Inattention, attention deficit disorder (ADHD): causes, symptoms, treatment

Distraction or inattention V Everyday life It’s even difficult to call it a symptom, since more often it’s just a person’s condition due to fatigue or life’s troubles. When “everything is somehow piling up”, it is difficult to have a clear, bright head, quickly switch from one job to another and keep up with everything, so there can be absent-mindedness that is justified and explainable, and inattention that arouses suspicion.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which we hear about more often from teachers and child psychologists than from pediatricians, concerns mainly children of primary school age with learning problems. Along with ADD, the concept of “hyperactivity” is often used. In such cases, it is customary to talk about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the essence of which will be covered below, in one of the sections of the article.

Age, fatigue or “always like this”

Absent-mindedness - discord. But more often than not we perceive it as one of the features or characteristic feature human temperament. There are people who are inattentive in life, they often irritate colleagues and loved ones, because it is difficult to reach them, they do not “get in” the first time, they have to repeat and repeat the same phrases. Others behave this way only at work, immersing themselves in it headlong, and some relax in a similar way at home, giving all their strength professional activity and not responding to requests from loved ones to help with housework or take care of the child.

There are many options, so let’s try to identify the main ones:

• In case of true inattention a person is so distracted from what is happening around that he creates the impression of his complete absence in this moment and in this place. Usually in such cases neither facial expressions nor eyes express anything. Similar state can happen to anyone after prolonged exercise, fatigue, sleepless night, monotonous activities. The person himself defines his condition as “confusion,” those around him say that “he is out of touch,” and experts call it prostration.
• Towards imaginary absent-mindedness include excessive concentration of attention on some own problem, which comes to the fore, eclipsing all others. Concentration on one thing, the inability to hear and understand the interlocutor, and solve other problems except one single one, is called imaginary absent-mindedness. It is typical for people who retreat into themselves to daydream and think or pursue a specific goal for a certain time (“goal hypnosis”), for example, this happens in professions that require special vigilance and concentration (drivers, pilots, dispatchers). Switching mental activity to foreign objects in similar cases may have negative consequences, so a person, in order to perform his duties efficiently, professional responsibilities has no right to be distracted by other matters. By the way, American scientists believe that driving a car is suitable for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease - constant concentration of attention trains the brain and improves memory.
• Student absent-mindedness– is familiar to everyone who went to school. You don't need to know this by personal experience, even very diligent students could be affected by such absent-mindedness of a neighbor, who was distracted from the lesson, engaged in extraneous matters and interfered with children reaching for knowledge.
• Senile absent-mindedness, which overtakes many people who have been retired for a long time. With age, memory deteriorates, the ability to concentrate on specific things, clearly make plans and purposefully go towards the intended goal decreases. Memory impairment leads to the fact that some moments from this chain fall out, are forgotten, lost, which is why the productivity of all activities suffers. For older people, things move more slowly and often with mistakes, causing additional grief and even greater distraction.
• Cognitive and selective inattention. Getting used to some constantly present things, sounds, situations, we stop reacting to them: we don’t watch the clock tick, we don’t count the beats of our hearts, we don’t pay attention to how the furniture is arranged in the room. own apartment. Knowing in advance where and what is located, we do not directly see the object that we look at every day and do not think about it. We won’t notice his disappearance right away either, although we can feel: “something is wrong”...
• Motivational-based inattention– a person tries to drive away thoughts and memories associated with unpleasant events, avoid communication with by individuals, ignore some places or roads.

It is unlikely that anyone has not caught himself inattentively, repeatedly reading a text he had memorized, or checking a work he had written in his own hand. Everything familiar, as a rule, falls away and thoughts go to the side. Simply because it’s not very interesting to delve into something that has been known for a long time.

Causes of absent-mindedness

Distraction of attention in most cases has reasons, including: serious illnesses You can put it in last place:

1. Physical and mental fatigue.
2. Lack of sleep.
3. A profession that requires performing the same type of monotonous movements or focusing on one object. Work behind the conveyor belt (monotony) and behind the wheel (all attention is directed to the road) weaken attention to the same extent.
4. Developed in the course of life, representatives of the scientific world have a habit of focusing on the subject of their scientific research and ignoring “earthly” problems. However, it should be noted that the memory of people involved in science does not fit the generally accepted canons (the relationship between attention and memory), they, as a rule, are well trained (professional memory), it’s just that a person considers something unnecessary and deliberately omits it, devoting attention to things that are of interest to him - gradually this approach becomes a habit.
5. Age. “Whether old or young” is a deficit of attention in both cases: old people can no longer concentrate on one topic for a long time, and children still can’t.
6. Strong anxiety prevents many people from concentrating, however, there are calm-blooded individuals who know how to control themselves in any situation.
7. Diseases (organic lesions, mental disorders, etc.).

