34 Common Problems Affecting Your Focus (Causes & Solutions)

There are so many things to do, see, hear, and think about in this world. It’s so hard to focus. People who can concentrate and focus always get so much more done than people who can’t. People who can focus can do better in life. But why can’t I focus? Why can’t I focus when it’s time to get down to business? Why can’t I focus in class or at work? These are all valid questions. There are many areas where being good at focusing can confer immense benefits. It could be school, studying, work, or just your favorite pastime – but there is always something out there that you focus on to excel and make an impact in the long run!

There are many ways to improve your focus. For example, you can do more things that you like to do. If you like to play video games, then play video games. If you like to draw, then draw. If you like to talk on the phone, then talk on the phone. You need to do what you like to do. Let’s continue our discussion on this topic.

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Why Can’t I Focus, and What Does Inability to Focus Mean?

The inability to focus refers to having a short attention span and not focusing on a single subject, object, or point for an extended period. If you do not have a clear direction in mind, this is known as fizzy thinking. Focus comes in two forms:

Scattered Focus

Multitasking and scattered focus are associated with broad attention deployments that allow you to accomplish many tasks at once. You clean your room and talk on the phone to prepare your lunch. When high concentration is necessary on a single task, most people cannot easily divide their focus between different things, even though they can multitask. When you can’t focus, it means that your brain can’t switch its attention between different things easily.

Does the Brain Play a Role in Scattered Focus?

With this type of focus, your brain cannot focus on more than one task at a time. Your brain requires time to process one action into working memory and then requires more time for another action to occur. It gets tired of constantly loading and reloading context when your attention constantly shifts between things. Consequently, you become exhausted with no productive results.

Direct Focus

Concentration occurs when you focus on a single thing while disregarding everything else. Through this type of focus, engagement and a sense of purpose can be built for a long time. The key to concentrating on a task is to direct all attention to it. If you focus all your attention on a single issue, it is quite like a laser beam. Direct focus, however, causes you to tune out other input to the greatest extent possible.

What Are the Symptoms of Troubled Focusing?

Many symptoms accompany troubled mental focusing. The most common include lack of proper sleep because the person can’t shut their mind off. The person might also have headaches because of the strain placed on their mind. A person might have difficulty focusing on a task and might not focus on tasks for long periods. They may have nervous ticks and sudden mood swings. Other signs to watch out for include:

What Causes the Inability to Focus?

Many issues might be behind your inability to focus, so there are many answers to the question, ‘why can’t I focus?’ Focus issues can be categorized as follows:

• Mental health problems
• General health problems
• Hormonal issues
• Chronic illnesses
• Nutrition and lifestyle issues

Mental Health Issues

Not many people know that mental health conditions can cause an inability to focus. It’s difficult for those with these conditions to stay on task, do good work, and make a living. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help them clear the haze in their mind and get the ability to focus back.

1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have issues with focusing on the tasks at hand. While some can have a hard time focusing at school or work, others that have it even find it difficult to concentrate on a task in their daily lives. The symptoms can be mild or severe, so it’s essential to see a doctor if you feel like you may have ADHD. People who have ADHD experience also experience many cognitive deficits, including visual-spatial memory and episodic memory. This may result in a low memory load and difficulty focusing and concentrating.

2. Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder can make it hard for a person to focus. Imagine you’re normally able to accomplish things quickly and easily, and then one day, you find out you can’t do any of those things. Would you be frustrated? Probably. A person with MDD feels hopeless and sad for extended periods. Due to its status as a mood disorder, MDD affects appetite, sleep, behavior, and mood. In the US, approximately 7.8% of the population is suffering from a major depressive disorder, according to research from 2019. According to a study performed on patients suffering from major depressive disorder using the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ), the inability to focus and concentrate is a prominent symptom of depression.

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3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

It is not uncommon for people to feel distracted or unfocused due to anxiety disorders. With poor focus, your mind can jump from one idea to another. From being distracted to unable to focus, you may forget important things. If you cannot concentrate, you can’t fully master a task and make the most of it. You may feel overwhelmed and distracted by an excessive amount of information. Your mind may be racing and wandering, which can be frustrating and exhausting. These symptoms are a sign of anxiety, and you may want to seek professional treatment.

4. Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcoholism is indeed a chronic disorder in which people have difficulty controlling the amount of alcohol they drink. It is not uncommon for those suffering from alcoholism to continue excessive alcohol use despite harmful consequences to themselves and others. Researchers found that alcohol use over a long period is likely to adversely affect many aspects of cognitive functioning, especially memory, thinking, and concentration. Alcohol withdrawal improved cognitive functioning, though.

