Concentration Aids?

[Algophiliac]

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I don't think I have ADD/ADHD, but I seem to have difficulties--HUGE difficulties--staying focused. I can become almost obsessive to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep about certain aspects of my life that I consider fun, but when it comes to studying...I just can't seem to focus at all. And it's not because I don't love what I'm studying, because I truly do.

So, other than chugging caffeine and abusing nonprescription drugs, what works for you?

 

[drghost]

go to your pcp and get some adderall if you cant play the game fair.

 

[hiyaman]

I don't think I have ADD/ADHD, but I seem to have difficulties--HUGE difficulties--staying focused. I can become almost obsessive to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep about certain aspects of my life that I consider fun, but when it comes to studying...I just can't seem to focus at all. And it's not because I don't love what I'm studying, because I truly do.

So, other than chugging caffeine and abusing nonprescription drugs, what works for you?

Some people might call this lack of self control.

 

[Algophiliac]

Some people might call this lack of self control.

Haha, probably. It sounds a tad more intense on here than I meant it, but I have normal control over other aspects of my life. And I don't see how sitting in front of a textbook for 4 hours with a timer, and still not being able to focus, is lack of self control. There's a huge difference between not wanting to do something, and not being able to do it, while wanting to. But you know, that wasn't my question. Thanks for your helpful input. I hate feeling like I have to defend myself on here.

Btw, I'm more inclined to play fair than dose myself into a stupor, hence my question. 🙄 Doubtless I can't afford it anyway.

 

[Chamahk]

Before you get to studying try:

Exercising (working out, running, or a sport)
** for a sport something like tennis or racquetball is good since it's not intense like football or soccer where you'll be sore all over. Exercising is good 'cause it makes you feel sooooooooooo good and positive almost like you can do anything feeling.

Masturbation - Most people (guys) tend to not come out about it but let's face it, almost ALL of us do it. Especially teens lol. It'll help you release stress and clear anything in your mind

=================

Certain can't be done in a day. And from what you wrote, you wont be able to just become serious, focused and study just like that. It'll take some time and getting used to before it becomes a norm for you. Just devote time and track your progress.

 

[D8O8C8T8O8R]

I don't think I have ADD/ADHD, but I seem to have difficulties--HUGE difficulties--staying focused. I can become almost obsessive to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep about certain aspects of my life that I consider fun, but when it comes to studying...I just can't seem to focus at all. And it's not because I don't love what I'm studying, because I truly do.

So, other than chugging caffeine and abusing nonprescription drugs, what works for you?

I personally use sunflower seeds and water (with the occasional cup of coffee). For me it's like chewing gum, it keeps your mind active and stimulated while not detracting from what you are reading. It also helps to curb hunger and keep your mind fed if you are studying for a long time. The water keeps you from feeling sick from too much sodium. Although I'm sure it is not the healthiest option, I believe it's better than pounding energy drinks.

 

[Astarael]

If you're anything like me, you might just have yourself psyched out over the prospect of studying for a long time. Here are a couple things I did that worked:

1) Reward yourself for studying. Just like other animals can go through operant conditioning, you can too. If you accompany studying with a positive stimulus, you'll be more likely to want to do it in the future. For me, this took the form of studying in a coffee shop. If I had a lot of work to do, I rewarded myself with a good cup of coffee instead of the normal Folgers stuff.

2) Take breaks or move around. People aren't really meant to focus on one thing for more than about an hour at a time, so if you are planning on putting four hours of studying into your day, it'll be a lot more effective if you take a 10 minute break every hour, or a 15 every hour and a half.

3) Find somewhere to study away from home. The farther away, the better. I found that the farther I got away from my dorm, the more reluctant I was to pack up early (since I had gone through all of the trouble to get so far away).

4) Study in public. Whenever I did this, I felt reluctant to waste time, since I always assumed that people would judge me for browsing collegehumor while I was supposed to be studying. Totally not true, but it helped.

