Concentration/Listening Problems

Hi,

I have bipolar, OCD, and GAD. No ADD.

Somewhere in my journey of life, my concentration got severely diminished. It happened around the time of some medication changes. It’s possible it’s a med I started some time before the issues began, but it might have something to do with the medications we experimented with, one which caused concentration problems in the past.

I do have some difficulties keeping up with what I am reading. The main problem that is troubling me though is my ability to keep up with verbal communication. It’s very difficult, especially in person, when I am often distracted by the person’s physical features and movements. I try really hard to keep up with what people are saying, but even basic conversation can be a mental battle. If someone is talking about something more technical, it becomes extremely difficult to understand what they are talking about.

I have been worrying more about this lately as I consider finding a better job. And I want a good job one day. I want to make good money. But with these concentration deficits, I am feeling really hopeless that will ever happen.

Does anyone know any ways to improve concentration, especially verbal and written comprehension?

Thank you.

Hi RyanT,

As someone who struggles with concentration myself, I can certainly empathize with what you are enduring.

I've been putting off doing something about my difficulties with concentration but as I am homebound at the moment, I guess I will do some Internet searches on "improving concentration."

Have you tried something like that?

If I could get out to libraries or book stores I would try to find something available there.

Drinking tea helps me a bit, perhaps because of the caffeine in it.

I hope someone has something more helpful to offer you than my poor suggestions.

Wishing you only good things! -- Yaowen

Hi RyanT.

Have you heard of a 'mental approach' known as mindfulness? It's basically a very helpful tool for learning how to focus the mind in such a way as to become more aware and present to your self and your surroundings. I'd recommend it for the someone such as you who realizes they have difficulty concentrating. Mindfulness. There's a wealth of video tutorials & information about it on the internet as well. It's widely recommended by the mental health field, too.

You're halfway there, friend!

Mindfulness over mindlessness.

There needs to be a balance between Iq and ego. Everything in moderation.

caffeine helped me clear up and focus better.

maybe also make my eyes more direct and not distracted too much i have focus problem too

how to make focus FOCUSED thats my challenge at this time trying to find the cure to my distracted issue.