[fingers1]

Even as a child I knew That I was somehow different I would sit and stare out of the classroom window as I could not concentrate on what the teacher
was trying to teach the class. Maths was a big problem and I never learned how to punctuate properly. Somehow I slipped through the net but my
concentration problems continued later on into my working years.
At the age of 47 fifteen years after a prolonged period of hypomania, mania and then a huge depressive crash I was finally diagnosed with bipolar 2.
Still to this day I struggle to read a book as it just doesn't sink in
especially during winter when my brain and body grind to a halt
I have to go over things many times before I finally get there.

Anyone else have this problem ?

fingers !

[gayleggg]

I've gone through stages where I can't read or concentrate, but right now I've been able to read. I have a lot of lows and very few highs. Sometimes I just don't feel up to holding a book up to read it.

[Zippo]

I love to read but rarely can do it. It's a great distraction and it makes me think I'm getting smarter instead of sitting like a lump of dirt all day and crying but I can't make the words go into my head and I feel so hopeless I think why even bother. Sometimes I probably could read a book if I really committed to it but I'm too negative to try since I've completely given up hope now so why would I even try to do something useful? I flunked out of school because there was a window to stare out of. My name could be "she who stares out windows" because that's all I do all day. It always seems to be raining, but then I realize it's the tears in my eyes and my own internal weather. Sad thing is, I'm a writer. Haven't written in years. I can manage skimming articles on the internet or reading posts on this site but that's as in depth as I get now. A book feels like a mountain.

[unicornlady]

I definitely have concentration issues as a symptom of bipolar, but no issue as a child. Did you have child onset bipolar symptoms? If not, could it be something else like ADD?

[ayana95]

Concentrating is hard for me. I take an ADD medication to help me focus. I love to read and with out it I wouldn't be able to. It does make me feel a better to concentrate and to stay on topic. Give me a little energy to off set the sleepiness of my night meds.

[BipolaRNurse]

I have a lot of difficulty with concentration and learning new things. I don't know whether it's the BP or the meds, or some combination of the two. I used to be very inattentive in class when I was in school but got better in college, probably because I was older and wanted to be there. But now I don't seem to be able to retain new information.....that's why I lost my last job, there was a steep learning curve and I just could not handle it. It's really frustrating! I used to be a voracious reader and now I can barely get through a magazine article.

[faerie_moon_x]

Yes, this is part of bipolar. It's part of the symptoms which you don't find on the "diagnosis" chart currently, which is impairment to executive cognitive function, but more doctors are becoming aware, and research is being done all the time in this area. This is an observed problem with people with bipolar, and you are not alone. Like all the other symptoms, some people have it worse than others. I've also had a lot of cognitive decline and can no longer read books easily, which I used to love doing. Focus, memory, organization, and processing (absorbing information and understanding it,) are all executive cognitive functions which can be effected.

You're not alone in this.

[Blitter2014]

I have a lot of difficulty with concentration. If I read, I find myself reading the same section over and over in order to 'get it' and even then I still don't get it, especially subtle things. I often try to read a book whilst I am holidays. I can read, then leave the book for a day, then have to read the last half dozen pages again just to pick up what I was reading because I had forgotten the plot or where I was up to.Watching a movie is the same, I am constantly asking my partner to explain what is going on or why did that happen etc. I live on lists, sticky notes everywhere, reminders on my phone, notes on the fridge, in the car, beside my bed.

You are most certainly not alone

[Tucson]

I go through long periods of time with these cognitive deficits. At one point in time I wondered if I had early onset Alzheimer's. The future will tell.

[Mimielam]

My concentration is better since my PDOC started to evaluate if I have ADHD. I started to take med gradually for that. I find it helps me focus and sort of calms me down. It also helps me not to over focus on some topics and I can pay attention better....BUT... I've got to say that at certain stages of cycles..It does get really hard to focus and to concentrate even when I keep taking the meds for that.

[sprik]

I went through college with great grades , got my bachelors in Network Eng in Cisco. Toward the last year I experienced a lot of memory problems. I was tested for ADD, which was not the case. They stated it was more likely Bipolar related. My testing stated my memory is now at below average range.

[Ruftin]

I have actually pulled down 3 or 4 sticky notes I left for myself around the house or in the car that said exactly the same thing.