Best meds for Hyperfocusing?
I was diagnosed with ADHD specifically for my problems with Hyperfocusing. I have been on Strattera for almost 6 weeks now (The last 3 weeks I have been at 80mg per day).
I really haven't seen a difference yet, but have read how long it can take to "kick in", so I am committed to trying this for a full 12 weeks.
My question: Has anyone heard of certain meds being better or worse for Hyperfocus?
TIA
Bump. Anyone?? I think that the meds are so individual in how they work for each person.. what does wonders for one in any given department, such as hyperfocus, may be a total wash out for the next person.
Question...Exactly what does "hyperfocus" mean or apply to? At a recent appt. the psychologist said ds had compulsive issues (assumed because he will constantly pick at fuzzballs on his shirt, count squares on his shirt - alot of picking nails, eyelashes, hair, etc.) I haven't received their report yet, but thought maybe the counting and picking at fuzzballs was a type of hyperfocus thing 
? His dev. ped. just changed him to Straterra also - only been 2 weeks.
Just curious - sorry to interrupt, but am also interested if anyone knows more.
Thanks!
I agree with Chasesmom that you may just need to try something else. Ever med is different in every person. You can always go back to the Adderall. The Straterra is not as easy to try a change, but if it's not working for you?????? May be worth a talk to you doctor. I don't have an answer, so I hope you don't mind me replying to you. I hyper focus constantly. In fact, I'm doing it right now. I am on Adderrall XR 30mg. daily. I'm interested to see if anyone responds with some information. Until then, I'll be looking. I am wondering if the Adderrall XR is a drug that doesn't help with that symptom.I am constantly being judged by my husband, who has no clue about A.D.D., for loss of time, and not being as "normal" as I should be. I hate the stigma associated with this, and I have found myself becoming more reclusive in the last three years.
Thanks
I'm an odd one that I LOVE my ability to hyper-focus. Allows me to not have to work 5 days a week (I own my own business) but.. I do make it up technically by the days I do work.. I hyper-focus for 12-18 hours at a time
My husband has had to tell me to take breaks in the past. However, with the Focalin XR that I'm taking (30mgs in the morning, and 15mgs at noon-1pm) It allows me to utilize my hyper-focusing to my advantage.. and I'm able to step away for breaks, tend to the kids, the house, errands, etc.. and come back and work some more. I know it doesn't sound like the typical hyper-focusing in this sense.. but it's still the same feeling I used to have, but without the irritability and not being able to step away.
Before meds I would NOT be able to do that, and I would be ticked off to no end at the slightest interruption when I'm in "my zone" as I call it.
So, I'm happy that Focalin XR allows me to keep the good part of it, and controls the negative.
im unmed hyper fucus about 12 times a day unconciously and can somewhat hyperfocus at will by thibking of other hyperfocuses ive been aware of this somehow gets me to that point where my minds eye goes faster than my ability to steer it. but thats just me . strettera gave the ability to multitask as like hyper focussing . i could beaware of splitt second timming of machinery and run several at atime though i exxaggerate a little but i was definately in the grove tying in memoery and multi tasking . i felt the effects within 3 days
i stopped for insurance problems at the time i had a 30day total of $380 its probably gone down but i was nearly castrated so it was a personal and finacail price i didnt want to pay to be the ruler of the know universe
Don't feel like you interrupted. I just popped in myself. Hyperfocusing, from my own experience, is not the same as counting things. Hyperfocusing for me is when I am able to see through every detail of whatever it is I'm doing. I have the ability to work on a project for 48 hours in a row if it's what "I'm doing." The goal, like I read somewhere, is what puts us hot on the trail.I get obsessed at times and count things, especially lines but I can drop that in a second because it's not interesting and involves no solution. I look for solutions to problems that keep me from having to deal with what I think I "should" be doing.
Hope this makes sense.
yes hyperfocusing would be like my my daughter sitting on the computer for 6 hours, or working on a craft without a break until every detail is finished even if it took three hours.
The counting and picking are compulsive type behaviors. All of the above can be exacerbated by stimulants. My daughter has had both issues. Her hyperfocusing was only on certain stimulants though not a symprom of her ADHD.
zjmom, my daughter just went through a terrible time with compulsive scratching and hair pulling. As soon as I took her the stimulants it stopped. Is your son on stimulants?
Thanks for the info 
Diane V - My son is on Daytrana 20mg. The dev. ped just switched him to Straterra (hope to improve anxiety and tics) but he is still taking the patch until the straterra builds up. He did 20mg for a week and now 40 mg and it's been a week and a half - waiting to talk to the doc today to give her an update and see what's next. The compulsive picking really became pronounced around Feb/March (he's been on the patch since Oct and Concerta before that).
Guess when my son can't seem to put down the Nintendo DS he can make the excuse now he's "hyperfocusing" and not just being oppositional . (not being rude about using it as an "excuse" - if you knew my ds, he can come up with some doozies for his behavior!)
Oh yes, my daughter cant manage to remember how to make her bed or brush her teeth, but that brian works GREAT for the excuses.
Love to know how you mkae out with the compulsive behavior and tics once off stims totally. Keep me updated.
Thanks for the responses, all.LadyChaos, I'm glad you chimed in. I as well have had to deal with a lot of 2nd guessing regarding my hyperfocus. Most people say "Well, I probably have that too, since I tend to do that". What they don't realize is the extreme to which people like us take it, where it becomes all-encompassing. My girlfriend is one who says that.
