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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 11:31:05
But I forgot what you all said. :-)
I'm feeling much better mood wise (been suffering from major depression for a few years now), but my concentration is still awful. I'm coming into work on the weekends because I can't get my work done during the week. I used to read for pleasure all the time, but can't make myself read much more than a glorified romance novel these days, and even that is iffy.
Anyone know *why* my concentration is off? If I feel better, shouldn't that mean the depression is, if not gone, then extremely lessened and shouldn't my concentration come back? Could it be the Wellbutrin I'm on now?
Is this permanent? I used to be able to slam through projects much faster than most coworkers. Now, I'm the slowwwww turtle.....
Anyone have any tips on how to cope?
Thanks for any advice you've got....I want my brain back, now. :-)
Susan
Posted by sarita0001 on October 19, 2003, at 11:54:19
In reply to Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 11:31:05
Hi,
I heard this is common from Wellbutrin, it's kind of like Topamax in that it causes concentration and memory problems. Look for some posts about it here- I've seen a bunch.
Best,
Sara
Posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 12:04:46
In reply to Re: Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by sarita0001 on October 19, 2003, at 11:54:19
Hi, Sara,
> I heard this is common from Wellbutrin, it's kind of like Topamax in that it causes concentration and memory problems. Look for some posts about it here- I've seen a bunch.
<<Thanks, *sigh*, I was afraid of that. I'm feeling *so* much better on Wellbutrin I don't want to give it up. I'll see what they say about that side effect. :-(
Susan
Posted by octopusprime on October 19, 2003, at 13:53:02
In reply to Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 11:31:05
Hi Susan I'm going to bug you today :)
Hmm I don't know what to say. My concentration is starting to come back; but I think it's more out of necessity than anything else.
Like you I was having trouble reading. Funny enough I could still rip through novels where the main characters were nuts. Start with those, and then move back to more reading for pleasure. I just read "Idioglossia" -- now I can try and go back to "A Passage to India" which I've been trying and failing to read for about the last three months. :-/
I think we all change very fundamentally after a depression, and we need to start all over again with brand new patterns. I know work is a pattern that we can't frequently change. However, if we change our patterns outside of work, then we can go back and do what needs doing at work.
Lack of concentration is a sign that something is troubling us. I personally found painting, drumming, swimming, and hiking to be very therapeutic. I could paint while I was upset -- in fact I found painting rather cathartic. It gets the emotions out that I can't quite verbalize or understand. I think getting our bodies to do things, and leaving our minds out of it, helps a lot.
And of course, a hobby like painting ties up your weekends so you won't want to go to work. Then you can pressure yourself into fitting work into the week. I can work now even when I don't feel like it (most of the time), it's just a self-discipline trick. Try pointing your monitor in such a way that others will see it when they walk by. That will keep you from surfing the web so much.
And of course the meds are part of it; but if you otherwise like the meds you will have to find a way to work around the side effects.
Shalom
Posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 13:59:19
In reply to Re: Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by octopusprime on October 19, 2003, at 13:53:02
Hi, again!
> Hi Susan I'm going to bug you today :)
<<You're not bugging me, you're giving advice, which I like and need. :-)>> Lack of concentration is a sign that something is troubling us.
<<It doesn't help that I'm not really excited about this work. But then, I think I *should* be. I'm tracking how states identify HIV positive inmates in prison and use a case management system to treat them once they've been released back into the community in an effort to keep them healthy and prevent the spread of AIDS. 2 years ago, I would have been *fascinated* by this! Not now...And it doesn't help that I despise my suitemate here at work, who keeps interrupting me no matter what I say to her, and repeated requests to move offices have been denied, so I feel helpless and frustrated.
But this is what I've got to work with.... So here I am, in on a Sunday, away from the suitemate, and getting at least *some* stuff done.
But thanks for the insight....
Susan
Posted by octopusprime on October 19, 2003, at 14:18:58
In reply to Re: Concentration Problems -- I asked this before.... » octopusprime, posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 13:59:19
well Susan if the work doesn't thrill you, the work doesn't thrill you. You can assert that you would have loved the work two years ago, but is that actually true?
Tracking social problems can be deadly boring. After all, what you get is a database and a process description and a list of names ... it gets dry, dry, dry sitting in an office.
Can you wear headphones and listen to music to eliminate distractions from your suitemate? Change your hours during the week so you don't have to interact with her so much? Schedule something exciting during your lunch hours (such as a trip to the park, a swim, a manicure, a haircut, a good magazine, a lunch with a friend) so you get a good break in the day and come back to work feeling renewed?
I think a lack of concentration can be micro-managed away ... schedule yourself 15 minute, half hour, or hour long blocks of work, where you accomplish something specific, then reward yourself by visiting your favourite website or having a latte or something. Headphones to block distractions help, if they are allowed.
If you have a notebook computer, or are doing something paper-based, can you move your work to a conference room, picnic table, or park bench? I find a change of scenery helps to.
If anybody else has any bright ideas, I'm all ears.
Posted by ginger C on October 20, 2003, at 12:35:35
In reply to Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by Susan J on October 19, 2003, at 11:31:05
I have experienced some concentration problems and am taking welbutrin but my doctor explained that every time you have a manic or a depressive episode that there is some damage done to the brain. I was so deeply depressed that she used ECT to pull me out but I think the depression it'self has hurt too.
Posted by Dinah on October 20, 2003, at 13:21:07
In reply to Re: Concentration Problems -- I asked this before...., posted by ginger C on October 20, 2003, at 12:35:35
Agh. Now that *is* depressing. My memory is shot to heck, but I've sort of assumed it was the Klonopin, maybe the Depakote.
Posted by ginger C on October 21, 2003, at 18:05:20
In reply to Re: Concentration Problems -- I asked this before.... » ginger C, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2003, at 13:21:07
I first thought it was caused by the medications but I am beginning to think that there may be some biological basis to it.
This is the end of the thread.
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