[freefallin]

I don't know how much of my inability to concentrate is due to depression and how much is due to other factors. I never had difficulty concentrating until about 6 years ago. At the same time, I started noticing other issues with cognition like I couldn't remember words or put together sentences in coherent ways. It took me weeks to complete short school essays because I would just sit there trying to remember words and backspacing my sentences because half of them made no sense or sounded extremely disorganized. I couldn't focus in my classes or focus on pretty much anything either. I got in the habit of just walking around on auto pilot because it was too much work to try to force myself to be "present" when I just couldn't concentrate on what was going on at the moment.

I found out about a freelance writing gig where I can get paid $30 a piece to write articles for a company, and while it's not great pay, if I could just make myself focus and write 3 articles a day, I would be much better off financially. Except I can't do it. I sit down at the computer with intention to write, and then I lose focus completely. If I manage to start typing, I get frustrated because I can't put my thoughts down in a way that sounds organized and makes sense, so I just start crying or walk away to eat or something.

I don't know what to do. I hate never being able to focus on anything. I feel like I don't even exist in the world. I'm just an automaton walking around not really noticing anything going on in my surroundings because I am so unfocused. I miss so many things that go on around me. Like someone will say, "omg what is wrong with that driver?" if I'm in the car with someone, and I'll be like, "What?" because I didn't even catch the crazy or illegal thing the person did.

[Salmon77]

I've noticed (and feel like I've read articles about this being a common thing) that I am much less able to focus when on the computer. Between all the various mobile devices and ads and the ability to constantly distract one's self, attention becomes fragmented and hard to maintain.

It helps me to do a lot of prewriting away from the computer (outlines, rough drafts). Might be worth a shot if you don't do this already.

[freefallin]

That is a good point. My focus sucks anywhere, but the computer doesn't help with all of the tabs, lights, and images everywhere. Unfortunately, doing writing away from the computer wouldn't be useful for this job since the low pay makes taking the time to construct several drafts a bad idea....I would never get anything else done throughout the day if I spent hours upon hours writing and rewriting each article. Plus, I need the computer for the research aspect. It would be much of a better idea if I was writing for magazines and got paid like $200+ an article, of course, so that I had the freedom to take my time.

[JustTvTroping]

This might help you:
If you're not allergic to honey, sometimes it helps to put some on your favorite dessert, cereal, etc.

Drink a lot of water.

Try taking short breaks every once in a while, and when you take those breaks, try listening to music, or taking a short walk (take a noepad to take notes (or use a memo/notepad app) whenever you get an idea for an article-it helps to sometimes get away from your work.

I'm sure there's more advice that I've tried that actually work, but that's what I can think of at the top of my head other than writing rough drafts.

[freefallin]

I do drink a LOT of water throughout the day and take tons of breaks...mostly because I can't focus and give up trying, telling myself, "I'll try again in 15 minutes."

I'll see if honey helps. Thanks.

[Clara22]

Sometimes aromatherapy works for me, I use peppermint. They say rosemary is better but I hate the smell ( it gives me nausea). Peppermint tea works for me sometimes. Also, if i take a bath or a shower before starting writing, and make sure the temperature of the room is just fine

[Creative1onder]

Concentrating and making decisions is definitely something I find difficult to do and is linked with anxiety and depression.

[Altered Moment]

Are you on any medications that could possibly be causing this???

[love23]

I can relate. Its so hard to be present when u feel like this and everything seems to be so hard to do.your not alone.

[Fuzzybear]

[freefallin]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

Are you on any medications that could possibly be causing this???

No, I'm not taking anything. About a year ago, I was put on Vyvanse and then Strattera to try to help with the concentration, but they both just made it even harder to focus along with producing other unpleasant side effects. I don't seem to tolerate medications very well, so I don't take them.

[Creative1onder]

Difficultuy concentrating is a symptom of depression.

[Altered Moment]

It is a symptom of depression and I get it. Six years is a long time though. Have you been depressed for six years???

I think I would see a neurologist from what you describe.

[Creative1onder]

Depression isn't the same for everyone. It can be just short term, few days, a week or two or longer term. You can suffer with clinicial depression for long time, and have recurrent severe depressive periods and it does affect your concentration on activities and in making decisions.

