Just kindaget bored. My aquascaping phase was 3 years ago. Food is a common hyperfixation for people with ADHD. An example is a person who becomes so engrossed in their activity that they may completely lose track of time or what is happening around them. The hyperfocused person will likely find their focus distracting. For example, if youre trying to focus on schoolwork but find yourself constantly thinking about a television show you watch regularly. 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. . Mindfulness is a common buzzword in the self-help space that can have a lot of confusion around it. For example, a person hyperfocused on their romantic partner may constantly try to direct conversations with others back to the subject of their partner. I know this is an old comment but I can relate to this perfectly. A person who is hyperfocused on something unproductive will waste hours and hours of their time. For example, a person hyperfocused on their ex-romantic partner may not move past the relationship and heal. Im healthier. Hyperfocus is also closely related to the flow state. A flow state is when a person finds themselves in the groove of their activity. A bout of hyperfixation can start with something as simple as, Oh, I need to check out that video about and the next thing you know, youre still going through videos on the subject five hours later. 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. Im an overall better human being. Youre Not Shy or Stuck Up. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Monitor your time and your money. That way, you regularly feed the beast a little at a time to satiate the need instead of randomly being bitten by it. My garden now stands choked with weeds and a few hardy stands of mint and cilantro. The ADHD tendency to hobby-bounce sometimes combines with hyperfocus to morph innocent pastimes into obsessions. 4. 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. It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. The fictional character will typically be from media like comics, books, television shows, or video games. Ask yourself if you jump from hobby to hobby, spending inordinate amounts of time and money on each, only to drop them cold. Because, of course, Id garden again next year, right? bruh I'm super into aquascaping right now and I hope I don't get sick of it like I did for everything else :(. Instead, they may stay focused on winning the person back, lose out on opportunities for other relationships, or constantly think about that person whether they want to or not. However, remember that hyperfixation is often a symptom or indicator of a deeper problem. Even worse, the person may hyperfocus on a task or circumstance that is impossible, much to their detriment. 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. If you cant control your thoughts and focus, hyperfixation may be a possible reason why. You Have Social Anxiety Disorder. 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. 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. Our mission is to be your trusted advisor, an unwavering source of understanding and guidance along the path to wellness. And all the things I bought gather dust in a plastic bin in a closet somewhere. But if you start a new hobby, jot down how much time and money you spend on it a day in a planner. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. They may be unable to devote their attention to another game because they just find it lacking. This shouldnt be too difficult because it will likely be what you are thinking about most of the time. We can pay all the attention to the detriment of other necessary life needs, if it's something we're really interested in. They may only eat their fixated food for long stretches at a time. On social media, there used to be a World of Warcraft group called the Widows of Warcraft, who were people that lost their spouses to these game worlds. Ask yourself if you jump from hobby to hobby, spending inordinate amounts of time and money on each, only to drop them cold. Mindfulness and being in the present with your thoughts can help you identify those behaviors before they gain momentum. The person could be a work colleague, an ex-romantic partner, a current romantic partner, or anyone. Problems socializing. These two terms are often used interchangeably, even by professionals, because they do not have separate, established definitions. 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. Edit: I should add that I have ADHD as well. People who hyperfixate on thoughts may use it as a coping mechanism to escape bad experiences, thoughts, or a present unfavorable condition. Its better to be hyperfocused on schoolwork than on a video game. All my life I couldnt explain why so how did you deal with it?? Trying to deny or resist your hyperfixation will typically make it worse. My life. This is like the best description of ADHD-PI I've seen so far! The ADHD tendency to hobby-bounce sometimes combines with hyperfocus to morph innocent pastimes into obsessions. Cue impregnated axolotl. 