Inattention and absent-mindedness, which seem to arise without cause and tend to progress, always require a search for a cause, after all, the inability to concentrate associated with fatigue always goes away quickly after rest, and disturbances in concentration, which have no explanation, are always alarming, since they often go along with symptoms and other signs of mental illness.

Attention deficit due to illness

It is difficult to imagine a person who is inattentive and absent-minded, but has a good memory. As a rule, these categories are interrelated - With attention deficit, memory suffers. The terminology used by specialists does not always explain the degree of impairment to patients. Based on the reasons, the loss of the ability to focus on individual objects can be of a different nature:

• Lack of concentration and therefore, a low ability to remember what is seen and heard is often characteristic of people who are said to be “on their own wavelength” or especially sensitive to unfavorable factors(fatigue, anxiety, lack of sleep);
• Rigidity(lethargy - difficulties in switching from one topic to another) often occurs in patients suffering from hypomania, hebephrenia.
• Instability of attention which is characterized by constant jumping from one object to another, so none of them remains in memory. Attention deficits are common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are a cause of memory problems and poor academic performance.

In principle, the causes of inattention and absent-mindedness are the same as the causes of memory impairment; these are various pathological conditions of the body:

1. Obstruction of blood supply and nutrition to the brain as a result vascular lesions( , and etc.);
2. Tumor processes;
3. Mental disorders ( depressive states, schizophrenia, epilepsy);
4. of various origins ( , );
5. Sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea syndrome);
6. Hypoxia;
7. Genetic factor;
8. Disturbance of metabolic processes ();
9. Lack of certain trace elements (iron, magnesium) or excess (lead).

However, if in most of the listed cases attention deficit occurs as a secondary symptom (along with other, more significant signs), then regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children it plays a role that determines the diagnosis.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a problem for parents and teachers

Neurologists call attention deficit hyperactivity disorder a violation of the functional abilities of the central nervous system. It is not difficult to guess that the development is based pathological condition lie predominantly neurological problems, the causes of which are complex and largely unclear ordinary people, disorders (imbalance in the synthesis of neurotransmitters - catecholamines, serotonin, etc., genetic mutations, cortical dysfunction frontal lobes and reticular formation). In addition, the appearance of ADHD can be provoked by seemingly harmless factors:

• Flavorings, preservatives and others nutritional supplements, which nowadays abound in various “delicacies”;
• Medicines – salicylic acid derivatives;
• Excessive craving for sweets;
• Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism;
• Allergic reactions to food;
• Shortage of much-needed children's body chemical elements(especially iron and magnesium);
• An increased level of such a representative that is, in principle, alien to the body heavy metals, like lead - constant contact with its compounds, which were previously allowed to improve the characteristics of automobile fuel, forms in children mental retardation and other severe pathologies of the central nervous system.

ADHD is most common in primary school, where the path to diagnosis begins with extreme restlessness, inattention and absent-mindedness, which cause poor academic performance.

A thorough study of a child’s behavior reveals the main symptoms of ADHD:

1. Instability of attention;
2. Memory impairment;
3. Low learning ability;
4. Excessive physical activity;
5. Incontinence in actions and desires;
6. Violent disagreement with personal defeats.

It should be noted that attention deficit always occurs in ADHD, but increased mobility is not one of the necessarily present signs of the syndrome (ADD without hyperactivity). In addition, sometimes a complicated version of ADHD occurs (neurosis-like or combined).

Manifestations of ADHD are noticeable to others

Due to the fact that with ADHD there is no significant damage to the brain, the symptoms will not differ in the severity of clinical manifestations.

Speech

To some extent (usually slightly) in children with ADHD, due to increased distractibility, difficulty in the development of intellectual abilities, there is a delay in the formation of language and speech skills (speech impairment). In a conversation, such children show intemperance, they are tactless and cheeky, easily interfering in the conversation of their classmates or a teacher with another student, inserting immodest remarks. They are not afraid to offend someone and do not even think about what may follow such behavior.

Coordination of movements

Violation of coordination of movements is mainly limited to difficulty in performing fine work:

• Children find it difficult to tie their own shoelaces;
• They do not like to color and cut out pictures, since such activities require precise movements and are difficult;
• They say about such children that they are not at all athletic, it is difficult for them to follow the ball (impaired visual-spatial coordination), and attempts to learn to ride a bicycle or master a skateboard do not have much success.

