
The ADHD Skills Lab Why ADHD Brains Rely on Hyperfocus (and Why It Backfires)
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Jan 5, 2026 In this insightful discussion, William Curb, a research-informed ADHD educator, explores the complex phenomenon of hyperfocus. He explains how urgent situations trigger intense productivity but lead to stress and burnout. Discover why ADHD symptoms correlate with increased hyperfocus, how this pattern impacts everyday tasks, and the difference between hyperfocus and sustainable focus. Curb offers strategies to manage reliance on hyperfocus and emphasizes the hidden costs of this intense concentration, warning it often borrows energy from your future self.
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Hyperfocus Is Not A Single Thing
- Hyperfocus is intense, narrow attention that shrinks awareness of surroundings and time.
- Researchers measured distinct kinds of hyperfocus including attention-driven and reward-driven focus.
ADHD Severity Links To More Hyperfocus
- ADHD symptom severity correlated with both executive function difficulties and hyperfocus frequency.
- The paper found executive functioning mediates the link between ADHD symptoms and hyperfocus.
Surveys Conflate Flow And Hyperfocus
- Existing hyperfocus surveys measure different aspects and may conflate flow and reward-driven focus.
- Distinguishing attention-driven hyperfocus from reward-related flow clarifies inconsistent self-reports.