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. I receive a commission if you choose to purchase anything after clicking on them. Now that I think about it I guess I kept with it for a while though, not really by choice. We throw ourselves all in, whether its in crafting or exercising or cooking. If they see you slipping into an obsession, ask them to gently help you and write yourself a note beforehand explaining to yourself that you need their help and that you need to step back if they recommend it. The source of the fixation matters, too. For example, a person hyperfocused on a video game may play that game to the exclusion of everything else. Hyperfixation is an extreme state of mind that causes a person to focus on a subject or activity to the point that they ignore everything else. The first step is to figure out what you are hyperfixating on. But are you taking time to learn properly rather than trying to do too much too fast? I fertilized and researched and kept records. Its like flipping a light switch on and off. That's also why I have a bunch of useless knowledge on random things. Cue various plastic tubs on every surface of apartment with tiny tadpole axolotls that require water to be changed every day. Your description is on point! Fuck, I keep seeing descriptions like this and they're always so accurate. Hyperfixation is often thought to be a symptom of mental illness, but that isnt always the case. Allow All Cookies. Their performance with the task typically improves. But for me I usually cycle through like 20 projects until I finish one and then I add another. While that isnt necessarily bad in small doses, it is bad when youre doing it for multiple hours a day, in the middle of the night when you should be sleeping, or when youre trying to work. Typically, they want to get the person out of their head so they can focus on more productive things, but they cant. The two differ in that the flow state isnt so all-encompassing that the person loses interest in other things or cant change their focus to something else. Ive crocheted, Ive gardened, and Ive made wreaths. Be honest with yourself: Are you prone to obsession? My most recent interests have been biking, then sailing, and most recently watches. Sims. Yup. They may talk or think from the characters perspective, often imagining what that character would do in a situation they find themselves in. Why do some people become so obsessed with something but then quickly lose interest in it? My dog remains very, very well-trained, but he needs a refresher. I find something that I'm really interested in. Oh, my sweet summer child We can pay attention. However, it is not always a direct symptom. Then, appoint specific times for accomplishing goals and responsibilities so you dont have to rely on doing things when you think about it or feel like it. I've been like this my entire life. Here they are: 1. For example, massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games are notorious for addiction and hyperfocus because they are designed as a treadmill to keep people engaged and logging on. Do some self-checks when you start something new. About to spend 50 bucks on an adapter. A person hyperfixated on a show may watch the show religiously multiple times, be engrossed with the shows characters, or experience a strong emotional investment in the show. A hyperfixation on another person causes you to devote an excessive, obsessive amount of time and energy to that persons thoughts. It was paired with an axolotl obsession that expanded far beyond its initial axolotls are cool we should have one! said partner who now regrets everything. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. But I research to the point where i lose interest or I cannot afford the given idea or objective. It's a big symptom of ADHD-PI (Primary Inattentive), called hyperfocus. 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. Answer (1 of 3): Could just be your personality type. Yes, youre excited. Thank you. Cue disease outbreak in tank that kills all axolotls. All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy, Why You Get Easily Obsessed With Things But Then Lose Interest. We can pay all the attention to the detriment of other necessary life needs, if it's something we're really . I have so much random knowledge for various activities/best products and equipment for those things its insane. Tags: Fall 2021 Issue of ADDitude Magazine, hyperfocus. I do it all the time! Manage Settings If those numbers get too high, back off and find balance. - The person often focuses on things they find pleasurable. Some of us cant do things halfway; we have to jump in with both feet. 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! This tendency can mean we never become proficient at any one thing. You know you need to do your school and study, but you just cant because of these other thoughts. My sweet summer child we can pay attention made wreaths not move past the relationship and heal its better be... Thoughts, or video games oh, my sweet summer child we can pay all attention. To that persons thoughts likely be what you are thinking about a television show you watch regularly being! Adhd-Pi I 've seen so far I couldnt explain why so how did you deal with it a. With ADHD understanding and guidance along the path to wellness have ADHD as.! Or exercising or cooking that require water to be changed every day who hyperfixate on thoughts may use as! With things but then lose interest in it? Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy, why you get obsessed. 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