not understanding topics or being able to explain things

Amprodude

Is this a condition where i cant understand topics when they are explained and not having the ability to explain them?

joeguevara

Amprodude wrote: »

Is this a condition where i cant understand topics when they are explained and not having the ability to explain them?

I dont think its a condition. Sometimes people just dont get some things. I find that I have a phobia that I will just not be able to get words out. And I speak for a living. It may be lack of confidence in the topic or technicalities that you cant comprehend. Everyone has different strenghts and it can take a little longer to pick things up.

Amprodude

joeguevara wrote: »

I dont think its a condition. Sometimes people just dont get some things. I find that I have a phobia that I will just not be able to get words out. And I speak for a living. It may be lack of confidence in the topic or technicalities that you cant comprehend. Everyone has different strenghts and it can take a little longer to pick things up.

I don't know but I do feel like an idiot sometimes.

Czarcasm

Amprodude wrote: »

I don't know but I do feel like an idiot sometimes.

It's more of a comprehension and confidence issue OP tbh. Often times I could read something, and I could understand it in my head, but to try and explain what I just read to someone else, I lack the language skills to be able to convey my thoughts properly.

I sometimes have to give lectures, presentations and tutorials on subjects which I'm very familiar with, and I might have everything I want to say prepared on a script, but it only takes one or two people in the room to ask that awkward question I hadn't prepared for, and that can leave me flustered and frustrated, leaving me incapable of giving a coherent answer to their question and coming off like a clutz.

I'm constantly working on my communication skills OP to try and convey my ideas better, and even here on Boards I often look back over my posts to see could I have worded something better to prepare myself for the next time the subject comes up for discussion.

There are a number of techniques you can use to improve your communication skills OP, one of which of course is learning not to be so critical of yourself and relax, think about what you want to say before you say it.

One of the simplest tips I got from people I've talked to about my issues is to record myself speaking, and listen back to it, see where I could say something better and watch out for intonation, my accent (if I relax TOO much, my accent sounds like a cross between a country bumpkin and an inner city inhabitant!).

Another tip I got is to practice giving presentations at home, so now I hook up the laptop to the tv and I practice giving powerpoint presentations on my own, then practice with friends, who often have no knowledge of the subject matter, and often their feedback is invaluable in helping me improve my presentation and communication skills.

I'm still working on my written skills too as I often have a lot of reports and tutorials to write up. It's just a matter of practice OP - constantly reading and writing, and often I've noticed too especially on forums such as these that somebody might word something I want to say a lot better than I could have put it, and I learn from that too to improve myself for the next time I want to speak on, or write about a topic.

Amprodude

Czarcasm wrote: »

It's more of a comprehension and confidence issue OP tbh. Often times I could read something, and I could understand it in my head, but to try and explain what I just read to someone else, I lack the language skills to be able to convey my thoughts properly.

I sometimes have to give lectures, presentations and tutorials on subjects which I'm very familiar with, and I might have everything I want to say prepared on a script, but it only takes one or two people in the room to ask that awkward question I hadn't prepared for, and that can leave me flustered and frustrated, leaving me incapable of giving a coherent answer to their question and coming off like a clutz.

I'm constantly working on my communication skills OP to try and convey my ideas better, and even here on Boards I often look back over my posts to see could I have worded something better to prepare myself for the next time the subject comes up for discussion.

There are a number of techniques you can use to improve your communication skills OP, one of which of course is learning not to be so critical of yourself and relax, think about what you want to say before you say it.

One of the simplest tips I got from people I've talked to about my issues is to record myself speaking, and listen back to it, see where I could say something better and watch out for intonation, my accent (if I relax TOO much, my accent sounds like a cross between a country bumpkin and an inner city inhabitant!).

Another tip I got is to practice giving presentations at home, so now I hook up the laptop to the tv and I practice giving powerpoint presentations on my own, then practice with friends, who often have no knowledge of the subject matter, and often their feedback is invaluable in helping me improve my presentation and communication skills.

I'm still working on my written skills too as I often have a lot of reports and tutorials to write up. It's just a matter of practice OP - constantly reading and writing, and often I've noticed too especially on forums such as these that somebody might word something I want to say a lot better than I could have put it, and I learn from that too to improve myself for the next time I want to speak on, or write about a topic.

My example is,

a co worker who is argumentive and very direct asked me to explain what a union rep said to me about a union issue in the workplace. I knew it in my head but couldnt explain it in words and therefore i came across as if i couldnt speak about it and my mind went absolutely blank. Felt awful after it and wanted the ground to swallow me up. Got a pain in my stomach with the shame that i looked like a right idiot in front of my co worker. Anyway i will admit i lack confidence and have low self esteem and always worry what others think which is bad but just cant help it. This also effects my thinking.

ireland.man

Amprodude wrote: »

My example is,

a co worker who is argumentive and very direct asked me to explain what a union rep said to me about a union issue in the workplace. I knew it in my head but couldnt explain it in words and therefore i came across as if i couldnt speak about it and my mind went absolutely blank. Felt awful after it and wanted the ground to swallow me up. Got a pain in my stomach with the shame that i looked like a right idiot in front of my co worker. Anyway i will admit i lack confidence and have low self esteem and always worry what others think which is bad but just cant help it. This also effects my thinking.

Well, anxiety is the enemy of attention and concentration! You'd be surprised by how many people have many moments like you've described but I think the difference is that they recognise it as a natural human experience and don't put themselves down as much afterwards. I know I have many moments like your example and moments in which I get anxious for no reason while talking on the phone, saying a few words during a work meeting, etc. If you work on your self-esteem and accept that it's ok to make mistakes, you'll see a huge improvement in your communication and comprehension generally.

Monkey Allen

If this is the only type of situation in which you struggle with comprehension and explanation, it's most likely your self esteem that needs improving. The reason someone suffers from low self esteem needs to be identified. Just learning how to act confident is not the solution.

If you struggle with comprehension amongst family, friends and even whilst reading or watching a movie, yet remember yourself showing strong intelligence and comprehension (sometimes ahead of others you consider as smart) in other situations, you might have an attention disorder.

This is probably not the place to get a diagnosis on this but I suggest reading up on it and, if you feel you'd like to get professional advice, contact your GP.

ADHD is very controversial. I was diagnosed with it this year and it is quite amazing how different people are in their opinion to it.

I only posted this as I feel people need to consider it as a possibility.