[Hound]

Sometimes I find myself so consumed with my anxious and sometimes repetitive thoughts that it's difficult to concentrate on what I need to be focusing on. This can be anything from listening to a lecture while at school or even driving. I'll try (very hard) to "tune in" and try to focus, but my mind won't stay there very long.

If I'm feeling particularly anxious, it's nearly impossible to concentrate. Unfortunately this has had an effect on my school performance. I am still doing decent, but based on what I've done in the past I know I could be doing much, much better.

I am not a doctor. I can read on the internet, but I still may not understand some things completely. I have a DR Appt next week (and it cannot come soon enough) and will ask him this as well, but for now I'm asking here out of curiosity!

From several doctor visits before, I am positive I have an anxiety problem. However my receptive thoughts make me fear I may have some OCD and I wonder if my lack of being able to concentrate is ADHD.

Or perhaps all of this is from the anxiety?

Anyone have experience with this or is going through this? I am very curious about the OCD. I was never diagnosed as having attention issues as a child so I do doubt I have ADHD.

[Chakuli]

i have also

Obsessions are thoughts, and compulsions are behaviors. And they keep cycling.

For example, you have the thought (obsession) that you must make sure the stove is off, then you walk to the stove and place your hand on the on/off button (compulsion). After you do that, the thought (obsession) returns. And it keeps cycling.

You might want to look into cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT, in my opinion, is a very effective treatment for anxiety disorders (GAD, PD), OCD, PTSD, ADD, ADHD and any other disorder that involves negative, intrusive thoughts.

CBT, basically, consists of two parts: Gradual exposure, and a focus on the thoughts (cognition) of a person in anxiety-provoking situations. A subset of gradual exposure is response interruption.

For example, let's say that walking into a crowded shopping mall provokes anxiety (even a panic attack) in you. Well, you have a few options: Avoidance, CBT, anti-anxiety meds (benzo, some SSRIs/SNRIs), or a combo of meds and CBT (or a similar therapy). CBT would, gradually, force you to walk into the crowded shopping mall. CBT would force you to focus on your thoughts if you start to get anxiety. Negative thoughts will be "reality checked" and positive thoughts will occur.

I am NOT a psychologist, so do not use this post in lieu of professional advice. However, I am a person with diagnoses of GAD, PD, PTSD, and schizophrenia.

CBT has greatly reduced my anxiety disorders, PTSD, and has even helped with schizophrenia (along with a med).

I hope this helps.

[pegasus]

Hello Hound,

Certainly anxiety can make you unable to concentrate. OCD is often the result of trying to make something feel safe. For example I had a fear of getting locked in a room so I would constantly check the door by opening and closing it. The OCD action made it feel safer. I would have thought that ADHD would have been picked up earlier. You can try these quizzes and print out the results for your doctor >>> Psychological Tests and Quizzes and The Sanity Score - Test Your Mental Wellness

[Hound]

Thanks guys! Very interesting, and I will try out those quizzes too.

I do have repetitive thoughts stemming from my anxiety, but don't have any compulsive behaviors associated with those thoughts.

[Durra]

I'm having ADHD that makes me feeling anxious during the last minute and about how I hardly getting things done. However, if you're too consumed with your anxious thoughts that they get you off track, it's supposedly anxiety problems you're dealing with. You haven't stated any behavior that indicates having OCD, but I'm not a doctor so I cannot judge.

Cheer up Don't let it get in your way.. although it already has, but still

[magical loser]

this is exactly how i am i cant concentrate on anything apart from whatever stupid obsession my brain is tuned into at the time. everything else goes out the window. i did badly at school probably because of this (but i fluked good grades from my exams so i passed, although since i KNOW i had no idea what i was doing i failed really) and wasnt aloud to drive because i couldnt keep my attention on it and kept thinking about stupid stupid crap or talking to my instructor about some rubbish or another and i dont seem to be able to multitask all that well (everyone else can drive and talk at the same time)

i hope you can figure out what it is and how to fix it, im guessing anxiety since that comes up a lot...