Trouble focusing and concentratin

[harkkam]

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Guys Im really facing a touch decision here. For a large part of my college career I've had trouble focusing on school. I know its something that I've been struggling for a long time and I need help with.

My mind is always active and doesnt seem to calm down and just hone in on one task. When i study even if there is a test comming up my day will go something like this.

at home when I have planned to make it a study day

wake up
Eat breakfast and shower - 30 min
Turn my computer on and check email - 15 min

*Get distracted by the internet - Waste an hour*

Open my book and read for - 20 min

* Feel agitation and frustration in my body feel the need to walk around and get up I do but then I start playing my guitar and waste - 45 min*

Come back to my book for 30 min.

*Feel agitated again and get up to make coffee*

Then study some more for 35 min



I cant seem to get in a solid block of 3-4 hours of honest studying.

I always succumb to my desires to just get up and do something. It almost feels like an itch when I sit in my chair for more than 30 min and my mind is always running very fast and its hard to calm it down to focus and absorb the material.

I was wondering if I should see a DOC about ADD I think I might have it.

Things I've tried

- Motivation scolding - telling myself how important this task is and how crucial to my future it is

- Giving myself little breaks of 15 min after 45 min of studying only to not go back to studying after my break time is over.

-Listeing to music to only get caught up in music and enjoy it so much I cant focus on the material

- Going to the school library and sitting in a quiet place and day dreaming or getting up to get coffee or food every two hours. Or finding a friend and talking to them for an hour.

Im out of options here guys. I dont want to go the medication route but it may be the only thing I have left to conquer this.

Things Ive also noticed

My leg is constantly moving up and down as if I am filled with nervous anxiety.
I constantly bite my nails
MY mind feels like its running at a thousand miles per second and then it stops dead like a bullet.

 

[J ROD]

Sounds like ADHD....get some stimulants like Ritalin, Focalin, etc.!!

Then, you will be "zoned" in!!!

 

[biophysicianai]

http://www.teaspring.com/Kuding-Tea.asp

You may think I'm joking, but I assure you that I'm not.

Use the same leaves over and over again in the course of a day. First cup will be weak. If you steep the same leaves again and again, the tea will actually get stronger for several servings, before finally beginning to get weaker.

 

[Algophiliac]

I cant seem to get in a solid block of 3-4 hours of honest studying.

I always succumb to my desires to just get up and do something. It almost feels like an itch when I sit in my chair for more than 30 min and my mind is always running very fast and its hard to calm it down to focus and absorb the material.

I was wondering if I should see a DOC about ADD I think I might have it.

Things I've tried

- Motivation scolding - telling myself how important this task is and how crucial to my future it is

- Giving myself little breaks of 15 min after 45 min of studying only to not go back to studying after my break time is over.

-Listeing to music to only get caught up in music and enjoy it so much I cant focus on the material

- Going to the school library and sitting in a quiet place and day dreaming or getting up to get coffee or food every two hours. Or finding a friend and talking to them for an hour.

Im out of options here guys. I dont want to go the medication route but it may be the only thing I have left to conquer this.

Things Ive also noticed

My leg is constantly moving up and down as if I am filled with nervous anxiety.
I constantly bite my nails
MY mind feels like its running at a thousand miles per second and then it stops dead like a bullet.

This is your problem. Stop trying to study in blocks, and embrace your obvious short-term energy bursts. Divide up your studying into intense 30 minute to 1 hour sessions!

Although I am not always like this, there are days when I feel exactly the same way and can get absolutely nothing done. So I just tell myself to focus for 45 minutes, and then I can do whatever I want for a short span of time (be it short as in 10 minutes or "short" as in 30 minutes). Sometimes this results in a very productive room cleaning/reorganizing or just a relatively stress-free day.

But there are other days for me when I can't seem to understand or memorize anything unless I spend at least a 4-hour block of intense studying time on it. So go figure.

Also, don't get on the computer anywhere near the time you know you have to study.

 

[red10]

i know nothing about ADD or ADHD and if you feel really concerned about it you should see a doc not post on SDN like we can diagnose you over the internet.

If really necessary I can sit down and study for an hour or two when i'm incredibly motivated and in a quiet place (such as a tiny library where no one ever goes so there isn't anything to distract me). Otherwise I tend to study for half and hour, take a short break and come back (if i don't get distracted). Mine is more of a lack of discipline than ADHD as far as I know.

Anyone who can study for more than 2 hours at a time is a god as far as I'm concerned but 90% of the time they probably are studying efficiently. My old roommate would spend 6 hours studying hardcore and still bomb tests. She must have had a great attention span but sucked at studying.

