Difficulty concentrating.?

Question

I am an almost 42 year female.
I was ADD as a child & have some ADD characteristics still, but my concentration has gotten worse in the past year or so.

After the death of my 4 year old nephew May of 2005, I went on meds which helped with the depression but as the depression subsided the lack of concentration continued. I had gone off the antidepressants but went back on thinking depression was causing my lack of concentration, but they have not helped, so I am phasing off the meds again.

Could it be hormone changes?
My aunt was bi-polir but I am not experiencing mood swings.
Any ideas? Any sites you can recommend?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Kat...

If you've had significant changes in your concentration recently, you should definitely talk to your doctor or therapist first.

On the other hand, remember that inability to concentrate, by definition, is hard to measure. After all, you've never been inside someone else's head! Also, like any physical and mental characteristic, there's a natural range that occurs within the general population.

For example, I had an engineer that worked with me who had tremendous focus and concentration. Trouble was, he was oblivious to nuance and change. At the same time, I had a sales and marketing guy working for me whose mind was always "somewhere else". But he'd bring back great ideas (and orders) from those flights of fancy.

Both guys were important contributors in their own way. Surely we need those with steel-trap minds and laser focus. But we also need dreamers and out-of-the-box thinkers to invent the things that the engineers will work on and react to change and challenges with spontaneity and nimble thinking.

Inspiration is rarely found in the humdrum here-and-now. Maybe you're just a poet, being too hard on yourself?

Answer 2

I would talk to a psychiatrist.

If your aunt was maternal or paternal, it is possible that the bipolar passed down.

What you are describing sounds like it could be bipolar, but only a psychiatrist would be able to help you determine that.

I was just diagnosed about 3 months ago, so I am still learning. I am glad that I finally went to the psychiatrist. I have probably had this for a good part of my life and am finally getting the treatment I need.

Good Luck. Feel free to email me if I can help.