Improving Concentration

LegacyUser

I have terrible problems concentrating for more that fifteen minutes.
This has had a terrible impact on my life.

Lost jobs mainly.

Is there anything I can do to improve this problem.

Thanks

Funsterdelux

I have a similar dysfunction, thats why Im posting here and not working, maybe my job is just too boring, you might need to do something you are really passionate about, maybe me too.

6th

I'd say pop over to the spirituality forum and ask about meditations etc. I used to be pretty bad but after a while of meditation and learning to slow done i'm grand now.

Black Swan

There are techniques used to improve concentration, some found in an area called metacognitive skills. Dr Richard E. Clark, is a noted researcher and author who addresses these, was a visiting fellow at Trinity sometime ago (married an Irish grad student;) ), and now can be found at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

monkeyfudge

If you have a Nintendo DS lying about you should think about picking up a copy of Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training. Lots of great little exercises in there to get your brain going and it charts your progress.

madmurdock

Yeah there are loads of things that you can do to......wait....hold on,

What are we talking about again?

Miss Fluff

Ginkgo biloba is brilliant. Talk to a good herbalist before taking it, has a few contra-indications. Very, very good though. Will definitely help you

the Guru

It could be ADHD see here for more info http://www.oneaddplace.com/adhd-test.php ,

LegacyUser

Holy mary,

The test says if more than 20 items are 3 or 4 then you should look into the possibility of ADD. I have 62 items.

Wow

alantc

There are online pharmacies that you can buy Riatlin from, a prescription drug for ADD. Adderal is a stronger, better, more fun one, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. Be sure to read other forums about the online pharmacies so you don't get scammed.

monkeyfudge

noconcentration wrote:

Holy mary,

The test says if more than 20 items are 3 or 4 then you should look into the possibility of ADD. I have 62 items.

Wow

Probably not a good idea to self diagnose... Even a lot of doctors misdiagnose people as having ADD.

Mrs. MacGyver

Omega 3 Fish Oils are menat to be quite good to improve concentration.

Santa Claus

Mrs. MacGyver wrote:

Omega 3 Fish Oils are menat to be quite good to improve concentration.

I had great results from these when i had problems with concentrating a few years ago.
I also found that doing crosswords or sudoko helps you train your mind to concentrate on a task in hand.
At first I'd get about half a crossword done before getting bored, but over time I found that I would be concentrating for longer until at one stage I could sit for an hour going over various word possibilities.

TheTruthFairy

Buy some juggling balls!

Seriously, learning to juggle really improves concentration.

the Guru

Do not self diagnose and do not buy drugs from the Internet.

However the Adult ADHD test is only a guild line, go see a doctor and get referred to a psychiatrist, and find out for certain, I have the exact same issue's so I know how you feel.

It could be nothing, but maybe seeking medical advice could change / improve your life

Good luck,

EPO_MAN

alantc wrote:

There are online pharmacies that you can buy Riatlin from, a prescription drug for ADD. Adderal is a stronger, better, more fun one, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. Be sure to read other forums about the online pharmacies so you don't get scammed.

Woahhh there - is that what bart simpson took??

I think exercise (mental / physcial) and some herbal are much more pref than hitting the pharmacies

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice re buying drugs online. If I actually have adhd it doesn't strike me as agreat idea to self medicate.

I do a good bit of exercise and it helps (tires me out).

I will talk to my GP and look at my diet before I start drugging myself.

Anyway appearently if you have adhd you don't get the same pleasure from stimulanst (which is another confirmation for me.)

the Guru

Ritalin etc are stimulants they're in the same class of drug as Cocaine , meth etc ... but they work on your nervous system in a differant way.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html

Zapho

That same websites mentions the use of herbal remedies which have proven success without the damaging effects of long term use of those prescription drugs. Maybe worth checking those out.
Man I did took that test too, geez it was like a bullet point list of my entire personality, well more or less. One thing I alwasy found to help my concentration was excercise though. When I was studying for my college exams if I found my concentration going I'd get up and go jogging or something, then I'd come back and be able to work again.

LegacyUser

Zapho wrote:

When I was studying for my college exams if I found my concentration going I'd get up and go jogging or something.

Still it is problematic. I don't think that it is an exagerration to say that it is ruining my life.
Of course it could all be laziness and I could be fooling myself.

Torak

noconcentration wrote:

Still it is problematic. I don't think that it is an exagerration to say that it is ruining my life.
Of course it could all be laziness and I could be fooling myself.

More like depression tbh. Especially with self depracation like that.

I'd recommend a GP and preferably one that you find comfortable to talk to. You can shop around for a GP too you know!!

If depression or ADD etc are any way likely , I would expect a good GP to spot it and point you to a good counsellor.

If the GP says medicate first then find another tbh. I'm not saying that medication is not required but you don't want to become a victim of "Heres a prescription - Heres my bill - See you in two weeks"

You "sound" like you have "mild" (Its all relative) depression - It has many manifestations.

Take this with a pinch of salt as I am not a doctor.