[bluefirebrand]

This is a common misconception about ADHD.

People with ADHD have a tendency to hyperfocus on things they enjoy, to the detriment of other things.

ADHD is not a lack of focus, it is a lack of Executive Function. Sometimes the Executive Function looks easily distracted because it doesn't want to do chores so it bounces from room to room cleaning one single surface in each one.

Sometimes the Executive Function looks like a 10x programmer beast because you get so wrapped up in programming whatever you're making that it's all you can think about, you skip meals and sleep and ignore friends and family until it's done.

[PragmaticPulp]

It should be noted that "hyperfocus" is more of a fringe idea in ADHD science than a well-accepted feature.

Hyperfocus can also be a side effect of stimulant medication. It's not uncommon for newly diagnosed ADHD patients to take stimulants and end up hyperfocusing on the wrong thing, such as video games or other vices.

Be careful about interpreting something like increased focus as ADHD. The pop-culture definition of ADHD has become so blurry that nearly everyone could be considered ADHD under certain criteria. When focusing too much and focusing too little are both supposedly symptoms of the same disorder, it's easy to misconstrue normal behavior for disorders. It's best to leave the diagnosis to a professional.

[bluefirebrand]

> Hyperfocus can also be a side effect of stimulant medication.

This doesn't address the fact that the hyperfocus behavior is a side effect of the poor executive function and is present in unmedicated ADHD people. In fact stimulants in an ADHD brain tend to improve executive function and make hyperfocus less likely for them.

> Be careful about interpreting something like increased focus as ADHD.

As I said before, it's not about focus at all. It's about executive function. It just manifests in ways that look like focus problems. And yes, hyperfocus is absolutely as much of a problem as completely lacking focus.

[pseudalopex]

The idea hyper focus is a strength is pop psychology. Its existence isn't.

[Jiocus]

You're totally right about it being an executive function disorder.

There's a variant of ADHD that tilts to the other end of the scale. Where the executive function doesn't fire by stimulus that ought to "execute". Less things overall catches the attention and leads to action, but the things that do, does so in the focused, engaged way.

[globular-toast]

Turns out I have ADHD then!