Activity Switching for Monotropic Minds

Transitioning without trauma

Last week I was asked how monotropic people can more easily adapt to transitions. The question was great timing, because it came a couple of days after the publication of Tanya Adkin’s concept of Lilipadding.

Let’s start by taking a step back. Monotropic people, which includes autistics and ADHDers, focus more of their attention on fewer things a time compared people who are polytropic and can more easily switch their focus.

If you’re new to the idea of monotropism, then this four-minute video written and narrated by Kieran Rose and animated by Josh Knowles Animation is a great introduction:

There’s a frequent misconception that ADHDers are polytropic because of the false stereotype of an inability to pay attention. This misunderstands ADHD, as ADHDers can get into deep attention tunnels with things that interest them. Focus is harder with things that don’t. Research indicates that people who are both autistic and ADHD tend to be the most monotropic of all.