Understanding and Embracing Hyperfixation in ADHD and Autism

Do you ever start working on a project, reading a book, or doing something that causes you to feel totally sucked in and immersed? Like you could just continue doing that one thing for hours and hours without stopping? That's what hyperfixation can feel like.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and people who meet the criteria for both diagnoses may experience hyperfixation as a characteristic of their neurodivergence. Hyperfixation can be both highly beneficial and detrimental depending on the context.

It's helpful to understand this common neurodivergent trait in the context of managing, and living your best life with Autism or ADHD.

What Is Hyperfixation?

Hyperfixation is a clinical term for an intense focus on a specific topic, activity, item, or person to the point that other things are ignored. Individuals who experience hyperfixation often become so focused and absorbed by the object of their hyperfixation that they may overlook or neglect anything unrelated to their hyperfixation.

Dr. Jaclyn Halpern, licensed psychologist, shared: “During a period of hyperfixation, a person throws themselves fully into their special interest, often to the point that it feels like everything else disappears.”

Both autistic people and those with ADHD often experience hyperfixation. For those with ADHD, while inattention is a hallmark of the diagnosis, individuals also experience periods of intense attention to preferred tasks. The diagnostic criteria for autism, on the other hand, explicitly includes hyperfixation: “Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus.”

This language suggests that hyperfixation is a solely negative, pathological experience. While autistic individuals and those with ADHD may struggle as a result of hyperfixation and other traits associated with their diagnoses, it can also manifest as passionate pursuit of goals and aid in overcoming challenges.

Christa Marie, a MSW student who has been formally diagnosed with ADHD and self-diagnosed with autism, shared her experience with hyperfixation: “For me, hyperfixation is more related to a specific thing, whereas hyperfocus is related to a specific occurrence. My special interests frequently become a hyperfixation, but the periods of time in which I am absorbed by them have breaks between them.”

What Is Hyperfocus?

Similar to hyperfixation, hyperfocus refers to full absorption in an activity or task to the point of losing awareness of the external environment. However, hyperfocus does not necessarily involve the individual’s special interests.

According to Christa Marie, “Hyperfocus is less likely to be something I'm truly interested in to that extent, it's more of a mental space in which all of the capacity I have is being absorbed by my current task at hand, whatever that may be, and I'm largely unaware of anything external to that task itself.”

Hyperfixation Versus Regular Interests

Most people have hobbies and topics they are interested in, which do not escalate to the level of a hyperfixation or special interest.

When someone experiences an interest in the neurotypical sense, they enjoy talking about or engaging in an activity, but they are able to easily shift to another topic. They generally do not become so immersed in the interest that they fully lose track of time, forget to eat, or struggle to end the task.

Hyperfixation is much more intense and can lead to losing track of time and one’s environment. During periods of hyperfixation, individuals may forget to eat, drink, use the bathroom, or complete other important tasks.

Many autistic people have special interests, or topics which strongly intrigue them. Dr. Halpern, shared, “Hyperfixation occurs when someone intensely engages in a special interest. A special interest, or SPIN, is an area of deep passion that is highly engaging and sometimes all-consuming to the individual.”

Additionally, “While anyone may have special interests, they are a hallmark of neurodivergent (ND) individuals, especially Autistic and ADHD folks. It is more common for neurodivergent individuals to have highly specialized interests or SPINS.”

Impact of Hyperfixation

According to Dr. Halpern, “At times, someone who is hyperfocused may overlook their own basic needs, or miss important environment cues. This may be more the case when someone is in a state of hyperfixation, which may last longer, especially if a special interest is so consuming that the individual finds it difficult to focus on anything else, including school work, their job, or other responsibilities.”

This is consistent with Christa Marie’s experience: “When I'm hyperfocusing, I'm largely so unaware of anything external to the task that I can also be largely unaware of my own physiological needs - going to the bathroom, drinking water, getting something to eat. I often need some type of reminder that it's important for me to step away, take a break, and attend to my own needs.”

Embracing Healthy Hyperfixation

Many traits that autistic people and those with ADHD experience get framed as problematic or issues to be fixed. This kind of thinking needs to be reframed.

While it is true that focusing on a task or project to the point that you neglect your body’s needs can be harmful, the medical and mental health fields often treat neurodivergent traits as pathological without considering that neurodivergent individuals also possess great personal strengths due to their neurodivergence.

For example, Dr. Halpern pointed out, hyperfixation and special interests can help autistic people and those with ADHD self-regulate and instill positive emotions. In other words, hyperfixation can be good for your mental health.

Additionally, hyperfixation is a “very productive headspace,” as these individuals hyperfocus and “become fully engaged in a task, and find themselves able to focus and direct their attention for an extended period. This usually occurs when someone is working to accomplish something specific.”

Christa Marie agreed that hyperfixation and hyperfocus can be productive forces: “For a very long time, hyperfocus was the only way I got anything done. I was far too distracted without it to be able to complete the tasks that I was working on, and those distractions were often large enough that by the time I got back onto the task at hand I had no idea where to pick back up because I didn't know where I had left off.”

Furthermore, hyperfixation and special interests often cause individuals to learn extensive information about that topic, according to Dr. Halpern: “Neurodivergent individuals often learn any and everything about their special interests, which can lead them to truly being experts in them.”

In Christa Marie’s experience, this is definitely the case: “I have several topics that I'm basically a walking encyclopedia of after all of the many, many hyperfixation-fueled rabbit holes of research I have found myself absorbed by. Because I'm in a graduate program where those topics are relevant, it's given me more information to engage with in class and has helped me contextualize what I'm learning more smoothly than some of my peers who don't have that same type of knowledge base.”

Many autistic people and those with ADHD report difficulty forming and maintaining social relationships. Leaning into special interests and spending time in environments where hyperfixation might be expected (such as showings for a favorite piece of media or conventions) can help connect you with people who share your interests.

If Hyperfixation Presents Challenges

If you experience hyperfixation that interferes with your well-being in other areas, you might benefit from setting reminders and alarms to make sure you are checking in with your body’s needs and taking appropriate breaks.

You can ask someone you trust to check in with you to ensure your needs are met during periods of hyperfixation. Remember that your special interests are not bad or wrong, and you might even benefit from experiencing hyperfixation!

At the same time, you deserve to have all your needs met, so monitoring hyperfixation periods for your well-being is also important.