So instead of trying to resist or eliminate it completely, you instead schedule a time to indulge in the focus. Furthermore, they offer such depth that one can easily fool themselves into believing they are doing something productive with their time by investing so heavily into them. Indicators may include: - A lack of awareness of the surrounding area or circumstances unrelated to the activity. I fertilized and researched and kept records. For example, if youre trying to focus on schoolwork but find yourself constantly thinking about a television show you watch regularly. Be honest with yourself: Are you prone to obsession? I receive a commission if you choose to purchase anything after clicking on them. Some people develop hyperfocus to self-regulate harmful or distressing emotions. People assume that ADHD means that you can't pay attention to anything. Our mission is to be your trusted advisor, an unwavering source of understanding and guidance along the path to wellness. Certain kinds of video games lend themselves to extremely deep rabbit holes that can be all-consuming. Your description is on point! I weeded. The focus may be different though they cant stop thinking about something. Some of us cant do things halfway; we have to jump in with both feet. All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy, Why You Get Easily Obsessed With Things But Then Lose Interest. Yes. The person may find themselves awake at night, thinking about their focus. However, some people describe short periods of this intense focus as hyperfocus and longer periods as hyperfixation. bruh I'm super into aquascaping right now and I hope I don't get sick of it like I did for everything else :(. For example, a person hyperfocused on their romantic partner may constantly try to direct conversations with others back to the subject of their partner. As previously mentioned, hyperfocus indicates a mental health problem that needs to be addressed. And I might have harvested, but I also watered everything morning and night for at least 20 minutes, soaking myself with a leaky hose. Oh, my sweet summer child. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Even if its not really that amazing or interesting for some people. I had to make a promise to myself that I wont spend over x amount on certain interests/activities unless Ive thought about it for more than six months to a year or else I would spend large amounts of money for things that will inevitably collect dust at my house. One minute youre so into it that it almost takes over your life. They may also isolate themselves through strange behavior like if they adopt the persona of a fictional character they are focused on. Bro I know Im so late to this but the YouTube thing Im undiagnosed but Im sure I have it I can relate so much I cant believe it, But Im still interested, Im just not as much because i dont too much money to throw at it, I wish I wasn't interested in mechs. Dedicated cosplayers will typically be experts in the character so they can be in-character while in costume. only my hobbies unfortnately have been far more expensive.. off roading, flying lessons, arcade building, motion simulators etc etc. Just kindaget bored. Nearly everyone will experience hyperfixation. I ran rain or shine, day and night. 3. The first step is to figure out what you are hyperfixating on. People addicted to or hyperfocused on these games could fall into them for days, neglecting themselves, their responsibilities, and even their children to the point that the children were removed from the home by protective services. How To Get Over The Regret Of Missed Opportunities: 9 Effective Tips! Since 1998, millions of parents and adults have trusted ADDitude's expert guidance and support for living better with ADHD and its related mental health conditions. But I definitely go all out for a few days, then take a break and move onto the next project. My aquascaping phase was 3 years ago. Exaggerated Emotions: How and Why ADHD Triggers Intense Feelings. Were bouncing. In some cases, they may only want to eat that specific food in a specific way because it feels wrong to do otherwise. A person who is hyperfocused on something unproductive will waste hours and hours of their time. I do it all the time! It's a big symptom of ADHD-PI (Primary Inattentive), called hyperfocus. Food is a common hyperfixation for people with ADHD. . Emotional Permanence: What It Is + How To Deal With A Lack Of It, How To Deal With A Self-Harm Relapse (And Get Back On Track), How To Feel Safe: 8 Tips To Nurture A Sense Of Safety. Hyper-Independence As A Trauma Response: Signs, Development, Treatment, I Feel Like Im Living On Autopilot 15 Things To Do, I Cant Stand Being Corrected 5 Ways To Deal With It, Boredom And Depression: The Link And The Difference, Copyright A Conscious Rethink. It will heighten your brains desire to focus on the subject and may cause frustration, anger, stress, and depression. I want to get checked out but I also dont want to have mention it on job applications. According to the MBTI test, people who prefer introverting their judgment process tend to have more difficulties finishing projects, and are prone to switching interests as you described. You Have Social Anxiety Disorder. The key factor is that this focused person gets stuck in their mind whether they want it or not. Cue we need a bigger tank to house moar axolotls! Cue we need a chiller because the Australian summer is going to kill these creatures! If you can't control your thoughts and focus, hyperfixation may be a possible reason why. Im no longer allowed to have any kind of aquatic animals. Take some time to sit down and figure out your