[freefallin]

No, I got depressed after the cognitive problems started. It was a factor that caused me to become depressed, I think, because I used to be really smart, and now I can't think straight. Not the only factor, though.

I already saw a neurologist. I saw two. I technically saw four, but one of them was another guy in the same practice as the second doctor. I asked to be switched because the doctor I had wasn't listening to me, and the guy they switched me to acted annoyed that I doubted his friend's treatment and just read me the old doctor's notes. So it was basically like seeing the same doctor again. Then I went to one more neurologist, but he wouldn't accept the previous two MRIs I already had done and insisted I get another one. Didn't have money for another MRI, so I never saw him again.

No money for anymore doctors now. The ones I saw said there was nothing wrong on my brain scan or blood tests.

[Altered Moment]

Very odd.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[waterknob1234]

I seem to have a hard time focusing and concentrating lately as well, and this isn't like me. I attribute it to depression.

[Creative1onder]

Yeah difficulty concentrating, making decisions and sleeping are all key symptoms of depression.

[Creative1onder]

When I am in severe depressive and anxious state its very difficult for me to concentrate on things like reading, watching tv, listening to conversations, and doing tasks.

[freefallin]

I haven't been able to do those things for years. I don't watch TV or movies anymore because I can't follow along with the plot or keep track of who is who. When I took some film classes in school, I had to read summaries of the movies online to be able to write papers on them because I couldn't concentrate when we watched the films in class.

I used to have a hard time recognizing faces too, so if there were two actors in the movie with short black hair, for instances, I couldn't even tell them apart. I don't have that issue as much anymore, though.

[Clara22]

What happens when you read?

[Creative1onder]

Not comfortable or concentrated when I want to read paper or something

[Creative1onder]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

Are you on any medications that could possibly be causing this???

No medication is not factor for me for why I don't concentrate well. Its just to do with anxiety and depression.

[freefallin]

Reading is very difficult for me too because I have trouble remembering what I read, following along, or keeping focused on the reading for very long. It's not as bad as watching movies or TV since I can usually go at my own pace with it, but like, it'll take me 10 hours to read a couple of chapters out of my school books.

Originally Posted by freefallin

I don't know how much of my inability to concentrate is due to depression and how much is due to other factors. I never had difficulty concentrating until about 6 years ago. At the same time, I started noticing other issues with cognition like I couldn't remember words or put together sentences in coherent ways. It took me weeks to complete short school essays because I would just sit there trying to remember words and backspacing my sentences because half of them made no sense or sounded extremely disorganized. I couldn't focus in my classes or focus on pretty much anything either. I got in the habit of just walking around on auto pilot because it was too much work to try to force myself to be "present" when I just couldn't concentrate on what was going on at the moment.

I found out about a freelance writing gig where I can get paid $30 a piece to write articles for a company, and while it's not great pay, if I could just make myself focus and write 3 articles a day, I would be much better off financially. Except I can't do it. I sit down at the computer with intention to write, and then I lose focus completely. If I manage to start typing, I get frustrated because I can't put my thoughts down in a way that sounds organized and makes sense, so I just start crying or walk away to eat or something.

I don't know what to do. I hate never being able to focus on anything. I feel like I don't even exist in the world. I'm just an automaton walking around not really noticing anything going on in my surroundings because I am so unfocused. I miss so many things that go on around me. Like someone will say, "omg what is wrong with that driver?" if I'm in the car with someone, and I'll be like, "What?" because I didn't even catch the crazy or illegal thing the person did.

Hey Freefallin,

I like how you described how you're feeling walking around as an automaton, because I also feel this and cannot focus on much, only this forum because it helps. I feel fragmented too, and pangs of anxiety jerk me slightly during the day unexpectedly.

Are you on medication too? Sometimes it can decrease focus more than usual in addition to your symptoms.

You mentioned your response time is slow, same, someone will also be talking and I won't even be hearing them but see their lips open and close as they are talking.
Also about your freelance issues, i'm sorry it must be kinda heartbreaking to not do what you love, but again, I have also had to give up my freelance job in something creative because of this debilitating MI- i'm not even sure if it is the MI, well I was 'alright' with focus before it got really bad.

So, I guess, we are pretty similar in terms of what is troubling us right now/concerns, sent you a friend request if you want to talk