Hyperactivity

Excessive activity, called hyperactivity, however, does not always occur with ADHD. In some children, activity is within normal limits or is generally reduced, which causes errors in the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder and untimely initiation of correction. But if hyperactivity is still present, then it is difficult not to notice a child who has it: he constantly fidgets, cannot sit in one place, gets up from his desk during school hours, and walks around the class. In children with ADHD, motor activity is usually aimless: the child is constantly climbing somewhere, running, cannot stop to play, and talks a lot.

It would seem that unrestrained mobility cannot be accompanied by drowsiness, but, nevertheless, such “perpetuum mobile” tends to sleep several times during the day - it’s just that these children often have problems falling asleep, and many also experience bedwetting.

Emotions

Emotions in the case of ADHD are poorly controlled: children are unbalanced, touchy, quickly become angry, and do not know how to accept even a minor defeat with dignity. Emotional disturbances almost always entail a change not in better side social relations. Unhealthy children, as a rule, negatively influence their peers, which causes problems with their parents and teachers - one impulsive child with irrepressible energy becomes too many, he interferes with everyone, bullies, and destroys everything in his path. Often children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder display aggression towards peers and adults. Especially to aggressive behavior inclined boys.

inattention

Attention disorder with ADHD it is noticeable both at school and at home. Lessons at school cause boredom in the child, which he tries to replace by talking with his neighbor at his desk (even during a test), some games or dreams. The diary of such a student is always replete with entries that have the same meaning: “he gets distracted in class and daydreams”, “disturbs his neighbor at his desk”, “is unable to concentrate and work independently”, “does not listen to the teacher”...

A similar picture is observed when doing homework - independent activity is difficult, and sometimes not given at all, so children desperately resist any work that requires mental effort. True, they react quickly to tasks, without even listening to their essence, and then just as quickly abandon the work they started. However, it should be noted here that by finding an approach to the child, managing to interest him and showing maximum patience, parents and teachers together can achieve considerable success in learning, and the performance indicators of such a student will not differ from the average.

Impulsiveness

In attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, attention deficit is almost always accompanied by impulsiveness, which significantly complicates the life of the child, and even more so for his parents. Carelessness, frivolity, carelessness, inability to calculate one step ahead the consequences of one’s actions, and, at the same time, the desire to show one’s courage, daring, and endurance often turns out in the most sad way (injuries, poisoning, etc.).

And yet, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not always diagnosed with conduct disorder - this symptom alone is not enough for diagnosis.

It all starts in childhood

ADHD, as a rule, attracts the attention of others and, although the symptoms of the disease on which the diagnosis is based (decreased concentration, hyperactivity, impulsivity, difficult to control) appear before the first school bell (7 years), A child usually sees a doctor at the age of eight to ten. Parents in most cases consider their child to be simply super active, although behavioral problems have already appeared in kindergarten, and inattentive due to his youth, hoping that the school will help discipline him. In the first grade, everything is attributed to difficulties in adaptation, but then the child is required to have some independence, composure, and perseverance. All this is missing, academic performance is “lame”, behavior is extremely bad, communication with peers is impossible, teachers pose questions to parents...

50% of children diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school enter teenage years with the same problems, although the hyperactivity is somewhat subsiding. At this age, such children require special attention adults, since more often than others (successful) they show a tendency to drink alcohol, drug addiction, and substance abuse. unable to settle into children's team, they are easy to negative influence streets and are quickly joining the ranks of juvenile delinquents.

Unfortunately, no more than 50% of problem teenagers, with the help of adults, manage to leave their diagnosis in adolescence; many come with it into adulthood poorly adapted, socially unadapted, without normal education and profession. Due to increased impressionability, hot temper, impulsiveness, and sometimes pronounced aggression aimed at the outside world, it is difficult for such people to make friends and family, therefore, in this situation, they often experience a number of personality disorders and the formation of antisocial psychopathy.

Diagnosis: ADHD

It is unlikely that in the absence of obvious somatic pathology, absent-mindedness in adults will be a reason to visit a doctor. Usually, both relatives and colleagues get used to such a person, only occasionally becoming indignant at the inattention and absent-mindedness when he forgets about a request or does not complete an important assignment.

As for children, the reason for them to visit a psychologist and then a neurologist is the presence of the following symptoms:

1. Inattention, inability to concentrate;
2. Impulsiveness;
3. Impaired coordination of movements;
4. Hyperactivity;
5. Emotional lability;
6. Memory impairment, learning difficulties.

The first step towards diagnosis is:

• Examination by a neurologist who evaluates fine motor skills and identifies neurological symptoms;
• Questionnaire with filling out a diagnostic card;
• Neuropsychological testing (assessment of the level of attention, intellectual abilities, performance in relation to long-term mental activity, etc.)

1. Behavior correction techniques;
2. Psychotherapeutic methods;
3. Neuropsychological correction.

Participation in healing process parents and teachers, who first need to explain that such children do not do anything “out of spite,” it’s just how they do it.