Good luck!

 

[Narmerguy]

For me it's mostly a combination of fear and having goals in place that I want to accomplish that will require me to perform at a certain level in my classes.

 

[Algophiliac]

For me it's mostly a combination of fear and having goals in place that I want to accomplish that will require me to perform at a certain level in my classes.

This one is actually very counterproductive for me, hmmm. I hate feeling like I'm under too much pressure. But this probably works really well for some people!

Exercise is a great idea, never thought of that, but you're right--it's a huge mood booster.

Astarael, great ideas, but I'm always worried that visiting the same coffee shop or other location repeatedly might get odd looks at some point. I'd be less likely to slack off if someone were watching, though.

 

[Chamahk]

This one is actually very counterproductive for me, hmmm. I hate feeling like I'm under too much pressure. But this probably works really well for some people!

Exercise is a great idea, never thought of that, but you're right--it's a huge mood booster.

Astarael, great ideas, but I'm always worried that visiting the same coffee shop or other location repeatedly might get odd looks at some point. I'd be less likely to slack off if someone were watching, though.

Hey, you're not the only one who suffer from "this". Keep it[this thread] going and if it wouldn't be too much to ask, how about you start a nice blog? Would be super encouraging and you'll help out many out there by tackling this and ultimately coming out victorious in the end 😎

 

[eldoctor]

Definitely interpreted title as "Concentration AIDS," meaning that you were claiming your concentration was so bad that it resembled the disease. Needless to say, I fail.

 

[Algophiliac]

Definitely interpreted title as "Concentration AIDS," meaning that you were claiming your concentration was so bad that it resembled the disease. Needless to say, I fail.

extreme fatigue
rapid weight loss from an unknown cause (more than 10 lbs. in two months for no reason)
appearance of swollen or tender glands in the neck, armpits or groin, for no apparent reason, lasting for more than four weeks
unexplained shortness of breath, frequently accompanied by a dry cough, not due to allergies or smoking
persistent diarrhea
intermittent high fever or soaking night sweats of unknown origin
a marked change in an illness pattern, either in frequency, severity, or length of sickness
appearance of one or more purple spots on the surface of the skin, inside the mouth, anus or nasal passages
whitish coating on the tongue, throat or vagina
forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration

EDIT: Uh, should probably mention I'm not laughing at the symptoms, before someone jumps at me, just the context.

 

[Cboseak1]

I was put on concerta in high school, and was on it for a while. Eventually I didn't want to take them anymore so I went off them for a few years. I recently was put back on because I couldn't focus. There's a night and day difference. People that don't have the problem don't understand it, and brush it off as weakness or see it as not necessary, but it's just like any other mental illness and there is a legit need for it

 

[Overmjnd]

buy 30 dB noise reducing ear muffs (like the ones that Aircraft carrier workers wear) and then buy 30 dB ear plugs (you can get Hearos brand at most Duane Read/pharmacies). Wear both at the same time, ear plugs under ear muffs. Don't study near a computer. Done and done.

 

[Oxygen206]

I was put on concerta in high school, and was on it for a while. Eventually I didn't want to take them anymore so I went off them for a few years. I recently was put back on because I couldn't focus. There's a night and day difference. People that don't have the problem don't understand it, and brush it off as weakness or see it as not necessary, but it's just like any other mental illness and there is a legit need for it

I completely agree with this. I was diagnosed as a child with ADHD (like everyone else, I'm sure) and was medicated for it. As soon as I got out of high school and to college I had no desire to keep taking the medication because I thought it was a joke. No way was I ADHD/ADD.

I wanted to do well in school, I wanted to study, and I tried so hard to do so. I found myself constantly reading textbooks like I was supposed to, trying to listen in lecture and take good notes, but I realized something. Even though I genuinely tried to do all these things, I could not stop my mind from wandering off in the middle of a lecture/reading. It was to the point that so much time had passed trying to pay attention, the attempts were worthless.

