ADHD’s Most Unpredictable Superpower Takes Charge

Harnessing Hyperfocus: Will Your Intense Concentration Work For or Against You?

When I got my official ADHD (inattentive type) diagnosis almost two years ago, no one dared try to tell me about hyperfocus.

I read misleading, even errant blogs, that misinterpret what hyperfocus is…or is NOT.

In retrospect, I think Yoda should have appeared to define hyper focus.

“A power for good, or time-eating curse. Flip life’s coin. BEWARE.”

Quickly, I learned that Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder isn’t an accurate title. I have lots of attention to devote. One innocent Google search can be a gateway drug, addicting me to 30 to 60 minutes of meandering through a mental cornfield maze.

Instead, I have a focus deficit. Imagine you as a television. You hold a TV remote control for yourself. You may get 200 channels, but the remote chooses the channel. You don’t. You can try. But don’t expect a lot.

This is my hyperfocus. I might get stuck on a weather channel, and can’t tune in anywhere else for hours.

Centering My Attention With A Bullseye!

But last week, my aim was perfect. I hyper-focused reflexively, feeling like an unstoppable superhero.

I attended an evening bingo game at my apartment building. Suddenly, an ear-splitting fire alarm sounded.

To me, this seemed like a repeat of Christmas Eve, when a resident burnt his pork chop.

Tenants automatically start fanning their hallway doors to clear smoke out of their apartments. Of course, ceiling fans and wide-open windows would make a lot more sense.

I was sure this was another kitchen calamity. I started down one hallway, calling, “Where’s the smoke? Where are the flames?”

At the far end of the next hallway, an elderly woman waved.

“Show me,” I said.

She pointed at the oven. A tray of former food sat blackened. Were they cinnamon rolls? They looked more like lumps of charcoal now.

But there were no food flames. I kept looking.

Amazingly, two woven potholders were flaming on the oven floor.

“Why are there potholders in there?”

An aged female roommate sighed. “I told her the oven rack was too hot to grab. When I tried, I had to drop the potholders.”

The first woman gasped. “But IN the oven?”

Details could wait. The fire would not.

I saw the fire extinguisher sitting beside the oven. “We got it from the hallway, but didn’t see the directions.”

I pretended to be someone capable of saving the day. I saw a silver ring. A safety release?

I yanked. The metal pin that prevented the extinguisher from squirting detached.

“Open the oven door now, please.”

After the first blast of foam, I heard, “There goes our food.”

I aimed at the potholders but wasn’t prepared for the recoil of the fire extinguisher.

“And there goes our floor,” said her cohort.

I helped the ladies lift their windows wide open.

“Just who are you?” asked one lady.

I had no cape, mask, or boots. But I felt like a superhero.

I shrugged. “Third Floor Tom?”

Seeking Other Superheroes

Out in the hall, a neighbor volunteered to call 911. After a dispatcher confirmed that the fire department was on its way, I went out front to wait.

I explained everything. My last sentence was: “Please, somebody. Turn off that damned alarm.”

Immediately, a fireman nodded and restored quiet with the flick of a switch.

I thanked the men for coming, then sprinted up three flights of stairs.

My cat ran to meet me. I scooped her up.

All remaining hyperfocus was centered on Penny The Cat.

The next day, I replayed the adventure in my head. There were no magic words that I spoke to become capable.

I’m still laughing at my memories of Dry Idea antiperspirant. The Gillette Company created a hit ad campaign in the 1980s with the commercial slogan, “Never Let Them See You Sweat.”

I suppose sounds stirred me more than any words. I hated that incessant beeping. I knew my cat must have despised the sound even more.

I believed in myself, so others did, too.

However, I know that my hyperfocus is ready to play tricks on me again as soon as possible.

One favorite routine includes bringing home a sack of groceries that does not include any of the products on the shopping list (which was written, but forgotten on the kitchen counter).

Or, a recent trip for errands got sidetracked by the distractingly-clean interior of my little silver car. It looked so spotless, I couldn’t believe it was mine when I got in.

(In truth, it wasn’t. A facsimile silver vehicle parked next to me.)

ADHD’s hyperfocus can be a great asset. Sometimes.

Getting in, then out, of that altered state of mind is hit-and-miss. Even worse, the spot where your attention lands may have been nowhere near the target.

Hard to understand.

Hard to control.

Different for every ADHDer.

But when hyperfocus behaves the way you want, prepare yourself for some epic achievements.

Tom Owens is a daily occurrence on Twitter at @domorebemoreNOW, where he rails against soul-sucking jobs. To help support his snarky sense of humor, consider subscribing to Medium via https://medium.com/@domorebemoreNOW/membership, so Tom will get a tiny reward.