The Power of Autistic Hyperfocus | Open DoorsTherapy

Hello! Welcome back to my blog series on Social Skills in the Workplace. I want to help neurodiverse individuals feel more comfortable at work. This is why I run support groups for autistic working professionals. In this blog series, we have discussed confusion around facial expressions, the importance of a social smile, small talk, initiating conversations, and sensory overload. Today, We will discuss hyperfocus and how it can help you at work!

Many people on the spectrum have the power of hyperfocus. This can be your saving grace because you can be highly productive. And you can block out distractions, and reduce the impact of issues like sensory overload.

Hyperfocus Can Both Help and Hurt Your Relationships

Being hyperfocused can be both a blessing and a curse. Because, if you are hyperfocused, being able to shift your attention to something else can be incredibly hard for you. It can be particularly difficult when you have to shift your attention to social interaction. Social interactions take extra energy. typically Because they can deplete your social battery. When you hyperfocus, it is like your mind and whole being are tuning into only that one topic. Having to focus on something else can cause annoyance, irritability and sometimes even anger.

Hyperfocus: An Example

I’ll be honest, I have the superpower of hyperfocus. I like that about myself. It has helped me work on big, complex research projects. So what’s been the downside for me? I remember one time my sister was frustrated with me and raised her voice. She told me that I ignore her. She was hurt. I was confused. But, I remembered that I was in a hyperfocused state before she said this. So it took me a minute to zoom out of this state of mind and pay attention to what she was saying.

When I’m hyperfocused, it’s like entering a pure world of thought. Many clients have described it to me as peaceful and focused. During these moments, it takes time to come back to earth to have a conversation. When my sister raised her voice and told me that I ignore her, I realized what was happening. And then I gave a “mini-disclosure”.

What’s a Mini-Disclosure?

I define a mini-disclosure as a description of my behavior from my point of view. I include my intentions and how I value the person I’m speaking to. Then, I make a simple request (if needed). This helps the person understand my perspective. It gives us the opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings about my intentions.

I shared with my sister that when I hyperfocus what I’m thinking about has my complete and utter attention. So, if she comes up to me in this hyperfocus state, I usually will not see her. And if she talks to me or even says my name, I may not hear her. I told her that I love her and my intention was not to ignore her. Then, I explained that if she talks to me and I am not responsive, to tap me on the shoulder and say my name. Finally, I asked her to give me a few seconds to “re-enter the earth’s atmosphere” and then wait for me to provide a verbal response. Then she will know that I am able to listen to her. This mini-disclosure helped her understand me much better and resolved her hurt feelings. I felt better too because I wanted her to understand that I did not have ill will toward her.

The strategy of “mini-disclosure” can be helpful to use to resolve conflict or miscommunications. It’s a strategy I’ll discuss more in future blog posts.

Stay Connected With Open Doors Therapy

Thanks for reading this series about social skills in the workplace. I hope this installment on hyperfocus was helpful. If you liked this blog and feel like it applies to you or someone you know, I would love for you to be a part of our working professionals community at Open Doors Therapy.

Here are three easy ways to stay connected with my autism therapy clinic:

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