 

[flip26]

See a doc...you are describing anxiety and possibly depression...very treatable.

 

[red10]

See a doc...you are describing anxiety and possibly depression...very treatable.

how did you get anxiety and depression out of that post?

 

[loveoforganic]

I wouldn't be so quick to diagnose from an anecdote - see the doctor is pretty sufficient.

 

[J ROD]

how did you get anxiety and depression out of that post?

premed!! 👍

 

[ILikeDrugs]

how did you get anxiety and depression out of that post?

* Feel agitation and frustration in my body
*Feel agitated again and get up to make coffee*
My leg is constantly moving up and down as if I am filled with nervous anxiety.
I constantly bite my nails

Depression and anxiety co-morbidity is very common.

 

[red10]

Depression and anxiety co-morbidity is very common.

I'm not questioning the comorbidity. I'm well aware. But for all we know he could be just drinking too much dang coffee and that's why he's fidgety and twitchy. Depression seems like a stretch to diagnose from a single post about his short attention span

 

[biophysicianai]

Depression and anxiety co-morbidity is very common.

ILikeDrugs, while I understand that anyone could have read about this particular subject on their own, or have had personal experience with it, but this may not be sufficient to make you an authority. If you are not one, I would not be so quick to offer an internet diagnosis without a disclaimer.

You have never directly interacted with the OP, and considering that you have listed yourself as "pre-health," I doubt that you have interacted with a substantial number of similar patients. You don't only need to know that a symptom could indicate X, you also need to at least try to rule out Y, Z, and all of the other possibilities.

For that matter, while depression and anxiety co-morbidity may be very common, so are ADD, ADHD, and a lack of interest in reading about cells and molecules (a lack of interest that a guitar and high speed internet access only worsens).

You could be well trained. You could be completely correct. But, you could also be suggesting that you have expertise when you don't. I don't think you're trying to be deceitful, but I think you may might be too enthusiastic with the knowledge that you do have.

 

[Eyti]

.

 

[ziggyd0c]

i am the same way... i was diagnosed with ADHD and tried a few different drugs but eventually i stopped taking them, they made me focus but also made me feel agitated and jittery. now i just try to make plans, like i'll promise myself a reward if i do a good chunk of REAL studying. i somehow managed to make it through my MCAT studying without any drugs and did pretty well.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

ILikeDrugs, while I understand that anyone could have read about this particular subject on their own, or have had personal experience with it, but this may not be sufficient to make you an authority. If you are not one, I would not be so quick to offer an internet diagnosis without a disclaimer.

You have never directly interacted with the OP, and considering that you have listed yourself as "pre-health," I doubt that you have interacted with a substantial number of similar patients. You don't only need to know that a symptom could indicate X, you also need to at least try to rule out Y, Z, and all of the other possibilities.

For that matter, while depression and anxiety co-morbidity may be very common, so are ADD, ADHD, and a lack of interest in reading about cells and molecules (a lack of interest that a guitar and high speed internet access only worsens).

You could be well trained. You could be completely correct. But, you could also be suggesting that you have expertise when you don't. I don't think you're trying to be deceitful, but I think you may might be too enthusiastic with the knowledge that you do have.

WTF are you talking about? 😕

 

[harkkam]

i am the same way... i was diagnosed with ADHD and tried a few different drugs but eventually i stopped taking them, they made me focus but also made me feel agitated and jittery. now i just try to make plans, like i'll promise myself a reward if i do a good chunk of REAL studying. i somehow managed to make it through my MCAT studying without any drugs and did pretty well.

Thats inspirational man, could you give me some more tips on what I could do?

 

[icalz]

how did you get anxiety and depression out of that post?

Yeah, my first impression was acute schizophrenia with mild bipolarity...but then I changed my mind 🙄

Go study somewhere where there is nothing that can distract you...no xbos or ps3 (my main distractors), no internet (back in pre-historic times they didn't have it), and no television....just you, your book, and your notes.

 

[ziggyd0c]

Thats inspirational man, could you give me some more tips on what I could do?

i wish i could be more helpful, but honestly i still struggle in some areas. it helps me to plan days in advance, like "ok on thursday i have a 4 hour block of free time, i am going to study at that time, then as a reward i will take friday night off and not feel guilty about it"

 

[Verloren]

Starting this semester, I have had similar problems.

When I sit down, my mind wanders and I constantly look for things to do except studying. In the library, I go around and look at art and history books. In the study room, I start humming to myself or I doodle. In my room I get on the internet or sleep.