So, back on the medication I went. A low dose, just to level the playing field. What a difference. Not saying that you have/don't have an actual problem, but you might consider investigating it.

 

[Algophiliac]

I completely agree with this. I was diagnosed as a child with ADHD (like everyone else, I'm sure) and was medicated for it. As soon as I got out of high school and to college I had no desire to keep taking the medication because I thought it was a joke. No way was I ADHD/ADD.

I wanted to do well in school, I wanted to study, and I tried so hard to do so. I found myself constantly reading textbooks like I was supposed to, trying to listen in lecture and take good notes, but I realized something. Even though I genuinely tried to do all these things, I could not stop my mind from wandering off in the middle of a lecture/reading. It was to the point that so much time had passed trying to pay attention, the attempts were worthless.

So, back on the medication I went. A low dose, just to level the playing field. What a difference. Not saying that you have/don't have an actual problem, but you might consider investigating it.

Even if I do have an actual problem, I would prefer not to have to take drugs. Maybe I've just been frightened away by the negative horror stories, but anything from rapid aging to lifetime dependency doesn't appeal to me.

What is interesting about me is that either I am very focused, or I am not focused at all--there is no middle ground when it comes to studying or other projects or etc, and I feel as though I do not have control over which stance my mind adopts at any point in time. Is that similar to ADD/ADHD?

The amazing thing is that this problem began 5 years ago, very abruptly, while I used to be one of the most focused people I knew!

 

[drghost]

Even if I do have an actual problem, I would prefer not to have to take drugs.

any reason why? Not to sound like a drug rep but, just seems an odd for a future doctor to have an aversion to properly dosed pharmaceuticals.

 

[Algophiliac]

any reason why? Not to sound like a drug rep but, just seems an odd for a future doctor to have an aversion to properly dosed pharmaceuticals.

Mainly money, side effects, and a fear of long-term dependence. I also feel as though if there are other reasonable options, why not use those instead? If there are not, obviously drugs are a great solution.

 

[hiyaman]

Sorry didn't mean to come off like such an ass

 

[drghost]

Mainly money, side effects, and a fear of long-term dependence. I also feel as though if there are other reasonable options, why not use those instead? If there are not, obviously drugs are a great solution.

Fair enough.

 

[morning]

buy 30 dB noise reducing ear muffs (like the ones that Aircraft carrier workers wear) and then buy 30 dB ear plugs (you can get Hearos brand at most Duane Read/pharmacies). Wear both at the same time, ear plugs under ear muffs. Don't study near a computer. Done and done.

QFT! The computer is the killer for me.

Study in the library.

Try this: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476/

 

[Bojangles85]

I'm not a doc, but I think you should concentrate on not getting aids

[youtube]gBkVuT5pw1g[/youtube]
*failblog sucks

 

[Cboseak1]

I found myself constantly reading textbooks like I was supposed to, trying to listen in lecture and take good notes, but I realized something. Even though I genuinely tried to do all these things, I could not stop my mind from wandering off in the middle of a lecture/reading. It was to the point that so much time had passed trying to pay attention, the attempts were worthless.

I had alot of the same problem, I would wander off no matter what I did, I would end up re-reading things several times just to halfway comprehend things.

the people that don't think add meds are necessary are generally the same people that see an overweight person with a thyroid condition (t3/t4 problem) and say they're fat because they don't get enough exercise or don't eat right.

 

[Oxygen206]

Mainly money, side effects, and a fear of long-term dependence. I also feel as though if there are other reasonable options, why not use those instead? If there are not, obviously drugs are a great solution.

These are the main reasons I was resistant to taking medications. Everyone has a fine line of "addiction" but, at least in my experience, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

With such a low dose, I haven't encountered any real side effects (besides an initial loss of appetite and trouble sleeping, which after a few months went away). I don't feel "speedy," but when I try to pay attention I can pay attention. I honestly believe it just brought me up to a level playing field with all the other non-ADHD students. I still have to work my ass off, but at least I'm not working my ass off just to simply fail at maintaining my attention.

