concentration and focus

[Daevion]

I've noticed over the last few years that my ability to concentrate on a task or focus on what I need to do has dimished considerably. I've never been diagnosed with ADD or I know I don't any hyper activity issues. If I'm reading I find my mind wandering all over the place......in fact as I tpyed this out I lost my concentration for a few seconds....my mind wanders all over the place when I read, have conversations, and/or do my job at work. Currently I'm taking absolutly no medications and I've been using willpower to focus long enough to get things done. I've also been super forgetfull about practically everything these days and if I didn't aut0mate my finances on my computer I'd be in big trouble. I also forget many things....like not returning dvd's for weeks, missing appointments, not making appointments, forgetting to grocery shop, etc.....I can't count how many times Ive talked to someone and was looking right at them and didn't hear one single thing they said even though I looked like I was paying attention....thank gawd they didn't quiz me!

anyone have advice? I really want to avoid taking meds and I already have a doctor visit set up....lol...assuming I make the appointment!!

[detroitrequiem]

Could be your diet. Do you drink a lot of soda and avoid water? Unhealthy eating can do a lot of things to your brain and body in general. Drinking a lot of beer and smoking pot are also a good way to damage brain cells. Drinking water stimulates neural impuses in your brain and helps to filter out the unhealthy stuff in your body. Caffiene and fast food are just evil to your body. In short, drink lots of water, change your diet, and even just 5 minutes of light exercise every day can improve your health greatly. Martial arts that uses chi can really help your concentartion and focus. Check out books by Jwing Ming on chi gong and or tai chi. Try taking walks when you can. Walking really helps as well.

take care

[Homicidalheathen]

Welcome to my world. I have ADD. How ya like it? Sucks huh.

[Daevion]

Could be your diet. Do you drink a lot of soda and avoid water? Unhealthy eating can do a lot of things to your brain and body in general. Drinking a lot of beer and smoking pot are also a good way to damage brain cells. Drinking water stimulates neural impuses in your brain and helps to filter out the unhealthy stuff in your body. Caffiene and fast food are just evil to your body. In short, drink lots of water, change your diet, and even just 5 minutes of light exercise every day can improve your health greatly. Martial arts that uses chi can really help your concentartion and focus. Check out books by Jwing Ming on chi gong and or tai chi. Try taking walks when you can. Walking really helps as well.

take care

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

thats some great advice! I've already taken some steps to get more active at work by changing my work schedual from a "sitting in front of the computer all day shift" to a "dealing with more people and walking alot more shift"...that starts next week. Those books sound interesting...I'll have to go check those out!

[Rayne]

Welcome to my world.  I have ADD.  How ya like it?  Sucks huh.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too. Diagnosed in 3rd grade. Took me until I was 17 to learn how to deal with it.

I have no hyperactivity. But I tend to wander off topic A LOT.....and forget what I was doing to begin with.....and yeah....it sucks.

[HipsterDufus]

Me too. Diagnosed in 3rd grade. Took me until I was 17 to learn how to deal with it.

I have no hyperactivity. But I tend to wander off topic A LOT.....and forget what I ws doing to begin with.....and yeah....it sucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does anyone else have a hard time just talking? Sometimes, my brain will wander off right in the middle of a sentence and I'll forget what I was saying. It's very embarrassing. I've always had it to some extent. Seems worse lately.

[Rayne]

Does anyone else have a hard time just talking?  Sometimes, my brain will wander off right in the middle of a sentence and I'll forget what I was saying.  It's very embarrassing.  I've always had it to some extent.  Seems worse lately.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep.....I've gotten used it to it - as have my friends.

[Daevion]

Hardee har har har...argh!!! shivy me timbers!!

ooopps wrong forum! lol

[detroitrequiem]

You know I see a lot of students in school with different levels of focus. Many people think they have ADD or some kind of illness. I really think that people in general need to just have a healthier lifestyle. It's hard to stay focused in a world with some many comforts and conviences. Be careful that you dont get swindled into the idea that you have ADD or some other illness or problem. The medical industry makes a fortune off of medicating everyone. There are rare students in school that Ive seen maybe 1-2 % that really are ADD and need to be medicated. But these are children that in the middle of class might jump out of their desk and leap across a few tables and throw things around, etc. I come from a family of very unhealthy eating, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Its a miracle with my size that I dont have health problems. Americans really need to start taking better care of themselves. I hope you all have better health.

happy thanksgiving!

[Daevion]

I don't think I have ADD....I was tested for it when I was a kid....I don't know unless its possible to aquire ADD as you get older.....I'm going to try some non-medication routes before I even think of getting tested for ADD.

[HipsterDufus]

You know I see a lot of students in school with different levels of focus. Many people think they have ADD or some kind of illness. I really think that people in general need to just have a healthier lifestyle. It's hard to stay focused in a world with some many comforts and conviences. Be careful that you dont get swindled into the idea that you have ADD or some other illness or problem. The medical industry makes a fortune off of medicating everyone. There are rare students in school that Ive seen maybe 1-2 % that really are ADD and need to be medicated. But these are children that in the middle of class might jump out of their desk and leap across a few tables and throw things around, etc. I come from a family of very unhealthy eating, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Its a miracle with my size that I dont have health problems. Americans really need to start taking better care of themselves. I hope you all have better health.

happy thanksgiving!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nah, I think I'd rather have a quick fix. Just kidding. Wouldn't it be nice though....

