Question: Is there any research on what we can do about the hyperfixation cycles? Being a milder and more funcitoning case, I can handle every aspect of ADHD except for the chronic boredom and the hyperfixation cycles. They completely mess up my career path, but if I don't surrender to them I become extremely depressed.
Answer:  One effect of ADHD is to dysregulate the reward system, which is the brain system that controls how we respond to rewarding or punishing events.  People vary in the degree to which their behavior is controlled by distant rewards (e.g., if I study a lot, I'll get a good job a few years from now) vs. immediate rewards (e.g., when playing a video game, one is frequently rewarded). For many people with ADHD, immediate rewards are very potent and can lead to hyperfocus on, for example, a hobby.   The opposite of hyperfocus is mind wandering when we jump from one thought/activity to another.  That occurs when no rewards are sufficient to have us focus on a goal oriented task.   Boredom occurs when the rewardingness of an activity starts out high and then gets smaller.  One reason that happens is that as one get more involved in an activity, the challenges required to complete the activity increase, which makes it less rewarding.   Sticking to an activity becomes easier if we can convince  and reminding ourselves that the long-term benefit is worth the effort.
content: Q: Is there any research on what we can do about the hyperfixation cycles? Being a milder and more funcitoning case, I can handle every aspect of ADHD except for the chronic boredom and the hyperfixation cycles. They completely mess up my career path, but if I don't surrender to them I become extremely depressed.
   Ans:  One effect of ADHD is to dysregulate the reward system, which is the brain system that controls how we respond to rewarding or punishing events.  People vary in the degree to which their behavior is controlled by distant rewards (e.g., if I study a lot, I'll get a good job a few years from now) vs. immediate rewards (e.g., when playing a video game, one is frequently rewarded). For many people with ADHD, immediate rewards are very potent and can lead to hyperfocus on, for example, a hobby.   The opposite of hyperfocus is mind wandering when we jump from one thought/activity to another.  That occurs when no rewards are sufficient to have us focus on a goal oriented task.   Boredom occurs when the rewardingness of an activity starts out high and then gets smaller.  One reason that happens is that as one get more involved in an activity, the challenges required to complete the activity increase, which makes it less rewarding.   Sticking to an activity becomes easier if we can convince  and reminding ourselves that the long-term benefit is worth the effort.