▲ Over-Focused ADD / ADHD ▲

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Overfocused ADD is a type of ADD characterized by inflexible cognitive thinking, the inability to appropriately shift one's attention from task to task and can also include hyper-focused, argumentativeness, obsessiveness, and excessive worrying.

》Though hyperfocus can occur in children or adults living with ADHD, research from the 2016 Trusted Source suggests it may be more common in adults.

》In both adults and children, hyper focusing can be described as difficulty regulating attention and focus.

Children might become absorbed in a toy, video game, or art project — anything they have an interest in. They may fail to notice time passing and forget about doing other things.
Even with reminders, they may struggle to redirect their attention and focus on anything else. Because of this, hyperfocus can sometimes resemble oppositional behavior.

Hyper-focus could also occur in the context of a relationship, especially in the beginning stages, where it might involve extreme focus on a partner's needs.

》Hyper-focus can also show up in adults and children as extreme anticipation of an event.

It's not clear what causes the hyperfocus symptom, but ADHD researchers have offered a few potential explanations.

ADHD involves neurological dysfunction that can affect the brain's reward system. One theory around hyperfocus is that the activity of interest activates the reward system in the brain so strongly that it becomes difficult to stop doing that activity.

Another theory is that overfocusing is simply another behavioral symptom of ADHD. Instead of struggling to manage excessive restlessness, fidgeting, or other movement, people who hyperfocus have trouble regulating their attention levels.



Medications for ADHD may include stimulant medications or nonstimulant medications.

ADHD therapy can include:

skills training
behavior therapy
psychotherapy
family therapy
Adults living with ADHD may find psychotherapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

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