Of course, raising a difficult child is not easy, but one should not go to extremes: permissiveness due to excessive pity for a sick child and excessive demands that a little person is simply not able to follow are equally not allowed. You should always build a relationship with a difficult child with a positive, friendly attitude. Under no circumstances should you transfer your Bad mood and personal problems for the child, you need to speak to him softly, calmly, quietly, without shouting or prohibiting words like “no”, “no”, “never”.

Parents with problem children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will have to:

• Adapt to your baby’s daily routine and strictly follow it:
• Make sure that the day goes by without fuss, overwork, or long periods of sitting in front of the TV or computer screen;
• Try to interest the child in some sports games, go with him to the pool and for walks in the fresh air;
• Try not to attend events with large crowds of people, do not invite too noisy, cheerful (or vice versa?) guests.

It must not be allowed that primary classes To little man the label of uncontrollable, incapable, unsuccessful has stuck - everything can be fixed, it just takes time, which should not be rushed. Adults will need maximum patience, faith in success, support everywhere and in everything, so that the child himself believes in his own strength. If a difficult child receives help, understanding, and a kind attitude towards himself, then results, more likely, won't disappoint– here parents have a special responsibility.

Concerning drug therapy, then they try to use it last, if psychotherapeutic measures do not give the desired effect. Indications for prescribing medications - strictly individual. Of course, specialists use antidepressants, central nervous system stimulants, and other pharmaceutical groups of drugs, but extreme caution should still be exercised with medications - the child’s psyche is sensitive and vulnerable.

Video: attention deficit disorder - expert opinion

Video: hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder - Dr. Komarovsky

Video: lecture on ADHD and its treatment

Attention in psychology is the selective focus of perception on any object. Violation of this property does not allow a person to concentrate on the subject of activity and keep the task in mind for the required time (in short term memory). Signs of absent-mindedness are: a superficial attitude to activity, distractibility and wandering of the focus of attention, forgetfulness.

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Distracted attention in children

Distracted attention syndrome in children is called in psychotherapy “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder” (ADHD) - it is a neurological painful condition, occurring in 5% of children, more often in boys than girls. Behavioral symptoms this disease appear with early age. These children find it difficult or impossible to concentrate on one task. They become bored if they perform one activity even for a very short time. They start several tasks or games at once and do not finish any of them.

Attention deficit is usually combined with hyperactivity, although it can occur without it. Such children attract attention and cause public condemnation with their restlessness: they are always on the move, fussing, running around the room, etc. Often the child knows the rules of behavior and even demands that others follow them, but is not able to do this himself.

Causes of ADHD

The causes of ADHD have not yet been precisely established. There are several hypotheses. According to one of them, certain parts of the brain do not receive the necessary chemical substances. Signals from the nervous system that provide control of behavior and concentration are not transmitted by nerve cells. Violations may occur due to:

• complications of pregnancy (infections, exposure to medications and drugs, alcohol, tobacco), threat of miscarriage;
• birth complications leading to injuries to the fetal spine, asphyxia (lack of oxygen and excess carbon dioxide in the blood), cerebral hemorrhages;
• premature, transient or protracted labor, stimulation labor activity, use of anesthesia;
• diseases in newborns accompanied high temperature and requiring the use of potent medications;
• complications that impair normal work brain - asthma, pneumonia, heart failure, etc.

Experts also attribute deterioration to the causes of the pathology. ecological situation and genetic factors.



Signs

ADHD usually affects more than one area of ​​the brain, so the child may show signs of attention deficit along with hyperactivity and impulsivity. In such children, involuntary attention prevails over voluntary attention: they focus on something new, attractive, arousing interest, and easy to perceive.

The following symptoms indicate an attention disorder:

• the child is easily distracted, unable to remain focused even on a short time;
• concentrates only on what interests him at the moment;
• “switches off” for a short time while in society, does not respond to calls or appeals;
• has difficulty or is unmotivated and easily switches to other activities;
• gets carried away, succumbing to a momentary impulse, and just as quickly loses interest;
• rarely finishes the job;
• does not understand the sequence of tasks;
• disorganized, forgetful, so he scatters and loses things;
• postpones responsibilities and daily tasks until the last minute, does not fulfill promises;
• often asks for help even in basic actions, so he is considered too lazy;
• doesn't learn from his mistakes.

Children with ADHD experience even greater difficulties once they start school. While reading, they often stop, lose a line, and do not understand what they read. They write some letters and numbers in reverse; The handwriting is unstable and illegible. Such children read under duress, even if the books are selected according to age and interests.



