperfocus and write a novel

[jimmmaaa]

Yesss. All the time...and most often it is not work related when things are slow or boring...I am in the middle of a big Hyperfocus that has been going on for days...cruising the online ADD forums...gotta go get back to some FUN Reports!!

[SmartIdiot]

One time I stayed glued to the TV literally unable to make myself get up, just flipping though the channels thinking "there will be something I like on soon"
I think it was close to 3 hours before my medication started weakening that i could make myself get up.
A lot of times when i was helping in a construction project, I concentrated on too much detail and got very little done , but it was near flawless.

[nscott]

This has totally happended to me in the past, and will happen again if I am not careful. One of the benefits of being on an ADD medication is that it allows you to conecentrate with much less effort than was was originally needed to even follow a 3 sentance paragraph.

However, remember that being on medication can allow you to concentrate on ANYTHING- event the TV, or a piece of wallpaper pealing off the kitchen wall. At the same time, many ADD medications diminish anxiety feelings,and allow you to drift into focust thought about, well, anything.

The only way to avoid this "hyperfocusing," is to know when it is happening and to literally put your feet on the ground, stand up, get a glass of water, and do something else. While this will not be your first choice during an episode, I promise that once you do it, you will find that you are able to shift your focus to whatever you wish with ease. The key thing to do is to recognize when it is happening. A good way is by paying attention to the passing of time. I still fight this problem on occasion, so if anyone else has any advice, please let me know, however, so far the best thing is to, all at once, remove my self physically from the situation and move onto something new. - if it's a particular project (or posting on the internet) that you are hyperfocusing on, then perhaps set an alarm or pay close attention to the clock at the lower corner of your screen.

Ok, I'm hyperfocusing now, so I will refrain from fixing all the spelling an gramatical mistakes I made above!

[joanrdtobe]

Great suggestions NScott...not easy.....but certainly do-able....

And me too...I've been on here way too long this morning and need to get off...problem is I really like your post here and want to read it again......and again......so now I will refrain....thanks for a great post

[waywardclam]

I do this ALL the time.

I especially do it when I am being competitive. If I am playing chess or Magic, I tunnel vision out everything but me, the game, and the opponent, and I actually get VERY irritated if anyone else tries to get my attention away from what I am doing.

I hear you on the TV as well. Have any of you ever been trapped by music? If my favourite song is on the radio, I have sometimes been forced to stand there and wait for it to end before I could walk away...

[Keppig]

I hyperfocus all the time to but its a good thing. For work, it allows me to finish a large amount of sections on a road project without being distracted. It allows me to be completely involved with a movie thus not worrying about things.

[waywardclam]

I agree it is a very useful talent. I would not give it up if I could.

[FtLaudWolf]

Originally posted by Paul S
Have any of you ever been trapped by music? If my favourite song is on the radio, I have sometimes been forced to stand there and wait for it to end before I could walk away...

Not being able to get out of my truck until a song has ended.

In spite of the problems of hyperfocusing, I have to agree that I am able to accomplish complicated programming or write with intensity, and I wouldn't give up the talent for the world.

Cary

[smooch]

Been there, done that OFTEN with the music thing, especially if the song touches a chord in my soul, whether it's because of the words or the beat or whatever.

I admit I tend to hyperfocus on things that are bothering me at the time I realize I'm hyperfocusing on them. Frustrating habit, but awareness/admitting I have this problem is the first step, right?

[tiggwin]

Originally posted by Paul S
I actually get VERY irritated if anyone else tries to get my attention away from what I am doing.

It's like a runaway freight train--it's hard to get it going again once it's stopped. I do this all the time too, whether I want to or not. Luckily, my job has periods where I'm just working on one project, and I can lose myself in it for hours without (much) interruption. I'm very productive in that state, and I think it's a VERY positive thing about having ADD. The challenge is turning it off.

That said, when I get home, my brain sometimes feels like it's out of gas, and I just want to veg in front of the TV for a little while until I can regain some mental energy. Of course, that's when my wife wants to talk about the day or whatever. We both get frustrated for obvious reasons.

[waywardclam]

Originally posted by tiggwin
That said, when I get home, my brain sometimes feels like it's out of gas, and I just want to veg in front of the TV for a little while until I can regain some mental energy. Of course, that's when my wife wants to talk about the day or whatever. We both get frustrated for obvious reasons.

Gimme a HELL, YEAH!

Sometimes, even if I've had a relatively relaxed day at work, the trip home (1/2 hour by bicycle typically) does this to me!