Hyperfixation is a term that has become prevalent in our social lexicon over the last few years. While many individuals can say that they have hyperfixated on something, not all of us know why this happens exactly.
Have you ever been so invested in something that it becomes all you think about? Have you had trouble focusing or forgotten to do basic tasks because of your interests? If so, it’s more than likely you have hyperfixated on something.
Hyperfixating differs from having a special interest. When there’s a special interest, an individual is focused on a niche topic they are passionate about and choose to engage with. Hyperfixations can be all-consuming and can lead to neglecting other aspects of life. Special interests can become hyperfixations, but they are not the exact same.
A key point of hyperfixations is that anyone can experience them, but they are more common in individuals who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and OCD. But Thriveworks clarifies that “hyperfixation can happen to both neurodivergent and neurotypical people, shaping how we engage with the world around us.”
So, why do we hyperfixate? There are many reasons and the experience of hyperfixating can differ from person to person, but I have found that hyperfixating “can serve as a coping mechanism.” It can also allow for a sense of “relief when circumstances feel out of control,” according to KMN Psych.
When I took MACS 110 (Intro to Media Communications), I learned that media dependency increases during a crisis, and hyperfixating can stem from that desire to rely on something which can provide a sense of structure or immediate reprieve during difficult periods of time.
I am someone that has experienced all-consuming obsessions, particularly with pieces of media. As I get older, I find that I’m growing capable of creating stability in uncertain areas of life, but there are many moments where I turn to media and let myself be engrossed to feel a sense of comfort.
When I was in grade 12, from 2020-2021— a time where the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak — there wasn’t a lot to do except go to school and come home. So, I spent nearly all of my time with different pieces of media, and anything I seemed to get hooked on, I really dedicated my time to it.
While I had classes and homework, it was a time where everything felt incredibly strange, so I found comfort in music, movies, and shows. Specifically, at that time, I became obsessed with the Arctic Monkeys. While they’re still one of my favourite bands, my passion for them isn’t so absorbing — I can now focus on other things and listen to their music without feeling the need to figure out the meaning to every lyric.
I recall sitting at school and wanting nothing more than to go home so I could watch interviews of the band and re-listen to my favourite songs. I would spend my days removing myself from anything that could interfere with my engagement with the band. My days would be structured around listening to their music, watching interviews, and debating which merchandise to buy. Conversations with friends would focus on the British band even if there were other things to talk about.
I think, for me, my Arctic Monkeys hyperfixation at that time was so intense because I needed some form of relief because everything else felt so uncertain. I still get consumed by certain obsessions, but I’ve discovered other outlets to help me find a balance in my day to day.
There are different reasons why we may hyperfixate, but it’s crucial to acknowledge when something completely takes over your life. It’s important to have things you are passionate about, but it’s also important to make sure they don’t disrupt your life and make you lose track of time or isolate yourself. If, like me, you experience hyperfixations to an intense degree, it’s okay you maintain your interests, but don’t let your life become that one thing.
If you get the chance, share your hyperfixations with others and hopefully your interests, that could potentially isolate you, turn into opportunities for making friends and building a community.
Hyperfixations can be interesting and allow you to broaden your ideas of the world, but they can also force you into your own little bubble. I understand that it can be difficult to detach yourself, but it’s essential to recognize there’s an entire world before you that has room for you, your hyperfixations, and other things too.