Multiple spelling problems and poor handwriting in a child with attention deficit disorder

Children with ADHD are characterized by impulsive behavior: it seems that the child first acts and then thinks, and in response to a question says the first thing that comes to mind; gets upset or irritated easily. Failure in any activity, the need to try again or make an effort quickly causes anger, rage, and aggression.

Hyperactivity manifests itself in the fact that the child is constantly in motion, sometimes aimlessly.

The result of ADHD is children's poor performance in school and the formation of low self-esteem. In an effort to get rid of the constant unpleasant feelings associated with studying, in middle and high school children avoid doing homework and begin to skip classes.



Correction methods

In neurology, ADHD is considered a persistent syndrome, for which no definitive correction has been found to date. 30% of children “outgrow” manifestations of hyperactivity, and gradually adapt to impulsiveness and absent-mindedness. In adult life Difficulties with the perception of information and a decrease in intelligence are predicted.

In the treatment of such patients, a combination of several methods is used: psychotherapy, pedagogical and neuropsychological correction. The set of measures is selected individually in each case. The child must learn to control himself, be rational, not give in to momentary impulses, and weigh his decisions. Drug treatment (psychostimulants to make the child more balanced) is used as an additional method.

Early detection of ADHD allows it to be corrected before learning problems begin. In the absence of psychopathologies, the main cause of attention impairment in children is low level interest in educational process. You should look for an approach in which the child wants to concentrate on completing the task. Educators kindergarten and teachers must act together with parents, helping the child adapt to the team, direct his activity, and give feasible responsible assignments.

A child with an attention disorder requires a lot of patience. We must act gently, and not in the form of ultimatums.

1. 1. Form a trusting relationship between parents and child. He should know that he can tell his parents about his experiences or actions without fear of being punished.
2. 2. Create a daily routine for the child and follow it. There must be room in your routine not only for studying, but also for active games, walks and sports. It is better if it is in accordance with the interests of the baby Sport section with your team and professional trainer.
3. 3. Let the child choose chores for which only he will be responsible. You can get a pet that your baby will be interested in taking care of on his own. Do not allow things to be put off until later, otherwise you will develop the habit of “forgetting” about responsibilities.
4. 4. Reduce the time spent watching TV and playing computer games.
5. 5. Formulate your instructions clearly, step by step. The child must realize the feasibility of the task. The phrase “go to bed” is decomposed into an algorithm: put the toys in a drawer - change into pajamas - put your clothes on a chair - wash your face and brush your teeth - go to bed.
6. 6. Together with your child, develop a system of rewards for fulfilling duties and penalties for ignoring them (deprivation of something interesting, but not food and sleep).
7. 7. Praise the child for his achievements, do not compare him with classmates and familiar children. Motivate him to the desired behavior with the help of praise (this will help the child to believe in himself and form normal self-esteem).
8. 8. When school starts, equip the first-grader workplace, where distractions will be minimized. Be sure to make contact with class teacher, act together with him.
9. 9. Strictly regulate the time for doing homework.
10. 10. Create a conflict-free environment in the family, be on the child’s side and support him, and do not mock his negative qualities.

Punishment and violence will not help children with ADHD fulfill a request or assignment.

Attention difficulties and forgetfulness in adults

Distracted attention is associated with a disorder of the nervous system, which can manifest itself in any person. Physiologically, this is the absence of a strong and persistent focus of excitation in the cerebral cortex.

With genuine distraction of attention, a person is in prostration: he seems to be disconnected from the world around him, does not show interest in what is happening, his feelings and thoughts are vague. This condition occurs as a result of severe fatigue, insomnia, tiredness, constant pain, monotonous activity.

Imaginary absent-mindedness arises from deep internal concentration. A person is unable to adequately distribute attention between objects external environment and your thoughts. He does not notice what is happening around him, being concentrated on some problem or finding a solution (professorial absent-mindedness), or is in a state of daydreaming (poetic absent-mindedness).

Senile absent-mindedness is poor switching from one task to another in combination with low concentration. The attention of an elderly person is fixated on one object, but its degree is low (they fall asleep while reading, watching TV). This is due to brain changes associated with aging.

Absent-mindedness is characterized by a lack of concentration, low intensity and insufficient stability of attention. But it can also be a long-term retention of intense attention on a specific task, when a person does not notice anything around.

Clinical manifestations

Attention deficits can be short-term or long-term. At chronic form absent-mindedness covers more and more areas, significantly worsens the quality of human life, leads to the loss of professional skills. Such people begin to lose personal things, unable to focus on details (go back several times and reread the lines, lose understanding of the whole text); forget to perform usual actions. Unusual traits appear in behavior: irritability, sudden changes moods, unmotivated anger. The condition may be accompanied by headaches, dizziness, racing blood pressure. The sleep cycle is disturbed: tiredness (even after rest) and drowsiness are felt during the day, and it is impossible to fall asleep at night. The patient complains of deterioration in memory and performance, decreased activity, including sexual activity.

