Podcast Summary: ADHD reWired – Episode 542

Title: Tunnel of Focus: Monotropism, Trauma, and Thriving with ADHD and Autism
Host: Eric Tivers, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Guest: Matia (Mattia) Mauree
Release Date: August 23, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode explores the concept of "monotropism"—a neurocognitive style characterized by deep, focused attention on singular interests or projects—and its intersections with ADHD, autism, trauma, and thriving as a neurodivergent adult. Eric welcomes Matia Mauree, an award-winning composer, poet, podcaster (AudiHD Flourishing), and advocate for creative neurodivergent lives. They delve into lived experiences of monotropic attention, challenges of transitioning, trauma, and self-expression. The conversation is candid, rich in personal narrative, and offers practical as well as philosophical insights for adults with ADHD and/or autism.

Key Topics & Insights

1. What is Monotropism?

(05:57 – 10:39)

• Definition & Origin:
  • "Monotropism was come up as an explanation for autism because the medical explanation for autism actually doesn't cover the experience... Autistic people in particular have a narrower field of capacity for what they can focus on at once and still feel okay."
    — Matia Mauree [05:57]
• Attention Tunnels:
  Neurodivergents, especially autistic/ADHD folks, can focus deeply (and often joyfully) but get extremely distressed when forced to transition from that focus.
• Overlap with ADHD:
  "ADHD folks are more monotropic than the average population. AudiHD folks are the most monotropic... you can be somewhat monotropic and still not be autistic..."
  — Matia [07:40]
• Practical Implication:
  Monotropic people thrive with project-based, deep work, not polytropic, multi-tasked routines.

Memorable Moment:

“My most extreme example is if I’ve been composing all day... I cannot become social... my brain got into a certain mode and it is stuck there... I need to go hide at the bathroom.”
— Matia Mauree [07:12]

2. Monotropism vs. Hyperfocus (ADHD “Superpower”)?

(10:39 – 12:55)

• Hyperfocus, while often celebrated, has a "kryptonite" side—draining executive functioning and making transitions taxing.
• Monotropism, while similar—"attention tunnel"—differs by being more consistent and central to identity for autistic/ADHD people; it's not just about getting 'lost' in something, but an overall way of relating to tasks and interests.

Notable Quote:

“It feels okay to bounce around within the attention tunnel. But if you get yanked all the way out of it, that’s what tends to feel really bad.”
— Matia [12:06]

3. Strategies for Transitioning & Managing Attention

(13:00 – 14:05)

• Transitioning out of a focus tunnel is difficult; Matia schedules "alone time" between work and socializing, practices "brain dumps" using memos to help shift gears.
• Recognizes the reality: “I just don’t want to [transition]... you can’t make me do it. I don’t wanna.”
  — Matia [13:09]

4. Creative Life, Self-Care, and the Perils of Over-Achievement

(14:10 – 17:26)

• Matia describes cycles of over-producing ("large bursts"), then needing to cut back.
• Importance of aligning output with deeper personal and artistic values, instead of just productivity:
  “I did such a good job... cutting things out... then this year I’ve been... adding, fix it again.”
  — Matia [16:06]
• Practical project management: blocking off days for certain projects, deep diving, and knowing when to say “enough.”

5. Personal Story: Diagnosis, Trauma, and Family Context

(25:08 – 29:48)

• Family history: Both parents had undiagnosed ADHD; chaotic home led to resilience but also trauma.
• Sought formal ADHD diagnosis after years of noticeable struggle ("I only went to a grocery store five times for an entire year... I am not okay." [25:08])
• Disordered eating, poor access to care, and lack of recognition even by helping professionals:
  “Even when I was really, really, really skinny... Nobody ever said anything—no doctor ever thought it was a problem, because thinness is so prized...”
  — Matia [26:51]
• On trauma in neurodivergent families:
  “Autistic people appear to be more easily traumatized... our nervous system... can more easily lead to actual trauma.”
  — Matia [38:09]
  "If your parents are neurodivergent and they didn't have their needs met and they're traumatized also... who is gonna help you?"
  — Matia [38:09]

6. Creative Expression & Redefining Success

(33:37 – 48:51)

• Artistic expression vs. communication: The value of creating for oneself rather than external validation.
• "I know from having won things... that it doesn't give you emotionally what you think it's gonna give you."
  — Matia [46:11]
• The power of creating work that moves oneself:
  “I have a choral piece... I went back and listened to it and I cried at the climactic moment and I wrote it... that is satisfying.”
  — Matia [48:43]
• Success is now framed by self-expression, the emotional resonance of one’s own work, and not external accolades.

7. Flourishing vs. Success: Venn Diagram

(49:10 – 51:02)

• “Knowing a lot of miserable successful people... flourishing is, at a very basic sense, getting your needs met.”
  — Matia [49:25]
• The opposite of depression is self-expression. Flourishing means time to deeply pursue interests, synthesize and share ideas, and experience meaning—distinct from capitalist definitions of "success."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On monotropism and transition:
  “My brain got into a certain mode and it is stuck there...” — Matia [07:12]
• On executive dysfunction:
  "It’s like, I know I’m trying to shift gears, but it's just not... my brain is not cooperating.” — Eric [08:41]
• On coaching and creative drive:
  "Every coach I’d worked with had been like, bro, have you thought about calming down?... I finally had a coach... who like, really got through to me.” — Matia [14:10]
• On trauma and support systems:
  “If your parents are neurodivergent and they didn't have their needs met and they're traumatized also like who... is gonna help you?” — Matia [38:09]
• On therapy & masking pain:
  "I’ve had multiple therapists tell me I was their favorite patient... and I’m like I literally might kill myself. What are you talking about!?” — Matia [39:13]

Highlighted Creative Sharing

• Poetry Reading
  • Matia reads a poem published in Boston City Hall:
    “Nine years and counting. No, I did not move here for school. Technically a trap was laid, and I flew into poisoned honey..." [~33:45]
  • The poem explores family trauma, migration, and the nature of “home” as connected to a fraught history.

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [05:57] – Matia defines monotropism
• [07:12] – Personal example of being “stuck” in a focus tunnel
• [08:41] – Discussion: Monotropism vs. ADHD hyperfocus
• [13:00] – Strategies for transitioning between states
• [14:10] – Talk on over-achievement and creative output
• [25:08] – Matia’s diagnosis journey, family context, and personal struggles
• [33:37] – Artistic expression vs. societal expectations
• [38:09] – Trauma, support, and societal failing for neurodivergent individuals
• [46:11] – Reframing success toward meaningful self-expression
• [49:25] – Discussion of flourishing vs. success

Episode Takeaways

• Monotropism is more than just hyperfocus; it's a way of being, thinking, and living, particularly pronounced in autistic/ADHD individuals.
• Transitions are inherently hard for monotropic people; scheduling, brain dumps, and alone time are helpful strategies.
• Self-care for creatives involves aligning output with authentic values, not societal productivity pressures.
• Trauma and masking are common in neurodivergent families, making true support rare and recovery complex.
• Redefining success: True fulfillment comes not from achievement, but from deep engagement and meaningful self-expression.

Resources

• Find Matia’s work & podcast: audihdflourishing.com
• ADHD reWired community: adhdrewired.com

Closing Note

This episode is an honest, nuanced look at the inner workings of monotropic attention, the lived experience of neurodivergence, trauma’s ripple effects, and the journey toward authentic self-expression and fulfillment. Matia’s blend of theory, art, and life experience is especially resonant for anyone navigating ADHD, autism, or creative, non-normative paths.