I dont think so? If I am actually sick and not just a minor cold, I dont much energy anyhow, nevermind keeping track of my surroundings.

Special Education teacher here... and purely anecdotal based on observations: Some of my kids over the years are just like you. If they have bad allergies, getting over flu/cold, ear infection, etc- they tend to present as "calmer", not need as much stimuli, and can even focus more than usual. This is RARE, but I've got years of experience and taught dozens of kids with adhd/autism dx and it happens. Me and my colleagues tend to think the body and brain are so overstimulated and preoccupied by the sickness, that no other input is being sought out. But again, just one teacher's experience.

Na, when I'm sick I just veg out 24/7 man.

The fever effect is fairly well documented, and could account for what you're seeing. For me, when I'm sick it feels like I suddenly gain the ability to take care of myself.

Exhaustion can also create this effect. A lot of us tend to be night owls by preference. Tiredness makes our brain calm down, making focusing easy. There are also less distractions at night, compounding the advantage.

Are you taking any medication for your sinus infection? If so, perhaps your sinus medicine is also therapeutic for your ADHD?

Hangovers do this too.

Do you have more hyperactive or attention-deficit symptoms? I'm attention-deficit and i can't recall in any way feeling improvement when sick, in fact it drives me up the wall because when i'm sick i can't stimulate myself properly and i get bored out my skull to a degree that is almost more suffering than the physical pain from the sickness.

One time i was so stressed that i lost my adhd symptoms. I think that might be related to your experience, and dopamine processing.

My partner had a mental health flare up, which rolled into a marathon fight and almost no sleep. I wanted to call out from work, but once i started it felt like i had a super power.

I could just do boring repititive work until it was done. Then complete the next task. For a full day! No leaving my office for no reason, no realizing i'd been thinking about the bronze age for the last 10 minutes, no 30 minute side quests solving someone else's question. Someone asked me to do something that i didn't have time to do and i realized i didn't have time and actually said no.

Being absolutely shattered and maybe the most in-control i've ever felt was a weird combo.

My explanation has to do with dopamine processing. One contributor to executive functioning issues is overly-efficient dopamine processing in the frontal cortext. The motivation chemical comes in, you start to do the task, but then your brain's already processed all the dopamine so tough luck, we're off on our next adventure. The benefit of this is being resistant to the dopamine overload that cripples decision making in high stress situations.

I suspect that certain low-medium stress situations - being sick, tired, etc. - can produce enough extra dopamine to offset the issue, allowing neurotypical-like executive functioning.

It definitely allows me to rest more than usual and fall asleep way easier.

Oh, that's why I am able to work with focus from 2 am to 7am, when my meds are not active. I have still tinnitus still, but my thoughts are clear. Being sick for like 5 days days.

Being sick was the only way I could sit still and watch bladerunner 2048

Some infections give me the best possible sleep. It feels like ...