You may or may not have actual ADHD. Only a physician can tell you yay or nay and what your options are. But I would say its something at least considering...and if you're posting on an online forum about it, I'm guessing its a rather significant problem.

 

[Algophiliac]

These are the main reasons I was resistant to taking medications. Everyone has a fine line of "addiction" but, at least in my experience, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

With such a low dose, I haven't encountered any real side effects (besides an initial loss of appetite and trouble sleeping, which after a few months went away). I don't feel "speedy," but when I try to pay attention I can pay attention. I honestly believe it just brought me up to a level playing field with all the other non-ADHD students. I still have to work my ass off, but at least I'm not working my ass off just to simply fail at maintaining my attention.

You may or may not have actual ADHD. Only a physician can tell you yay or nay and what your options are. But I would say its something at least considering...and if you're posting on an online forum about it, I'm guessing its a rather significant problem.

It's definitely a rather significant problem for me, especially because right now I can't seem to focus in the slightest. Thank you for the suggestion of checking with a physician...do you think their diagnoses are usually fairly accurate, or overdiagnosed?

And I definitely understand about the level playing field bit! I don't consider it cheating, per se, if it's necessary to treat an unfair disadvantaged condition, but drugs are still not my ideal option...but might be needed!

 

[Overmjnd]

Is it just me, or did anyone notice the Concerta ad at the top of this page?

 

[Stewie32]

Is it just me, or did anyone notice the Concerta ad at the top of this page?

I believe the ads are different for everyone. If you refresh the page, you will probably have a different ad at the top.

 

[AllDay24]

Good night's sleep + white noise (i.e. a loud fan) + a good study area = good concentration

 

[Algophiliac]

Good night's sleep + white noise (i.e. a loud fan) + a good study area = good concentration

These ordinary things never seem to work for me! I really should go see a doctor. And the ads crack me up every time!

 

[Playa]

Im not saying your crazy, but maybe there is an underlying psychological problem? Is there something that is really worrying you so that you avoid studying?

 

[Algophiliac]

Im not saying your crazy, but maybe there is an underlying psychological problem? Is there something that is really worrying you so that you avoid studying?

Not particularly. Sometimes the stress is intense, and that causes anxiety, but my focus is no better lacking stress, either...it's just not as anxiety-promoting. This has been going on and getting progressively worse for 5 years--so I can't see it being something psychological, but you have a good point.

 

[Oxygen206]

It's definitely a rather significant problem for me, especially because right now I can't seem to focus in the slightest. Thank you for the suggestion of checking with a physician...do you think their diagnoses are usually fairly accurate, or overdiagnosed?

And I definitely understand about the level playing field bit! I don't consider it cheating, per se, if it's necessary to treat an unfair disadvantaged condition, but drugs are still not my ideal option...but might be needed!

I would say from my experience (5 years working in primary care as an MA) that for young children they are probably over diagnosed, but its hard to say... Unfortunately parents can be quite pushy for a magic pill, but its hard to blame them when teachers/schools are constantly calling.

For adults, however, most doctors will not automatically just write you a script for amphetamine because you say you can't concentrate. They are aware of the desirable nature of "study drugs" for college students that don't really have a problem. Even some doctors that are more lenient will likely appreciate someone who wants a thorough evaluation, with medication as a last resort. Most doctors can tell when someone ultimately just wants the script versus someone who actually wants to get to the root of a problem.

When I went to my doctor, I asked for a serious evaluation and to try some of the other medications available first before jumping right into taking amphetamine (I don't know, that word just sounded scary to me). I'm glad I did, because I found one that works wonderfully 🙂

Best of luck to you, I hope you are able to get back on track and where you want to be as quickly and as painlessly possible.