Concentration Disorders: The Brain Goes on Strike
If the thoughts often wander, concentration problems can be behind it. What are the causes and how do you get rid of them?
Concentration problems can be a burden in everyday life: Actually you wanted to finish your tax return a moment ago, but now you find yourself staring out of the window dreaming again. But at what point does the constant distraction become a concern – and what can you do about it?
Concentration disorders and lack of concentration
Although the terms concentration disorders and lack of concentration are often used synonymously, they do not actually describe the same condition.
Concentration disorder means that it is difficult or impossible to concentrate on a task for a short time. If this state is permanent, it becomes a lack of concentration – memory and brain go on a permanent strike, so to speak.
However, the two terms cannot really be distinguished from each other, the transition is usually fluid. Moreover, concentration disorders generally increase with age because the brain starts to deteriorate at some point. If you feel that you suffer from a long-term lack of concentration, you should talk to a doctor about it. He can make the appropriate diagnosis.
What are the causes of concentration disorders?
Concentration disorders are often caused by the physical and mental stress of everyday life. For example through:
- Stress
- Unhealthy diet and alcohol consumption
- Insomnia
- Mental stress, for example worries about a family member
- Diseases, for example attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children or dementia
If concentration simply does not work, it does not necessarily have to be our own fault. External factors also influence our performance. These include:
- Noise
- Heat
- Poor light
- Poor air
By the way, in this article we will reveal how you can reduce stress.
Why does a lack of concentration occur at all?
If we want to concentrate on something, the body has to provide a lot of energy – this is not possible continuously. The longer we work concentrated, the more exhausted we become. Mental fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a lack of concentration.
It is therefore important to take regular breaks and to supply the body with new energy in good time, for example through a balanced meal. In this way the ability to concentrate can be increased again.
Help with concentration difficulties
The brain can be trained similar to a muscle. Crossword puzzles and memory games are just as suitable as Sudoku or Mahjong if you do them at least two to three times a week, but preferably daily, for about one hour each. We should also incorporate exercise into our everyday life to improve performance: Studies show that we can learn something easier and faster by heart if we move up and down. Here we reveal even more ways in which you can improve your concentration.