Trouble Focusing

[mvillarreal]

I know this is less related to depression and anxiety and more to do with my ADHD, but what do you do when you have trouble focusing on assignments, tasks, cleaning, etc.? I find that I always try to work on stuff, and the next thing I know, I'm watching videos of monkeys or talking to someone or something. How do you "get on it" without getting distracted?

[foxglove_pnw]

Hi,

Have you been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD ?

You could talk to your doctor about using medication for that .

A good idea is to make a list and set alarms on your phone to remind you of tasks ! Take breaks and do something physical , short walk , ride a bike etc

Go to amazon and search for :

Time Timer Original 8 inch; 60 Minute Visual Timer – Classroom Or Meeting Countdown Clock for Kids and Adult

😉

[mvillarreal in reply to foxglove_pnw]

Will medication make me feel zombie-like though? And since I take sertraline, will that interact?

[foxglove_pnw in reply to mvillarreal]

I have no idea what medication would be better for you but my son takes adderall and it really helps him focus at school.

Talk to your psychiatrist!

[Dolphin14]

I have focus issues due to anxiety and medication and also due to lack of sleep.

I feel scatterbrained sometimes. I just have to stop where I am, take a deep breath and regroup. Ask myself what I was doing and wait till it comes to mind. Then I start over.

I used to enjoy reading but I can't focus on that like I used to. It's pretty sad. I miss it.

[Hidden]

Getting on top of things....I just begin and try not to multitask (something my job preaches oddly enough). This is because the more we're trying to handle at one time, the odds are we're going to neglect something. So, focus on the task at hand...heck...make a banner, "PROJECT: CLEAN KITCHEN!" Whatever helps key in as a reminder about the task at hand.

I also find lists to be productive. Get a calendar out/date book and write everything out. Plan each day with one task. It just gives me objectives. If you decide to sit down and take a break, set a timer so you remember. "Oh, crap, been watching the monkey do funny things on YouTube for my whole break. Let's get back to business." I would say to make sure to make any lists "doable" because sometimes you can easily fizzle yourself out just looking at it...and it makes procrastinating the day away far too easy.

Probably one of the easiest ways is to set an hourly timer on your phone that continues to remind you what you have or need to do. The more you catch yourself off task, I believe the better for your mind's "rewiring" because, much like meditation, a deviation from the task at hand (the part of the breath you can feel) leads you from the disturbance and back to task or original focus. If it works with meditation, perhaps it can help with your daily objectives. Best of luck!

[rach1402]

I've gone one better than that and BOUGHT a monkey 🐒😂 he's peeking out of his hammock on my profile picture/avatar/icon/whatever the kids are calling it these days! Do you take medication for your ADHD? If so it might be worth considering tweaking the dosage or even the type of medication you take. If not, I can personally recommend trying a few different meds, under the supervision of a doctor of course, as most people will respond to at least one of them. Other than that, I'm afraid I've never mastered the art of getting on with it myself but then I was only diagnosed in my mid 30's so as an adult I had not grown up with those skills and brain connections, so any medication works for me in the short term but can't 'fix' the problem. The only thing I've ever found helpful is one constant distraction that distracts me from all the other distractions. I realise that sounds strange but anyone with ADHD will know what I'm talking about. Music works best for me, I play loud, fast songs that I like (so I won't get side tracked skipping those I don't like) from a long track list, at random. Works for me when the kids are making a racket in the car 🤣 sorry I've rambled so much, I've only just got up and haven't taken my meds yet 🤪 but I hope that makes sense and that you find a solution soon x

[mvillarreal in reply to rach1402]

Oh my gosh!!!! I want a monkey! That's so cute!!! Does (s)he have a name? I've thought about medication, but I've also worried that it will make me feel like a zombie or take away the special creativity that comes with ADHD. Is that fear warranted?

[rach1402 in reply to mvillarreal]

That's a tricky one, it's a very individual thing. Any medication that affects your brain function can make you feel different, in positive ways as well as negative. 70% of adults with ADHD respond to 1 or more of the stimulant medications. They're safe for most people and it's easy to stop taking it if you don't find it helpful or find that you experience side effects that are worse than the ADHD symptoms. Even the extended release ones that most adults use leave your system after about 12-14 hours. I started off with concerta XL and for some reason my psychiatrist kept increasing my dosage. For me, a dose high enough to help me manage my ADHD symptoms made me feel too socially detached and I eventually became depressed. I changed to Elvanse (European Vyvanse) after speaking to my psychiatrist without a break in between and I could tell straight away that was the medication for me. I don't feel it kicking in or wearing off and it gives me enough time to think before acting on impulse and enough focus to get on with my work and drive safely, whilst still allowing me to be myself. A good psychiatrist will let try different medications at different dosages and I get the impression you're in the States, in which case you'll probably have a range of options to try, unlike her in the UK where we're decades behind most developed countries in terms of diagnosis and treatment. My younger daughter, nearly 11, was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of months ago and I definitely want her to try out some medications to give her the best chance of getting into positive routines and not have to grow up feeling stupid. At least she knows why she struggles with certain things, I only got diagnosed in my mid 30s!

I'd say it's worth a try and if you find that you don't like it or it doesn't help you don't have to carry on taking it if it's a stimulant medication. It is a bit trickier with the non stimulant medications but most people don't find those as effective anyway.

About the monkey, he's adorable 😍🐒😇 and he's such a good boy 😊 he was an impulse buy but I don't regret it for a second. His name is Coco and he and his sister were brought up by their mum until they were about 15 months old so unlike most pet monkeys he actually knows he's a monkey and doesn't have a chip on his shoulder, problem behaviour like throwing his poop or biting. He's sociable and interested in me and the kids but he's not tame enough to ride around on our shoulders but he plays peekaboo and chirps at us to greet us and in reply to us when we talk to us. They do need specialised care but to be honest Coco is not my most high maintenance pet, the chinchillas are little monsters! They can be a handful though, I've been so lucky with Coco x

[Taptap]

Hey you, my son has autism, and is 18 today, unfortunately there is no short term solution, but my friend, from experiance, I can say , yes see your gp, find support groups but most of all find a true friend that may not understand what is in your head of heart, but will support you, help ypu, or just listen to you rave on about absolute shit, then give you a hug and say, feel better, or just make you a coffee,tea or a beer, but will never judge you or put you down, but is there for you, and you are most definitely are not alone. Smile, laugh, and just be you x

[limenavy]

Do you have any tricks you already use for ADHD? I found mindfulness and meditation to help "retrain" my brain to focus better, like making a new habit. My trouble with concentrating is mainly due to depression/anxiety, though. Finding a way to relax, using calming methods, making a doable list, taking a walk and thinking through why I am having a hard time completing some task, along with mindfulness, meditation, and prayer have been especially helpful the last several months for me.

[mvillarreal in reply to limenavy]

I do find it helps to run, but (somewhat ironically) I worry that, if I spend time running, I won't get anything done.