[Daevion]

You know I see a lot of students in school with different levels of focus. Many people think they have ADD or some kind of illness. I really think that people in general need to just have a healthier lifestyle. It's hard to stay focused in a world with some many comforts and conviences. Be careful that you dont get swindled into the idea that you have ADD or some other illness or problem. The medical industry makes a fortune off of medicating everyone. There are rare students in school that Ive seen maybe 1-2 % that really are ADD and need to be medicated. But these are children that in the middle of class might jump out of their desk and leap across a few tables and throw things around, etc. I come from a family of very unhealthy eating, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Its a miracle with my size that I dont have health problems. Americans really need to start taking better care of themselves. I hope you all have better health.

happy thanksgiving!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

your right our american lifestyle is killing us and probably making dumber as time goes on....but thats another monsterous problem..ugh

anyway I ate pretty healthy as a child and got lots of physical activity but during school and college I had an insanely hard time paying attention to lectures and whats going on in class, I wasn't hyper at all, but even tho i appeared to be paying attention in my mind I was somewhere else. I can't count how many times a professor asked me a questions while I was looking right at him and still didn't hear or listen one single word he said, often I already knew the answers but still ended up saying "what?" or just have a confused look on my face.....lol

[Rayne]

There are rare students in school that Ive seen maybe 1-2 % that really are ADD and need to be medicated. But these are children that in the middle of class might jump out of their desk and leap across a few tables and throw things around, etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I have never been on medication. I didn't need it. My education suffered because I couldn't deal with it and focus until I was out of school, but I made up for it in the end.

I have a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with ADHD (with hyperactivity), Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Adjustment Disorder. it's being speculated she may be bi-polar as well....But anyway....point is my daughter is one like you describe above. She will be out of her seat dancing around or if she is angry, throwing things around the room. She threw a desk at her teacher two days ago and hit 4 kids yesterday for no apparent reason. She is with her father this week and our court order states I can not have any contact with her while she is there, so I have no idea what could have possessed her to do these things.

I have to go on the 7th to discuss a possible alternative placement for her. *sigh* and she's only 6.

Oh, and Daevion - it is possible to develop ADD as an adult.

[Daevion]

I agree. I have never been on medication. I didn't need it. My education suffered because I couldn't deal with it and focus until I was out of school, but I made up for it in the end.

I have a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with ADHD (with hyperactivity), Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Adjustment Disorder. it's being speculated she may be bi-polar as well....But anyway....point is my daughter is one like you describe above. She will be out of her seat dancing around or if she is angry, throwing things around the room. She threw a desk at her teacher two days ago and hit 4 kids yesterday for no apparent reason. She is with her father this week and our court order states I can not have any contact with her while she is there, so I have no idea what could have possessed her to do these things.

I have to go on the 7th to discuss a possible alternative placement for her. *sigh* and she's only 6.

Oh, and Daevion - it is possible to develop ADD as an adult.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Even if thats the case I still don't want to take any of those meds they adverstise...I'd rather find another way to deal with it than take drugs

[Rayne]

Even if thats the case I still don't want to take any of those meds they adverstise...I'd rather find another way to deal with it than take drugs

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't blame you. Like I said, I've never been on meds.

My daughter however.....whoa....she would kill herself or others without them.

[Marblez]

How is your sleeping? Many of the symptoms of ADD are also present for sleeping disorders. I should know, bleh.

Make sure your diet is good, including plenty of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids - often found in fish. I don't much care for fish so I take a supplement.

[HipsterDufus]

How is your sleeping?  Many of the symptoms of ADD are also present for sleeping disorders. I should know, bleh.

Make sure your diet is good, including plenty of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids - often found in fish. I don't much care for fish so I take a supplement.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I always sleep like crap. I feel like I'm always in that state of half-asleep/half-awake most of the night. Anyone got any solutions for that?

[Marblez]

I always sleep like crap.  I feel like I'm always in that state of half-asleep/half-awake most of the night.  Anyone got any solutions for that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HipsterDufus, please consider creating a new topic so as to not change the topic of this one. I know that people have a lot to say on sleep here so you would get plenty of responses, I am sure.

[HipsterDufus]

HipsterDufus, please consider creating a new topic so as to not change the topic of this one.  I know that people have a lot to say on sleep here so you would get plenty of responses, I am sure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoops. :blushing

[saechalyn]

Oh yes, it happens to me all the time. I think I'm just a by-product of living in an overly fast-paced world (living in NYC did not help this) and I find myself always rushing even when I don't need to be, getting scattered when there is no reason to. I find it helps to just force myself to slow down, whether getting things done at work or just getting ready for bed.

Ditto the diet changes~ I refuse to live without coffee but taking vitamins and eating healthier has done good things for overall well-being.

[Daevion]

How is your sleeping?  Many of the symptoms of ADD are also present for sleeping disorders. I should know, bleh.

Make sure your diet is good, including plenty of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids - often found in fish. I don't much care for fish so I take a supplement.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I sleep fine once I can get to sleep....which can take 2-3 hrs at times....plus i have difficulty getting sleep at night and will stay up fairly late even tho i have to be at work so early so normally I'll get 4-5 hrs a night. In other words Im not a morning person! lol

I take my vitamins but I won't eat fish......I prefer to eat those fat, horomone injected, birds instead...lol