Curiosity: Simultaneously the Drive Behind, and the Bane of, Living with ADD
It’s often said that people with ADD/ADHD tend to be very curious and creative types; at least, when they are able to focus their mental energy adequately. They are often driven, in fact, able to focus with incredible intensity on things for extended periods. This single-minded focus is often referred to as “hyperfocus.”. When in the grip of this hyperfocus (it’s usually not something that is “on-demand,” as I understand it), a person can accomplish a great deal. The flip side of hyperfocus, however, is that random curiosity can pull you in 100 directions at once, such that you are unable to focus on the one or more that are particularly important at that time. Hence, it is an equal driving force of success and what kills the cat.
Looking at my Kindle book collection is probably a good indication how this might work. 🙂
See all those Asimov books? I bought the set 5 days ago, and I have already finished 5 of the 7 books. And that is how I am still up an hour past my usual bedtime, because when a book really grabs me, it becomes impossible to put down. Time and space disappear; there is only the book and my imagination.
And when something doesn’t grab me quite so vigorously, or when I come upon a new broader topic and several related books, I bounce around among several and it can take months to finish all of them – unless I get distracted by something else new a shiny…oh look, a squirrel! Gotta go!
BTW I have actually finished most all of the books seen in these screenshots; beyond the last 2 by Asimov, maybe 3 others are either partially read or not even started. I just downloaded them to the iPad for the screenshots.
#add #adhd # #curiosity
