Hyperfocus can be a strength when it’s being applied to something worthwhile or meaningful. However, even when we’re using it “productively*” it comes at a cost: our energy.

In this episode, Marcus and Esme discuss hyperfocus hangovers – the emotional and even physical exhaustion many people with ADHD experience following prolonged periods of hyperfocus. They explain why hyperfocus can be so taxing on our minds and bodies, and the extra energy people with ADHD need to expend to direct our attention to less interesting tasks. They also discuss what we can do to mitigate the effects of hyperfocus hangovers, and how even being aware of the phenomenon might help us let go of some of the shame we constantly carry around.

*Note: “Productive” use of hyperfocus is difficult to define; nevertheless, the various jagweeds who sign our checks will invariably attempt to determine this for us in ways that are both arbitrary and stupid. Therefore, whenever possible, it might be more fruitful to apply our hyperfocus to efforts we find “worthwhile” or “meaningful” rather than efforts someone else deems “productive.”

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Sources for this episode include:

• Manos, Michael. “Understanding Hyperfocus and ADHD.” Cleveland Clinic, 9 Dec. 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hyperfocus-and-adhd.
• Cootey, Douglas. “After the Thrill: Avoiding a Hyperfocus Hangover.” ADDitude Magazine, 9 May 2025, https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-hyperfocus-crash.
• Guy‑Evans, Olivia. “ADHD Hyperfocus: The Phenomenon of Intense Fixation.” Simply Psychology, 26 Jan. 2024, https://www.simplypsychology.org/hyperfocus-in-adhd.html.

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