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What Causes Severe Lack Of Concentration And Poor Focus In Young Adults?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Jul 2015
Question: i find that i constantly go through my day without hearing my inner voice unless i consously turn it on. Additionaly when iturn it on it dosnt make sence and i cant figure anything out. Yet i can function as a normal 18 year old without anyone knowing of my absence of thinking or understanding.
I cant find anything online about this, please help
Additionaly when i read i have to re-read multiple times to understand and if the vocabulary is to high i almost miss the message its getting across entirely. I have a great deal of difficulty creating any sort of image or connection in my head, That Uhuh! moment dosnt happen. I feel so lost and confussed yet i am overal quite happy person. my symptoms are best described by the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. I have written letters to myself of my true feelings of this "nothingness" and lack of engagment to anything and yet nothing that i do or can reaserch online is helping with it at all. But i am scared to go to my doctor as the last time i did he just told me to go to a phycitrist who only diagnosed me with ADHD. I feel that trying to explain what i am going through can be a dauntlying task in itself. Its almost as if i cant fathom, or put into words how i feel and how my brain is working, or not working.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
If possible provide me some details.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern to some extent. You are 18 years old and have symptoms like lacking inner voice through out the day unless you turn it on. Even you are not able to thought anything. You are not able to concentrate on a particular thing and you have to read the vocabulary again and again. You are not liking to go to a psychiatrist also.

These symptoms suggest severe lack of concentration and poor focus. Such symptoms can occur due to inattention and need evaluation. You are 18 and I'd like to know if you have shown any behaviours like hyperactivity or impulsiveness last few years? What are you doing these days? Up to which class you have been studied?

In ADHD commonly inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are seen. To diagnose on individual with ADHD a detailed evaluation is needed.

Even in severe depression an individual may show poor focus and severe lack of concentration. The poor focus in your case could be occurring with depression also and this should be ruled out during evaluation. In severe anxiety individuals may show distraction and due to this they are not able to think properly. So anxiety is also a possibility. Please provide me details if you have ever shown symptoms of anxiety or depression?

You have mentioned that some symptoms are described by borderline personality disorder but considering you age the possibility to borderline personality is very rare. So no need to worry.

Please give me details of your symptoms what I'v asked and more details if you want to mention anything so that we can proceed further. Also mention if you have been prescribed some medicines?

Thanks, mention the details in follow up question. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (37 minutes later)
As for aditional information i just finished my last year of highschool, (grade 12) And am going to university next year. so dispite my inability, through the past school year with the help of my medication, Vyvanse 50mg, i was able to study and learn the material, yet even on the medication the other symptoms where still there. These days i am working as a cook and spending much of my day out with friends yet it seems to have a strong negitive inpack that in social situations i cant seem to grasp what is going on in my situation.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Other amphetamines can help to improve focus.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question

Vyvanse is an amphetamine drug and the drug helped in focus and concentration in your case and this further strengthens ADD as cause of your symptoms. Currently you are working and have significant problems in social situations. In such case other amphetamine drugs like Adderall extended release can help. But the drug is associated with risk of tolerance and abuse so please use the medicine for short period of time only with proper prescription.

For improvement in focus other drugs like Modafinil or Armodafinil can help. Both these medicines can help in improvement in alertness and can help in your case. These medicines are relatively safe medicines.

Poor performance in social situations could be due to anxiety and distress. Anxiety results in loss of focus. But to make diagnosis of anxiety as cause of your symptoms there is need for evaluation by a psychiatrist.

Please visit a psychiatrist for help and prescription of these medicines.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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What Causes Severe Lack Of Concentration And Poor Focus In Young Adults?

Brief Answer: If possible provide me some details. Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern to some extent. You are 18 years old and have symptoms like lacking inner voice through out the day unless you turn it on. Even you are not able to thought anything. You are not able to concentrate on a particular thing and you have to read the vocabulary again and again. You are not liking to go to a psychiatrist also. These symptoms suggest severe lack of concentration and poor focus. Such symptoms can occur due to inattention and need evaluation. You are 18 and I'd like to know if you have shown any behaviours like hyperactivity or impulsiveness last few years? What are you doing these days? Up to which class you have been studied? In ADHD commonly inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are seen. To diagnose on individual with ADHD a detailed evaluation is needed. Even in severe depression an individual may show poor focus and severe lack of concentration. The poor focus in your case could be occurring with depression also and this should be ruled out during evaluation. In severe anxiety individuals may show distraction and due to this they are not able to think properly. So anxiety is also a possibility. Please provide me details if you have ever shown symptoms of anxiety or depression? You have mentioned that some symptoms are described by borderline personality disorder but considering you age the possibility to borderline personality is very rare. So no need to worry. Please give me details of your symptoms what I'v asked and more details if you want to mention anything so that we can proceed further. Also mention if you have been prescribed some medicines? Thanks, mention the details in follow up question. Take care.