Hyperfixations: It’s Not Obsession, It’s Dopamine
Manage episode 516622327 series 3693398
Ever convinced yourself this time it’s different? That new hobby, skill, or random obsession is definitely your life’s purpose? Yeah. That’s hyperfixation. ADHD’s version of a two-week love affair with a side of existential overcommitment.
In this episode, I’m talking about the beautiful chaos that is hyperfixation: why it feels like a rush, how anxiety crashes the party, and what actually happens when the dopamine runs out.
Because hyperfixations aren’t failures. They’re just proof that our brains care deeply, sometimes for two weeks, sometimes for two months, always dramatically. 💛
✨ What I cover:
- What hyperfixation actually is (and how it’s different from hyperfocus)
- Why your brain treats every new hobby like a soulmate
- The “glow phase,” when you swear you’ve found your purpose
- The crash, when dopamine ghosts you mid-project
- How anxiety turns rest into guilt
- Learning to pause before you chase the next shiny thing
- Tips for working with your brain, not against it
💬 Quotes to remember:
“Hyperfixation is ADHD’s version of falling in love. The dopamine hits hard, and reality hits harder.”
“Your brain isn’t flaky, it’s just chasing a feeling that makes everything else quiet for a while.”
“When the spark fades, it’s not failure. It’s your brain taking a nap, not quitting on you.”
“You don’t need to build a house in every new obsession. Sometimes it’s enough to just visit.”
🧠 Takeaway: Hyperfixations aren’t proof of inconsistency. They’re little bursts of joy, curiosity, and meaning. The trick isn’t to stop them. It’s to stop shaming yourself when they end.
So ride the wave, don’t build a house there, and remember: when the buzz fades, it’s not the end. It’s just intermission.
#ADHD #Hyperfixation #ADHDAnxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #MentalHealth #HyperfixationCrash #ADHDLife
Chapters
1. Welcome to the Chaos (00:00:00)
2. What Even Is Hyperfixation? (00:00:55)
3. Hyperfixation vs. Hyperfocus (00:02:16)
4. Bingeing, Tabs, and Tangents (00:03:44)
5. The Glow Phase (00:05:10)
6. When the Spark Fades (00:06:36)
7. Anxiety Enters the Chat (00:07:35)
8. The Aftermath Loop (00:09:28)
9. Learning to Pause (00:10:55)
10. The Overthinking Post-Mortem (00:11:49)
11. ADHD + Anxiety: The Tag-Team Duo (00:13:42)
12. Tips That Might Help (00:14:11)
13. Wrapping Up: Loving the Messy Brain (00:16:01)
11 episodes