Concentration disorders: the brain is on strike | BRIGITTE.de

If thoughts wander often, there may be poor concentration behind it. What are the causes and how do you get rid of them?

Difficulty concentrating can put a strain on us in everyday life: You actually wanted to finish your tax return, now you find yourself staring out of the window dreaming again. But at what point does the constant distraction become serious – and what can you do about it?

Difficulty concentrating and poor concentration

Although the terms concentration disorder 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 condition persists, it turns into a lack of concentration – memory and the brain virtually go on permanent strike.

However, the two terms cannot really be differentiated from each other, the transition is usually fluid. In addition, concentration disorders generally increase with age, because at some point the brain starts to break down. If you feel that you have long-term difficulty concentrating, you should talk to a doctor about it. He can make the appropriate diagnosis.

What are the causes of concentration disorders?

Concentration disorders often arise as a result of physical and emotional stress in everyday life. For example through:

If the concentration just doesn't work out, it doesn't have to be our own fault. External factors also influence our performance. These include:

  • noise
  • heat
  • Bad light
  • Bad air

By the way, we will reveal how you can reduce stress in this article.

Why is there a lack of concentration at all?

If we want to concentrate on something, the body has to provide a lot of energy – this cannot be done continuously. The longer we concentrate, the more it exhausts us. Mental fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of poor 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. This increases the ability to concentrate again.

Help with difficulty concentrating

The brain can be trained like a muscle. Cognitive tasks in particular promote it: Crossword puzzles and memory games are just as suitable as Sudoku or mahjong, if you work at least two to three times a week, but preferably every day, for about an hour each. We should also incorporate exercise into our everyday life to increase performance: Studies show that we can memorize something easier and faster if we pace up and down. Here we reveal even more ways you can increase your concentration.

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