{"id":25601,"date":"2022-10-06T14:01:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T21:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embarkbh.com\/?p=25601"},"modified":"2024-02-27T10:22:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T17:22:55","slug":"hyperfixation-in-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embarkbh.com\/blog\/adhd\/hyperfixation-in-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyperfixation: What Parents of Teens Need To Know\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Hyperfixation, also referred to as hyperfocus, is commonly connected with attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)<\/a>, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism<\/a>, and depression. But how exactly is hyperfixation related to these issues \u2014 and is it always a problem? If your teen is hyperfocusing, it\u2019s important to understand what\u2019s happening and why so you can help them if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To explore this topic, we spoke to Lauren Disner, a licensed marriage and family therapist at the south campus of New Haven<\/a>, a residential treatment center in Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So just what is hyperfixation? Hyperfixation occurs when your teen becomes so fully engaged in something that they can\u2019t think of anything else until they finish what they\u2019re doing, or someone pulls them away from it.<\/strong> People most commonly hyperfocus on people, places, food, TV shows, hobbies, or even their own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes compared to being \u201cin the zone\u201d or \u201cin a flow state<\/a>,\u201d hyperfixation can lead your teen to become so engrossed in an activity that it limits their ability to perceive life outside of what they\u2019re doing. They may reach a point where they can no longer function in day-to-day activities. In that case, hyperfocus is a problem that needs to be addressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor example, if I\u2019m a baker who focuses intently on baking during work hours, that kind of hyperfixation is not an issue,\u201d Disner said. \u201cBut if I\u2019m hyperfixating on baking when I\u2019m not at work to the point where I\u2019m not engaging with my family, that’s a problem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple symptoms of hyperfixation. The most common ones, the majority of which indicate hyperfocusing is negatively affecting a teen\u2019s life, include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teens may experience several types of hyperfixation based on their thoughts, personality, history, and other factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a teen hyperfixates on a person, it\u2019s typically because they feel a strong emotion toward that individual. Since this focus can either be positive or negative, it needs to be managed to ensure healthy relationships are formed and maintained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A hyperfixation on food could involve overly focusing on a specific meal or a single item, such as a piece of fruit. This may have long-standing health consequences if the food is not nutritious or there is not enough variety in what a teen is eating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many teens enjoy watching TV as a way to escape, but hyperfixating on shows that distract them from day-to-day life is when this behavior becomes an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s good for teens to have hobbies they can enjoy during their free time, as long as they don\u2019t develop an unhealthy hyperfocus that pulls them away from everyday tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If a teenager gets hyperfixated on a train of thought, it can distract them from schoolwork, their home life, and other responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no clear-cut reason why teens become hyperfocused on something, so it\u2019s hard to identify the causes of hyperfixation. It differs depending on the person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, it affects people who have visual hyposensitivity (i.e., they underreact to what they see), auditory hypersensitivity (i.e, they\u2019re overly sensitive to noise), anxiety, vision issues, an inability to shift focus, or difficulty planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, there are some conditions that may cause your teen to be more likely to hyperfixate on something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults, teenagers, or children with attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder understand what hyperfocusing on something feels like, as ADHD and hyperfixation can be connected. People who have the disorder are often prone to hyperfocusing on activities like video games, TV shows, home projects, and books, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent interview<\/a>, ADHD expert Russell Barkley, Ph.D., said, \u201cChildren and adults with ADHD have difficulty shifting attention from one thing to another. If they\u2019re doing something they enjoy or find psychologically rewarding, they\u2019ll tend to persist in this behavior after others would normally move on to other things.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n As is the case with ADHD, hyperfixation and autism can be connected. For example, Disner has worked with some autistic people who\u2019ve become attached to other people because they feel there\u2019s something missing in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor some people with autism spectrum disorder,\u201d Disner said, \u201cwhen there is an acknowledgment that another person is interested in them and wants a relationship with them, they can become hyperfixated on that person or that relationship in general.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n For teens with depression<\/a>, hyperfocus can be a coping mechanism. Someone with depression and hyperfixation may hyperfocus on something that pulls their attention away from the despair or pain they\u2019re experiencing in their everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to hyperfixation and anxiety<\/a>, the reasoning is similar to that of depression. Turning their attention away from their concerns is a way for teens to forget what they\u2019re feeling anxious about. It\u2019s a temporary fix that gives them a break from their worries and fears. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTable of contents<\/h2>
What Is Hyperfixation? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms of Hyperfixation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Types of Hyperfixation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hyperfixation on a person <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hyperfixation on food <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hyperfixation on shows <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hyperfixation on hobbies <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hyperfixation on thoughts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Causes Hyperfixation? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ADHD <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Autism <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Depression <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Anxiety <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
OCD <\/h3>\n\n\n\n