[Brentus]

An interesting concept that I find that I can really relate to. Hyperfixation (and hyperfocusing) apparently are relatively common in a lot of mental health issues, including Bipolar. Hyperfixation is immersing yourself into a thing/subject intensely. For some people it can be books, a certain genre or author, others TV shows, others cooking.. it can be whatever.

If there was ever a definite "yes" to be checked on my mental evaluation, this question would have a large check. For me -- it's whatever is current in my life. Let me explain. I mentioned before I have a few hundred dollars worth of courses on Udemy because of hyperfixation. They hit a lot of different fields, from web development, music, language, and spiritualism.

I hyperfixate a lot. I think it is what really made me such a good student when I was in school. I delve deep. My most recent example, and to show how it can spiral off started when I started a new medicine. I don't mean I looked up side effects or reviews. I mean I broke up my pharmacology textbook I bought and I can tell you all about mechanism of action, absorption rate, method of metabolism, therapeutic doses (monotherapy or otherwise), a lot of details about clinical trials, and of course, the more common, important things-- like side effects, and reviews. From there I went into a sprint of reading about pharmacology and fast forward to today-- the book I have open right now is about the future considerations for psychiatry. This isn't a novel interest. I do this with everything I particularly find of interest right then. I've often joked if I could redo it all, I'd become a [insert whatever subject of interest is today here]. haha.In fact, I've almost enrolled in school for a few things out of obsession for it.


My computer has a folder labeled "Academics" and inside I have so many sub folders of subjects and ebooks. from Accounting to Spirituality. Any and everything in between -- you name it-- I've got it.


Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with me finding it intriguing. There's nothing wrong with learning all I can know about anything... but it has lead me into spending too much money, in the past. It's definitely awful when you hyperfixate on negative things -- a fight, your own struggles... it can be a lot.

So, I should mention that the intense, hypertfixation never lasts more than a few weeks, typically for me. That doesn't mean it's not debilitating. It also doesn't mean it doesn't mesh with my other issues and exacerbate them!

Among all the stuff we already deal with. Do any of you tend to hyperfixate? Has it caused you issues? Has it made a negative (or positive) impact on your mental health? I'm curious to know!

And on the note (another thing I can have trouble doing is staying on target lol) -- isn't it strange how so many things and symptoms overlap with mental health? While we like to look for "hallmark" tell-tale signs, it's hardly the case for most people. Take psychosis -- schizophrenia, depression, brief psychotic disorder, and bipolar disorder all can have the symptom. It's not unique and while there are variables that help isolate which it may be stemming from... it's just a good reminder that even when we look at each disorder as a spectrum, or even as we thing of mental health so categorically-- it rarely is.

That's not to say that the categorical approach isn't without its merits. We have better understanding of some disorders than others thus psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy can be more beneficial by knowing those things.

Anyway, back ON target -- hyperfixation is seen a lot with ADHD and autism as well. Just wanted to show you how varied a symptom can manifest.

[Soupe du jour]

I agree this "hyperfixation/hyperfocus" can occur in various mental health conditions. I've brought up this topic in the past, myself, and the usual automatic response of others is to say "Do you think you have ADHD?" The answer is no. I do not come close to meeting the criteria for that disorder. Hyperfocus, alone, is not sufficient.

I will say that I've experienced hyperfixation/hyperfocus predominately during elevated mood episodes, and that also includes mixed states. In fact, sometimes even more so during mixed states. A huge difference between my hyperfixation/hyperfocus and perhaps that of some with ADHD is that I often achieve my goals (often big ones) during such periods. However, if I aim WAAAAAAY too high, I might crash and burn, as a result. Of course sometimes I go from one to another thing, rapidly, but I then tend to be able to multi-task well. Definitely not the case during depressions, and often not the case when high anxiety is involved. But high excitement (of a better sort) is a different story.

There is something to the grandiosity of elevated states. Since they tend to be accompanied by superhuman efforts, faster "outside the box" thinking, it can be true that ideas flow easier. We can be a bit more creative and "intelligent" during those times. Just as depression can bring the opposite. Poverty of thought.

My moods have been quite level this year. I haven't felt particularly inspired or excited by anything. In fact, I'm at a loss for where to go next. I sort of wish I had a little more inspiration and zeal.

[Victoria'smom]

I get hyper fixated on things usually when I'm normal mood or a little up. I've enrolled in school to many times to count and this has lead to awful money problems. to the point I don't control the money in my house. Both my husband and my son have hyper fixation issues too. I don't know how to fix it but know your not alone.