Solutions for difficulty concentrating

Sam had difficulty concentrating and couldn’t focus on his job. He began PTSD counseling and learned skills to manage his symptoms. Others who were going through similar experiences provided support and recommendations for techniques to improve his daily life.

What is difficulty concentrating?

Are you easily distracted or perhaps make mistakes even when you try to do your best? Do you sometimes forget to bring the one thing you’ll need most for a task or activity? Is it hard to sit still and listen to someone talk? If this sounds like you, you might be having difficulty concentrating.

Trouble focusing and a worsening attention span are signs of poor concentration. Trouble concentrating can result in problems with keeping a job, learning new skills or information, and with relationships with other people.

“A lot of times I have every intention of giving someone my full attention, but before you know it, my brain checks out and I literally don’t hear the words that are being spoken to me.”

Trouble concentrating can occur for many reasons, including an injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, dealing with chronic pain, or severe headaches. Some Veterans may have difficulty concentrating due to anxiety or stressdepression, or painful memories from military service. You may find other people don’t understand your difficulties with concentrating. They may assume you are not trying very hard or you don’t care. This lack of understanding might make you feel frustratedangry, or depressed.

If I’m having trouble concentrating, what can I do about it right away?

  • Avoid distractions like loud music or the television when you want to concentrate.
  • If you’re in a meeting or a classroom, sit close to the front; and try to remove distractions, such as your cell phone, from your seating area.
  • Use a planner and make checklists to help you stay organized.
  • Develop a routine and try to stick to a regular schedule.
  • Divide your tasks into smaller steps.
  • Take regular breaks to prevent feeling tired.
  • Avoid overstimulating your brain with large amounts of caffeine or energy drinks.
  • Minimize the need to multitask by focusing on one thing at a time.

If you have trouble concentrating, talking to your family and friends can be an important step to reduce frustration and misunderstanding. If you share what you’re experiencing with your family and friends, they can avoid distracting — and that may help you focus on the task at hand.























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