Causes of attention disorder

It is difficult for a person to concentrate due to excessive fatigue, chronic nervous overstrain, lack of sleep. One reason is an unconscious reluctance to focus on activities that one does not want to do (lack of motivation).

Distraction of attention is one of the manifestations of various mental disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and clinical depression. This condition can also develop due to organic lesions brain, causing disruption of its blood supply and oxygen starvation:

• disorders vascular nature: atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, discirculatory encephalopathy, migraines, high blood pressure;
• Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia);
• autoimmune and systemic diseases affecting the brain and nervous system;
• anemia;
• lack in the body essential minerals(iron, magnesium), excess lead;
• brain oncology.

Treatment

In many cases, absent-mindedness does not require attention drug treatment. The person is recommended to rest, change the environment and eliminate the cause of anxiety, sometimes with the help of psychotherapy. A diet and a vitamin-mineral complex are prescribed.

If the disorder occurs due to stress or depression, antidepressants are prescribed, and for brain damage - nootropic drugs, capable of increasing the brain’s resistance to excessive stress or lack of oxygen, activating mental activity, improve memory (tablets Glycine, Phenibut, Vinpocetine, Piracetam and others).

An adult can fight absent-mindedness on his own by performing exercises to train attention and memory, and develop self-control skills. Important has an increase in personal interest in the activity being carried out, a search for motivation to work:

1. 1. Since forgetfulness is the result of a lack of concentration, you should train yourself to think only about the task at hand. You need to focus on what is happening in the moment.
2. 2. Visual reminders can help get rid of inattention. Non-standard items need to be placed in sight: a frying pan lying on the sofa while watching a movie will remind you to turn off the dish in the oven.
3. 3. Using the method of conscious associations, a person comes up with a connection between an object or situation and a task.
4. 4. Clutter and unnecessary items on the desktop scatter attention. You need to train yourself to deliberately put things in their place.
5. 5. You can leave stickers for yourself that remind you of important matters. Don't forget to remove them as you go.
6. 6. You need to take short breaks from work, giving your brain a rest.
7. 7. Do not put off until later things that do not require much preparation and do not take much time to complete.
8. 8. Before starting a complex task, you need to think it through to detail - break it down into stages, understand what resources will be required to complete it. Reward yourself after each completed stage.
9. 9. Develop observation skills, look at the world around you.

If absent-mindedness progresses, becomes a character trait and determines the way of life, the help of a neurologist or psychologist is necessary. To diagnose the condition, an examination is carried out by a doctor and biochemical analysis blood. Then, according to indications, the following may be prescribed:

• Doppler examination of the vessels of the head;
• computed tomography or MRI of the brain;
• electroencephalography;
• neuropsychological testing;
• genetic research.

Based on the results of the study, the doctor will determine the cause of absent-mindedness and prescribe treatment.

Forgetfulness can occur in many people due to poor lifestyle choices. Many experts say that if people sleep less than 6 hours a day, they may experience memory loss.

The main reasons for forgetfulness in people

• Frequent stress. The brain is overloaded quite heavily during stress, and our nervous system Loses minerals and vitamins too quickly.
• To the body there is not enough liquid. In this case, brain function will deteriorate significantly, so sometimes it is better to drink a glass of clean water along with a cup of coffee or tea.
• Frequent diets for weight loss can cause forgetfulness. People who are on diets sharply and quickly reduce the amount of carbohydrates and fats in the body, therefore, the brain will be in a state of shock.
• Smoking and alcohol provoke the development of forgetfulness. They can cause vascular spasms, poison the brain, reduce the speed of perception, and slow down the thinking process.
• Other reasons development of forgetfulness: syndrome chronic fatigue, chronic intoxication, tumors, traumatic brain injuries, cerebral atherosclerosis, inflammation and infections.

distraction - a thing acquired by a person, to get rid of which some effort must be made. Very often this condition can appear as follows:

• boredom;
• inability to concentrate on a subject or topic for a long time;
• relaxation and powerlessness;
• disinterest;
• indifference;
• lack of concentration in thoughts and sensations.

