[Alexandria04]

I am suffering from a serious lack of focus, does anyone have any recommendations as for how to increase your focus? Foods, vitamins, exercises, habits that help you. I am willing to try anything at this point. Thank you so much!

Do you use grounding skills, Alexandria04?

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showt...t=16719&page=2

Good luck.

[Alexandria04]

My therapist briefly mentioned it in one session (I haven't been going to her very long) but she said it in association with trying to get to sleep at night. I don't really know what to do or how to do it, I read that article, but I don't know if those things will help. I need to be focusing on my schoolwork not other things. I know people say to breathe, but breathing does not help me, in fact sometimes trying to deep breathe makes me feel more anxious (I am weird, I know). The smooth stone thing might work if I had a worry stone, but I don't. Sometimes I mess with silly putty and it actually helps a little with my anxiety. To have something in your hands and be messing with it, that probably doesn't make any sense but I know what I am talking about At the same time it is hard to mess with a worry stone or silly putty and take notes and/or study at the same time. You kind of need your hands to take notes, lol.

The idea about grounding is to bring you back to the present so you can focus on what you are doing. In some of your posts you refer to school. Perhaps you could use an alarm clock to bring you back to the present when studying. Set the alarm for twenty or thirty minutes when your mind gets to wandering.

[Alexandria04]

That's a pretty good idea. Yeah, I am going to a University and this week is finals week. I have heard people setting their alarms for like 20 minutes of studying and then a 20 minute break and alternating studying and breaks with alarms. I might try that and see if it helps. Thanks for replying.

Good luck, Alexandria04.

[Perna]

Alexandria, are you taking enough "breaks"? I would literally get up at least every 45 minutes to an hour and walk around the block. It's been shown that being outside can increase concentration (fresh air, exercise, etc.). Everytime you feel loss of focus, I would get up and make yourself go do something else; it will build up your desire to focus (so you don't have to get up and do something else :-) Short spurts of studying can be more effective than long periods too, gives your brain a chance to incorporate what you have just learned/reviewed.

[Alexandria04]

I think I am taking too many breaks, that is the problem! lol. I am having trouble sitting down and forcing myself to study. I get a little more done each day, but still not nearly as much as I would like too. I used to be able to sit and study or read for hours on end but now it seems like I just don't have the attention span for it. Oh well, only a few more days and then no matter what grades I get on my finals exams summer break will be here. Then I can relax and not stress out so much about school. Thanks for the tips!

Studies have shown people remember more of what they are first told and the last of what they are told. What is problematical is the information in the middle. Stagger what you study so the the information in the middle is studied at the beginning and end too.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-memory.htm

[muska]

be carefull

How are you doing, Alexandria04?

[Alexandria04]

Hey TheByzantine, you can call me Alex. Well, I made it through finals I don't feel like I did great but I don't feel like I did horrible either, so we will just wait and see. Other than that I had a really uncomfortable session today with my T, but I guess that happens sometimes. Thanks for asking. How are you doing?

It has been many years since I took a final, but I still remember the stress. Good to hear you likely are okay.

Yes, therapy frequently can get quite intense. Keep on working it, Alex.

I am my usual cantankerous self.

Love yourself. Be well.