This only started this semester. Last semester I had a 3.86 gpa. This semester, I failed an o-chem exam and have been getting Bs on the biochem midterms. I try the "if I study, I will reward myself with a nap or a movie," but then I find that as I study and grow less focused, I lower my goal until I just up and go nap. I also try reminding myself that the orgo grade is REALLY important, but I just get distracted again.

I feel like this behavior has worsened with each mediocre/poor grade I get. My sister thinks that my recent lack of/irregular appetite points out depression.

Any tips or advice? I have an exam on monday and have wasted five hours on this Saturday, which I was supposed to have spent studying! Although I will add that I did study a total of seven hours yesterday (not all at once, with little breaks in between).

 

[cbrons]

See a doc...you are describing anxiety and possibly depression...very treatable.

Depression and anxiety co-morbidity is very common.

I'm not questioning the comorbidity. I'm well aware. But for all we know he could be just drinking too much dang coffee and that's why he's fidgety and twitchy. Depression seems like a stretch to diagnose from a single post about his short attention span

LOL

you kids need lives

 

[Sammich117]

I wouldn't listen to any diagnosis gained from this site. If you think there's something wrong, definitely go to a doctor. If it turns out to be nothing, I agree with whoever said to just break up your study times instead of trying to do long chunks. Sometimes that can help you retain it better also.

 

[Tutmos]

To the OP: Congratulations, you're normal. Part of your task in life is learning how to deal with distraction and exert self-discipline. The average adult attention span is in the ballpark of 20 minutes so there's nothing wrong with you. It sounds like you just have an issue with impulse control and can't pull yourself away from the pleasurable activity you're using as the break once you've started. For a start how about trying something as a break that isn't so enjoyable and involved. Instead of picking up your guitar how about simply walking to a different part of the house, cleaning something up, talk to your family for 5 minutes then go back to studying.

I can see why there's such a problem with ADHD, as what I've always known to be normal for most people is now a clinical disorder and resolved by drugging the patient. Your brain is very plastic and you can probably fix the problem yourself by developing a routine to work around it. The one certainty is that drugs most certainly are not going to cure or resolve the situation.

Step 1 for you is to recognize the things that you get too involved in or consume too much time with and put them away and realize you can't touch them while school is in session, or at least when there is studying that needs to be done.

To save some time here I'll be blunt, you need to learn self-discipline and quit looking for a magic bullet, secret method or other crutch. Quit being a victim.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I'm having many of the same problems as OP.

I don't know if it will hlpe but for me, I've been allowing myself lots of breaks but now and then i'll get a bite to eat or just walk instead of doing something really engaging. That way once i'm done eating I can go back to the books. Basically I take a break form studying but I try not to do anything else during my break which could take my mind off of what I had beengoing over.

I've found that going to my computer for breaks is usually something to avoid and being a guitar player as well I know how time flys like crazy when you jam, 2 hours can feel like 10 min. 😛

Best of luck with the studies TS.

 

[c5212]

I see... tumor, maybe? 🙄 GO SEE A DOCTOR

 

[BenUstudent]

Sounds like ADHD....get some stimulants like Ritalin, Focalin, etc.!!

Then, you will be "zoned" in!!!

Don't forget adderall, its a hit on college campuses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ihO1KFxkQ

 

[sassilysweet]

First of all, do NOT take medical advice from a pre-med internet forum (or any internet forum, for that matter). Just go see a doctor if you are that worried about it.

With that being said....
Everyone is so quick to jump to the ADD/ADHD thing. I agree with the one poster that you may just have an impulse control problem...weird, a teen/early 20's person with impulse control....

Try studying in different ways. If you get "itchy" after 20 minutes of reading, then try to make note-cards for the next 20 minutes. Or draw diagrams until you get that cycle/mechanism/whatever completely right. Change subjects if that doesn't work--study something else. Keep switching how you study or the subject every half hour or so. Stay completely away from the computer, tv, and stereo. Don't try to stick with one thing for 4 hours. You will retain information better if you study a half hour a night instead of wasting huge blocks of time without looking at the material in-between.

If you absolutely need a break between study times, then make a list of chores that need to get done and ONLY do what is on that list. If you have to pick between doing the dirty dishes and studying mitosis, you might be surprised which one wins.

 

[Tutmos]

Here's something else I've found. If you have a choice between staying up late and covering a little more or getting up early and doing it then, always select staying up later to do it. It's amazing how sleep firms up and integrates new information. I can cover material and be a little confused about how it all fits together and by morning it all makes dramatically more sense.

It really explains why Edison always took multiple cat naps throughout the day.