To treat absent-mindedness, you need to know due to what factors it appeared:

1. External factors- illness or fatigue.
2. Internal factors- brain damage, need for clinical treatment.

Forgetfulness and absent-mindedness - treatments and methods for improving memory

People who are prone to forgetfulness and absent-mindedness need to understand what is wrong with them need to work:

• Don't overload your brain, take a break for a few minutes.
• Follow the train of thoughts, direct them in one direction.
• Stop the fussiness in your head.
• Follow physical exercise for body. Any movement saturates the brain with oxygen, physical exercise - excellent remedy to deal with stress.
• You only need to do one thing at a time.
• Develop your powers of observation, look at other people and the world around you.
• Practice mindfulness. Learn to concentrate on only one process, so you can remember more and focus at the right time.
• In any nervous situation - anxiety, stress, haste, you must consciously say “stop”, today is not the time to panic, calm your mind and you will definitely find a way out.

Also, in addition to special training, what you eat affects your performance. Below is a list of things that will help improve your memory.

Water

Dehydration is one of the main causes of brain disorders. Human fluid is the main component for normal functioning. Try to drink 6-7 glasses of clean water a day.

Refusal of fats

Many studies have proven that fat contributes to clogged arteries. Therefore, oxygen cannot fully saturate the brain. Avoid margarine, baked goods, butter with trans fats, cookies, etc. This way you can improve your memory and also help the whole body - blood vessels, heart, brain.

Fish

You need to add fish to your diet. It is advisable to use it at least 3-4 times a week. Fish has a beneficial effect on the human body, improves brain activity and cleanses blood vessels.

Vitamin B

The menu should include food rich in vitamins B6, B12, niacin, and thiamine. Such components have a positive effect on human memory and improve brain performance. High level Such substances are found in bananas, sprouted wheat and rye.

Forgetfulness. How to deal with it? - video

Didn't show up for the scheduled meeting, started missing out important points at work, can't focus on the problem? Are you trying to reproduce a situation, imagine a person or an object, but you are unable to form a clear picture? Apparently, absent-mindedness has overtaken you too. Let's try to figure it out in this article against the background of what causes absent-mindedness, forgetfulness and inattention.

Impaired concentration of attention, and then general forgetfulness, occurs as a result of certain diseases, and also affects older people; pregnant women suffer from inattention. The reason here lies in physiological changes that overtake the body. But we will consider psychological reasons inattention that can and should be dealt with.

If you regularly forget your phone or apartment keys at home, look at your diary, but after a minute you don’t remember what you read there, think about what this might be connected with.

Reasons for carelessness. We start to understand

1. Technogenic overload.

The era of new technologies, an overabundance of information, constant stress. The accelerated pace of life overtakes each of us. These are the conditions in which most urban residents live. Our brain's ability to concentrate, structure and remember deteriorates in such conditions. Constant stress and increased intensity of life leads to mental and physical stress, as well as a decrease in concentration.

Replay one of your working days when you are forced to focus on several tasks at once. You answer a client on the phone, at the same time making notes in your diary, while trying to print documents. And in your thoughts you are already planning the route of the upcoming trip and going to pick up your child at kindergarten. In such conditions, along with a decrease in attention, banal overwork and exhaustion will not be long in coming.

2. Lack of sleep.

7-9 hours healthy sleep a person needs support normal life. It is also important to fall asleep between 22-23 hours, it is during this period that the body recovers better and replenishes energy reserves. Chronic lack of sleep leads to increased irritability and excitability, and provokes forgetfulness. Physical fatigue is guaranteed to lead to impaired concentration.

3. Hard work.

Do you regularly feel irritated at the thought of work? You or the working conditions? Maybe you are annoyed by your occupation or your own poor performance? Then the work, or rather its psychological consequences, and there is a reason for your forgetfulness.

4. Stress.

A person’s absent-mindedness due to depression and stress is one of the most common and widespread causes of forgetfulness. In this situation, the ability to think clearly is lost and concentration is impaired. By directing thoughts in a negative direction, as often happens under stress, you provoke inattention by not giving yourself the opportunity to see other sides of the situation.

5. Sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.

These are the factors against which impaired concentration develops. Of course, after sitting alone at home all day with three pizzas, you are unlikely to instantly feel yourself becoming inattentive. But when this becomes the norm, the body does not receive a physical “shake-up”, focusing on work and problems, you have no resources left for other areas of life.

6. Chaos.

Lack of order in personal life, labor activity, emotional state- common causes of forgetfulness. This is due to the fact that, being scattered across many tasks, you physically cannot cover everything. By structuring your life, you can more easily manage your attention and focus on important things.

Absent-mindedness can strike a person at any age. In the modern rhythm of life, we are overtaken by overwork, mental exhaustion, lack of sleep, and stressful situations. These factors provoke absent-mindedness, forgetfulness and inattention.

But by understanding the reasons for inattention, you can resist it. Get rid of the root of the problem and you can prevent the onset negative consequences. If you pay attention to sudden inattention and inability to concentrate in time, there is a high chance of preventing more serious emotional and psychological problems arising against the background of the factors listed in the article.