responsibilities. JaxenGrey 4 yr. ago. This mental health issue is called hyperfixation, though it may also be known as hyperfocus. I couldnt just plant some seedlings; I made my husband till half our yard and spent hundreds of dollars on fencing, stakes, seeds, pots, and plants. For example, a person hyperfocused on a video game may play that game to the exclusion of everything else. I know this is an old comment but I can relate to this perfectly. I read books sometimes. My life. Do some self-checks when you start something new. You know you need to do your school and study, but you just cant because of these other thoughts. The interest just goes poof. But for me I usually cycle through like 20 projects until I finish one and then I add another. Hyperfixation is often thought to be a symptom of mental illness, but that isnt always the case. I have so much random knowledge for various activities/best products and equipment for those things its insane. The person often focuses on things they find pleasurable. Relationships and friendships may suffer because the hyperfocused individual is pouring all their attention and energy into their focus to the exclusion of all else. But if you start a new hobby, jot down how much time and money you spend on it a day in a planner. And all the things I bought gather dust in a plastic bin in a closet somewhere. Yes! Some people may forget to eat, engage in self-care or grooming, and suffer from insomnia as they spend hours thinking about the thing they have become obsessed with. Boredom. Thank you for reading ADDitude. Here they are: 1. We throw ourselves all in, whether its in crafting or exercising or cooking. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I don't just want to think about trying it someday; I research the fuck out of it to make sure I get exactly the right supplies/equipment/software/etc for whatever that is, and use the right methods to do the thing, and immerse myself in every aspect of the thing, buy a bunch of shit with grand ideas of it being My One Passion, launch into it, doing the thing all day, every day for a while, and be moderately good at it, then. Thank you. Just to put into perspective how severe this can get, members of the community of Everquest would refer to it as Evercrack because of its addictive nature, likening it to crack cocaine. However, it is not always a direct symptom. Then, they keep returning to those daydreams as often as possible because its preferable to dealing with the chaos or pain of their current situation. I find something that I'm really interested in. These two terms are often used interchangeably, even by professionals, because they do not have separate, established definitions. They may only eat their fixated food for long stretches at a time. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I didnt plant a few plants. SUPPORT ADDITUDE Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. Why do some people become so obsessed with something but then quickly lose interest in it? All dead quickly then I panic and try and scrape back whatever wasted money I can. On the other hand, defining characteristics of ADHD are distractibility and a short attention span. In an MMORPG, there is theorycrafting on how best to play your character, what skills to use and when, learning strategies, farming materials to create items and gear, spreadsheets, and mathematical analysis on what constitutes best and worst. One South Korean man named Lee Seung Seop actually died due to dehydration and exhaustion because of his gaming addiction and hyperfixation on Starcraft. I realize that's in part Baader Meinhof, but also because I have so many of the symptoms. That's also why I have a bunch of useless knowledge on random things. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. My dog remains very, very well-trained, but he needs a refresher. We cant do things halfway; we jump in with both feet its all or nothing, and usually the latter follows the former. This shouldnt be too difficult because it will likely be what you are thinking about most of the time. Here they are: 1. Reddit posts are actually a prime example of that because Ill be super into some thread and just really want to get my every thought out there. If those numbers get too high, back off and find balance. Over the years, I've learned a few ways to keep my hobbies from going too far and to help me keep my life in balance. Press J to jump to the feed. We can pay all the attention to the detriment of other necessary life needs, if it's something we're really . Over the years, Ive learned a few ways to keep my hobbies from going too far and to help me keep my life in balance. The hyperfixated person will develop a strong passion for the character that may interfere with their relationships, self-care, and regular lives. Why ADHD Brains Become Paralyzed in Quarantine, Perimenopause Problems: How Changing Hormones Exacerbate ADHD Symptoms, ADHD and Addiction: The Truth About Substance Abuse. About to spend 50 bucks on an adapter. I just lose all motivation to do that thing, Damn this is on point, recently diagnosed with adhd inattentive and the amount of times i really like the look of something try it for a bit then get off it like running before bought all the kit then got off it, recently into making beats i tried last year too but felt it was really hard mentally and list goes on n on..! I cant recall how to double crochet. Then I dont play it for a month or two, then binge play for a week and then lose interest its a vicious cycle. Cue impregnated axolotl. Yup. Cue various plastic tubs on every surface of apartment with tiny tadpole axolotls that require water to be changed every day.