[Shriveled Muse]

So I used to get high grades and good performance in school last year. It has only been two weeks since school started, however I've already been unable to complete one assignment before the deadline, moderately fail two small quizzes and I'm sure I just failed the test yesterday.

I tried to study, but after at least ten minutes of just staring at the page without anything processing, I get distracted and do other things until I remember that I have to study. Is this lapse in concentration normal or is it because of depression? I have anxiety as well; is it a result of the anxiety?

I'm just trying to figure out whether it's something that is my fault, something that I can control, or not. I need to succeed in school so that I won't be any more of a waste of space as I already am. But it seems that this feeble hope is rapidly slipping out of my hands. Am I just not trying hard enough? (Even though it's hard to summon the energy to begin on the first place...)

Any knowledge or comment is duly appreciated. Thank you very much for even reading up to this point.

[Velouria]

Yes, it's normal. I have to edit for my job and when I get depressed, I work so much slower because I have to reread things over and over. It's a pain in the ***. It's not your fault.

You are not a waste of space.

You have to pace yourself and take things little by little. Write more things down, if it helps. It helps me to sustain my focus if I know I'm in a place where I'll forget them.

Can you go and talk to a therapist?

Anxiety and depression are often comorbid. And you can often have depression due to anxiety, or anxiety due to depression. I get both, I still don't quite know which causes which. I know, it's a whole heap of fun to unravel. But generally, for me, it's the depression that kills my focus.

[Altered Moment]

Lack of concentration is definitely a symptom of depression. If you are really trying, which it sounds like you are, then I would not say it is lazy or something you are able to control.

Do you have other symptoms?

Taking things in very small steps is a good strategy. Thinking about the whole assignment and the due date can just be too overwhelming. Think - I will just write this one sentence or I will just read this one page. I know depression causes me to get totally overwhelmed even just taking a shower. Baby steps often helps.

One thing my doctor always asks me when I see him is How is my concentration.

[Wren_]

Could be caused by a few things ... I know my depression adds to concentration difficulty

Breaking things up ... Like shorter study times but more often might help a little

[Shriveled Muse]

Thank you so much everyone for your replies! I'm mostly wondering because it takes a great effort to do things, but once I start it (ex. Getting out of bed), it's like it took no effort at all. After about 10 mins of doing a continuous activity though, then I start losing focus. It just seems like something that I should be able to control and that I'm just not trying hard enough.

Velouria: because of school, I don't think that I'll have time to see a therapist. If it comes down to the point when I break down, then I'll go see school counseling.

Zinco14532323: My other symptoms include oversleeping, always fatigued (even with oversleeping), lack of appetite, nausea, body pains, no energy, etc.

[TheLastChapter]

I have defiantly noticed this. I was an all A student who could focus and get work done. Now I try really hard to focus on what my professor is talking about, but after a few minutes my mind wanders. I just cant focus anymore. Especially during tests. I am going to talk to my counselor about it today.

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by Shriveled Muse

Thank you so much everyone for your replies! I'm mostly wondering because it takes a great effort to do things, but once I start it (ex. Getting out of bed), it's like it took no effort at all. After about 10 mins of doing a continuous activity though, then I start losing focus. It just seems like something that I should be able to control and that I'm just not trying hard enough.

Velouria: because of school, I don't think that I'll have time to see a therapist. If it comes down to the point when I break down, then I'll go see school counseling.

Zinco14532323: My other symptoms include oversleeping, always fatigued (even with oversleeping), lack of appetite, nausea, body pains, no energy, etc.

You should probably get checked physically first. Like thyroid problems, lack of vitamin D, etc can cause symptoms. Or it could be ADD or depression.

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[Creative1onder]

Thats prob one of the hardest symptoms is difficulty concentrating.