Attention disorders can occur in both children and adults. Many cases of the development of this problem in childhood with its subsequent deepening in older age have been recorded.

Experts characterize attention impairment as a process of narrowing the amount of attention (a person is distracted by side irritations), as well as a decrease in the coordination of actions performed.

Types of inattention

Impaired concentration and attention can be divided into 3 categories:

1. "Fluttering attention» or absent-mindedness can be described as a process of uncontrolled switching of attention to stimuli, as well as poor concentration. This type is usually present in schoolchildren, but can also occur in older people, usually when they are very tired.
2. "Scientist's inattention"- difficulty switching attention from one process to another, as a result of very deep concentration on the process or on one’s thoughts. A person with this type is characterized by the presence of obsessive thoughts.
3. "The Absent-mindedness of Old Men"- a condition characterized by poor concentration of attention and the ability to switch it. The disease occurs in case of constant overwork, oxygen starvation brain, as well as in people, mostly elderly, who suffer from cerebral atherosclerosis.

Attention Deficit in Adults

This syndrome can have not only a child, but also a completely adult person.
Constant absent-mindedness, poor self-organization, forgetfulness - this is what this can lead to.

To get over it psychological illness you must first understand its root cause.

This diagnosis is mainly made in children when they are still young. school age, and then it manifests itself in older age. But sometimes the symptom is first diagnosed in adulthood.

The process of the disease is also unique; the symptoms of adults are categorically different from those of children.

With Vikium you can organize the process of training concentration according to an individual program

Diseases that cause concentration problems

The list of such diseases includes:

• depression;
• hypoprosexia;
• hyperprosexia;
• paraprosexia;
• epilepsy and head injuries.

Epileptics and people suffering from depression have so-called slow and “stuck” attention. In this case, there is a decrease in the activity of nervous processes and an inability to switch attention.

Hypoprosexia causes decreased concentration. Its variety is aprosexia, in which, in the case of numerous distractions, concentration and the ability to concentrate are completely absent.

Excessive concentration of a person on one thing, for example on just actions or thoughts, is characteristic of hyperprosexia. This is the so-called one-way focus of attention.

With paraprosexia, concentration deviations may occur, which are characterized by the appearance of delusions and hallucinations. This occurs due to the fact that the human brain is constantly tense, and this leads to such consequences.

This effect can be observed even in completely healthy person, for example, in athletes who experience enormous moral stress.

So a runner, waiting for the “start” signal, concentrating very much on this, can hear the signal in his head, even before it sounds in reality.

Symptoms of impaired concentration

Poor concentration in adults takes many forms:

1) Inability to focus on one task or business. You can easily be distracted by an object or sound, causing you to switch to another object or perform another task. In this case, there is a "freeze" and "wandering" of attention. A person is unable to concentrate on completing a task, does not pay attention to details, and cannot focus, for example, when reading a book or when conducting a dialogue.

2) Another manifestation of the disease is the ability to concentrate on one thing. An example is listening to music or reading a book, during which we do not notice anything around us. In some cases, this disadvantage can be used for work purposes, but we should not forget that this can sometimes cause inconvenience to you and those around you.

3) Poor self-organization, as well as constant forgetting, are a sign of poor concentration. The consequences are:

• Constantly postponing work tasks;
• being late for work, etc.;
• systematic loss of things, forgetting their location;
• poor time orientation, inability to evaluate approximate time work, etc.

4) Impulsivity is another sign of the disease. This may be accompanied by not understanding parts of the conversation, or experiencing the interlocutor. You are able to say or do something first, and only then think about the consequences. Tend to perform actions that can cause addiction.

5) Emotional problems can cause anger and frustration in patients. Symptoms of this form of the disease:

• constant change of mood;
• inability to motivate yourself and stay motivated;
• low self-esteem, lack of acceptance of criticism;
• hyperactivity;
• constant feeling of fatigue;
• frequent nervous excitement.

Hyperactivity in adults occurs much less frequently than in children, and this symptom does not always indicate a violation of concentration.

If these symptoms are present, you should contact a specialist in this field for examination and clarification of the problems.

The main doctors who can determine the degree of morbidity are a neurologist, psychologist and psychiatrist.

Only after consulting doctors can the problem and treatment methods be fully determined, since this can only be specified in an individual case.

Prevention

In connection with the reasons stated above, it is clear that the factors influencing the impairment of concentration are quite numerous and varied, and therefore it is impossible to give monosyllabic advice on how to avoid this.

At the same time, prevention is in your hands. After all, we know that it is better to prevent than to eliminate the consequences. On our resource you can take a course of exercises to concentrate your attention, with the help of which, if possible, you can avoid situations that require the participation of doctors.