[bonjourtristesse]

Does anyone ever get loss of concentration with depression? For a long time now it's been a joke amongst me and my friends that I have a very bad sense of direction and am terrible at following film plots. Now they tell me that often when they speak to me they have the impression that I'm only 50percent there. I have trouble following conversations.

There's some things I can remember easily though, like new languages, so I can't tell if it's part of my depression or not. I can't tell if it's just that I'm a head in the clouds sort of person or if it's my depression.

I'm not interested in going out anymore, not even with my close friends. Everything seems like too much effort. Again, I don't know if it's just a part of me that I like to spend time alone or if it's the black cloud speaking. I'm not interested in my studies anymore. I was in a lecture the other day and had a sudden spark of inspiration: 'I am doing the wrong degree!'

Any similar experiences?

[idontknow13]

Definetely I have had a very hard time concentrating due to depression.
I need to focus on things that I used to do without thinking at work and in my everyday life. I find it very hard to deal with this and more.
Even driving which I used to love is a chore and I dont venture very far these days.
I also have lost interest in almost everything.
I do beleive they are symptoms of depression, anyways in my case they are, my doctor also wrote them on my paper for leave of absence!

[Elysium]

Yes!! This sounds very much like it could be related to your depression. I have depression and PTSD as well. I've been out of work for 3 months and am having difficulty getting up the courage to go back. I am also isolating a lot.

My therapist keeps encouraging me to do what I can, and when I think I can't go any further, do just a little bit more. She says that if I push myself a little, eventually with practice and not giving in to the depression I will be able to push myself even further still. This remains to be seen, since I haven't been doing a great job with this....due to the depression...

[justfloating]

Wow, I could have written your post myself!!! My depression makes it almost impossible for me to focus on conversations sometimes -- my friends and I joke that I get distracted too easily but the truth is that it's just impossible for me to concentrate on one thing for very long. Sometimes I can't even complete a sentence before I forget what I'm talking about, and people have to point out that I didn't complete my thought. My friends are just used to my "absent-mindedness" but I know a lot of it is caused by the depression. I completely lost interest in my studies, which made no sense to me because when I started I thought this was what I was meant to be doing, and it's only been since the meds finally kicked in that I was able to care even remotely about what I was doing. I considered a change of school and degree but I've decided to stick it out with the hope that as I get better, my interest and concentration will start to return again.

I'm glad you posted, and welcome to PC.

[trevorzero]

It's probably different for each depressed person. I can concentrate just fine on those things that I'm interested in, but there just isn't too much that interests me.

I'm not sure that depression is to blame for ALL your concentration problems. Maybe you should see a medical doc about it, just to reassure yourself.

[bonjourtristesse]

Thank you loads for your posts everyone, it's great to know that there's other people in the same boat! As well as forgetting day to day things, I feel like there's massive holes in my past because I've forgotten so much. Sometimes I feel bad when my friends are all talking and I can't get focus on what they're saying enough to join in. But knowing other people find the same thing helps me see that it's a side effect of the disease and not just laziness on my part. However, thanks for the advice to speak to a doctor, this might be a good idea.

I'm really glad I wrote, thanks again for your responses.