On the surface, the flow state and hyperfocus may seem very similar. This is because both states involve intense concentration with increased productivity. However, for those with ADHD, flow state and hyperfocus have several key differences.
First, hyperfocus is usually associated with a particular task or stimulus, while flow state is more general. A flow state can occur during any activity, while hyperfocus is typically triggered by something that captures our attention. This is especially true for ADHD. For example, a person with ADHD may be able to focus intensely on a video game, but struggle to maintain that same level of concentration on schoolwork.
Second, a flow state is usually considered a positive experience, while hyperfocus can have positive and negative consequences. The positive outcomes are related to increased productivity. With ADHD, the negative aspects of hyperfocus relate to time blindness and the inability to switch focus away from the current task.
The inability to switch focus during hyperfocus relates to ADHD’s struggle with distractability. On one side of the focus spectrum, ADHD symptoms make focusing on a single task difficult. On the other side of the spectrum, the same ADHD trait creates the inability to switch away from the hyperfocused task.
This struggle with focus can have serious consequences. For example, a student with ADHD may be able to hyperfocus on studying for a test, but then not be able to switch gears and focus on taking the test. The time blindness associated with hyperfocus can also lead to problems. A person in a state of hyperfocus may not realize how much time has passed and may miss a deadline or appointment.
Another difference relates to whether the person has ADHD or not. With ADHD, the sustained and locked focus becomes hyperfocus. For those without ADHD, this intense concentration usually manifests as a flow state.
In this sense, a flow state can be differentiated by the ability to exit the intense focus session. For those without ADHD, exiting the flow state when needed is generally possible without much effort. In this sense, it can be frustrating when someone distracts us and causes us to lose our focus state. With ADHD’s symptom of distractability, a flow state can morph into a hyperfocus session where we cannot exit hyperfocus when needed.
Flow state and hyperfocus are two different states that can be experienced during intense concentration. For those with ADHD, hyperfocus is much more typical. Even while in a flow state, ADHD symptoms will change the flow state into hyperfocus. The main difference between the two states is that a flow state can be exited when needed, while hyperfocus related to ADHD can make it very difficult to leave the focused task.
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