> Of course, the term "hyperfocus" does not appear in ADHD medical literature or any ADHD studies.
Hyperfocus has been used generically to refer to one of the negative effects of a lack of self-control and self-regulation in the executive ability of ADHD individuals. This has been the case for at least the last 15 years. Both inattentiveness and excessive focus are thought to be caused by a lack of dopamine which the stimulant drugs counteract.
> The single best approach to dealing with this is to pursue constant discipline and self-monitoring, in order to train yourself back to a healthier mental process.
There is no single best approach. Different approaches will work for different people. I can only speak for myself but no amount of pursuing discipline and self-monitoring on its own worked for me. Rescuetime, getting things done, pomodoros, daily self evaluation... didn't make an iota of difference before I went to my Dr and got a diagnosis. The combination of Vyvanse and these techniques has made a difference, though I've eliminated the pomodoros as it just flat out doesn't work for me.
> So my advice would be to make efforts to structure your life in ways to minimize distractions and hold yourself accountable for your results.
Easier said than done. Structure is incredibly important but, at least for me, anything can be a distraction. The soft blue glow of the led on my monitors power button is a distraction. The difference in textures of the keys on the keyboard is a distraction, getting suddenly lost in thought or mentally stepping through what I need to do instead of doing it is a problem.
Figuring out what works best for you as an individual is important. I actually work much better with noise in the background so long as it's fairly consistent. Electronic or classical music is pretty good for this for me but at times can be too repetitive and then that becomes a distraction. Music with lyrics is generally better for me so long as the volume isn't too high and I'm already familiar with the songs. This also usually ties directly into the constant motion of my legs. I've been a leg bouncer for my entire life, especially when I need to do something intense like test taking in school or working on a complex algorithm at work.
The addition of medication to my daily life has allowed me to cut out some of the inputs I was giving too much attention to. When I'm locked in on something and someone interrupts me I actually hear them now rather than what would previously look like I was just flat out ignoring them. That ability to not switch tasks when I want to, and switch tasks voluntarily when I need to was absolutely life changing for me. I don't take my medication all of the time, in part to cut down on the tolerance and in part because I'd prefer not to take it forever. Having been on it has helped me be more aware of what I'm doing and catch myself in certain bad habits I've formed; however, if I'm locked into something and my wife walks up and starts talking I won't notice and there doesn't seem to be any amount of structure or discipline that will change things like that. The positive is that we are both aware of what is going on, she knows how to break me out of it better, a light touch, and it no longer is a source of arguments.
> Realize that everyone is distracted in modern life, but that's not necessarily indicative of a disease. Stimulant medications are not to be taken lightly, and you're best avoiding them long-term if possible.
I agree that stimulant medicine isn't something to mess around with or view as a quick solution to get more done. I also don't think it's fair or even good to try to say that everyone is distracted or it's just part of modern life. ADHD is probably over diagnosed because people are looking for a quick fix and going to their Drs with a list of things to say in order to get drugs. Just like with painkillers. If someone is going to their Dr and honestly thinks they may have ADHD or are getting a child evaluated I would find a different Dr if their first recommendation is medication, or if the Dr comes to that conclusion very quickly. I also wouldn't necessarily try to scare people away from trying them if there's a legitimate problem. I wish I had been diagnosed as a child or that I had the sense to talk to my Dr sooner.