Regarding being reclusive, do you find that it's because you would rather stay in and hyperfocus on whatever it is you're working on, or is it because you don't feel "normal" and want to avoid people? I think I tend to do both sometimes...
Hello,
I'm new here and I haven't been diagnosed by a GP yet. I just thought I'd explain my symptoms and see if you could give me an opinion. I've posted some of this in another hyperfocusing thread, but reading this one has made me remember more! I could really use someones help in what my next step should be, or if I even need to take another step towards getting help. Here goes..!
I first started noticing something was 'strange' about my behaviour when I was about 14. I was taking my GCSE's at school. At that time, for some reason unknown to me, I had become obsessed with one subject. I was devoting all my time, break times, lunch times, hours and hours after to school - to my coursework and porjects for textiles. There was rarely a day that passed that I hadn't done some form of work on whatever I had to do for the subject. Everyone put it down to a passion for the subject, and so did I. I managed to get an A* for that subject. I went on to college where I chose to study fashion and design. I dropped out a couple of months after, and rarely went to the classes. That focus and obsession just wasn't there anymore. I certainly didn't have a passion for the subject. In gaining that A* for textiles, I had totally neglected every other area of my schooling. I failed my maths GCSE, only got a C in English literature and language, which I had alwasy classed as my favourite subject really. I got told off and felt bad for letting my grades slip in every other subject. I didn't complete one piece of coursework for any other subject. I didn't revise for any exams. Any exams I didn't fail was purely down to luck and having an understanding of the subject. No work had been involved at all.
That was the start of it. I've always been called lazy, agressively argumentative by family. Yet, they also describe me as intelligent, hard working and shy. They always seemed so contradictory to me. I've always felt like I have no idea what I am in other peoples eyes, because the things they describe me as are usually opposites! How could I be lazy yet hard working? Agressively argumentative but shy? I've begun to realise that if hyperfocusing or some form of ADD/ADHD is in my make-up, then that could explain it. They see me as hard working when I'm hyperfocused, intelligent because of grades I have proven I can get. Lazy because I neglect everything else that I am not obsessed with, shy when I am not obsessed with winning an argument.
I have been known spend 14 hours at a computer, obsessively researching or planning. I can sometimes mean to just tidy my room up, make it neater. I end up scrubbing it from top to bottom, 6 bags of rubbish, polished, hoovered, checked every dvd case for the correct dvd, boxed up old things, rearranged draws and shelves, 7 hours go by and I haven't showered, eaten, drank, got dressed. Or I can start a task at 5 in the evening, and suddenly notice birds chirping and it getting lighter outside. I've lost many nights to some obsession that only stays for that time, never to be looked into again.
I'm sure it contributes to my depression too. I feel so low and stupid sometimes, because I can't seem to motivate myself to do some really important task like revising for an exam or even something as little as jumping in the shower. I sometimes feel embarassed by my bahviour, and embarassed by how my family or friends view me when they say negative things that I realise now could be related to hyperfocusing etc.
I'm sorry for the essay. I'm mostly a bit confused and lost. It's taken me ages to even realise it could be a condition. I had always put it down to having an addictive personality that runs in my family. But lately, it seems worse. I haven't had a job for years, I haven't really acheived anything in my 21 years except for a few things I've gotten obsessed with! I managed to get a place at university, by completing a year of work to make up for having no qualifications like A levels or GCSE'S. I have become obsessed with it though. Obsessive and excessive note taking.. I take pages of notes in lectures, write up all my notes in another book, download everything related to the lecture and information to support my notes, printed essays out 20+ times, then reworked them. I spent over 20 hours going over a completed essay, adding and removing. I was pulling my hair out by the end of it, and they had to take my completed essay away from me and tell me it was done. But, on the other hand, other areas are slacking. I can't focus on other parts, I get distracted within 20 seconds of trying to start a task, I go off on tangents without even noticing. If I'm not obsessed, NOTHING gets done.
I also obsessively pick. This is gross and weird, and I don't usually tell people unless they notice, but I actually make scabs so I avn pick them. Usually on my scalp. When I'm picking, I feel so zoned out. I can stare for ages until someone interrupts, just picking. I can go hours. I can stare at the TV and not really watch or see anything happening because I'm really focused on the picking. Instead of doing whatever needs to be done, just menial tasks, I will sit and pick. Gross, I know! I don't even realise I'm doing it anymore, it's become some kind of zoned out habit!
I've definitely become reclusive in this behaviour. I actually questioned whether I was 'wasting' my time on stupid tasks, days at a time, to make up for my lack of interest in social activities or obligations. When really, I don't even notice. I get so wrapped up in something I forget anything else exists. Yet with other things, it seems like there are so many distractions that I can't focus on one tiny thing. It's like a never ending list of tasks that I can't seem to do, but one somehow gets chosen to get 'overdone'.
Anyway, once again I'm sorry I've written so much. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. I'm really not sure where to go from here. I'm half scared that if I don't have this 'hyperfocus' then I will fail at everything, not just the stuff I neglect. On the other hand, if I could just focus like a normal person, maybe everything could be balanced...
If you managed to get through my ramblings, thanks :)
Enter Your Email below to claim your Free Book