5. Dementia

Dementia is a condition in which an individual experiences damage or deterioration to the brain that affects their ability to think and communicate. The disorder affects memory, thinking, language, behavior, and judgment. It’s important to note that different kinds of dementia get worse with time and aren’t curable. When someone first begins to experience dementia, they lose concentration and focus. Eventually, they lose the ability to follow conversations and remember words or names.

6. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects someone’s ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. It makes it difficult for the person to create and maintain relationships with others and difficult to determine what is real and imaginary. Thus, most people suffering from this mental health disorder live most of their lives with severe problems, including suicidal behavior, addiction, forgetfulness, and disability. According to a study, approximately 70% of people with schizophrenia have difficulty developing focus concentration and experience cognitive deficits. In addition, these individuals also suffer from memory and attention impairments, causing them trouble focusing on various tasks of their daily lives.

11. Cushing Syndrome

Hypercortisolism is the other name for Cushing syndrome. An overproduction of cortisol hormone (an important chemical that keeps the body in a fight-or-flight mode) results from this medical condition. Cushing’s syndrome is associated with numerous complications, such as excess weight gain, which can cause devastating health risks. Cushing’s syndrome is linked to problems with concentration, which are mainly the result of extreme exhaustion and pain.

12. Epilepsy

In epilepsy, seizures and convulsions occur without any apparent cause. An epileptic seizure is an excessive electrical brain activity that causes brain hyperstimulation. Epilepsy can be classified as generalized seizures or focal seizures:

• Seizures that involve the entire brain are known as generalized seizures
• Seizures that affect a single area of the brain are called focal seizures

Both forms of epilepsy contribute to cognitive impairment, including the inability to focus and concentrate. Experts believe that abnormal brain activity affects normal mental functioning and that so far, there is no cure for epilepsy. People with it can only manage their symptoms.

Hormonal Issues

13. Thyroid Problems

The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that carry out important bodily functions. Excessive production of thyroid hormones can lead to thyrotoxicity. The insufficient production of these hormones may contribute to hypothyroidism in some people. Thyroid disorders and conditions can affect our ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. According to research, hypothyroidism is known to cause cognitive problems and inability to focus. Those with the condition often feel tired and regularly suffer from a loss of energy. A study has also proven that even within the ‘normal’ variation range of the TT4 hormone (thyroid hormone) can significantly influence the cognitive ability of a healthy individual.

14. Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are chemicals that function as the critical regulators of the human body and play a crucial role in growth, behavior, cognition, and performance. There are different hormones with different functions in our body, and that’s why one has to take a general approach and think about the organ that these hormones affect directly first. Hormonal fluctuations (androgen, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen) and the stress hormone ‘cortisol’ are the primary reason for disruptions in focus and concentration due to their fluctuations. But there are other biological reasons, such as factors that influence blood flow or pressure.

16. Low Levels of Dopamine

Low dopamine levels in your body could be why it is difficult for you to stay focused, especially if you are constantly asking yourself questions relating to that very concern. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter essential in maintaining focus, productivity, and motivation. Dopamine does this through its ability to connect with neurons that manage memory, attention, and other cognitive processes.

17. Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is another name for acute mountain sickness. If they fly too high altitudes (about 8000 ft or more), people may suffer from this condition. An insufficient supply of oxygen causes symptoms in individuals not used to high altitudes. Brain hypoxia occurs when oxygen levels in the brain fall, causing people to lose their mental abilities like processing information, focusing, and concentrating.

18. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

When you breathe in CO, the gas replaces the oxygen in your blood, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of this poisoning include weakness and a lack of physical energy, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or even death.

• Confusion
• Seizures
• Chest pain
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause consciousness and concentration problems in the victim. Symptomatically, this is also associated with poor focus and severe memory loss for several weeks.

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Chronic Illnesses

Because many other chronic medical conditions can also be at the root of attention difficulties, we’ve included a list of those illnesses below—chronic physical disorders which can cause your mind to drift and become easily fatigued. Remember that this doesn’t always happen, but it’s good to know if you notice any symptoms coming on gradually.

19. Diabetes

Diabetes can lead to brain fog or an inability to focus. Insulin resistance or insufficiency is a feature of both types of diabetes. Cells use insulin to break down sugars into energy and fuel. Diabetes causes problems for the brain, which depends on optimal blood sugar levels for proper function. Glucose is the most important fuel for the brain, so low blood sugar levels lead to brain fog and cognitive impairments:

• Memory deficits
• Fatigue
• Inability to focus
• Headache
• Lack of concentration

20. Heart Disease

If a person has heart problems, it can affect their brain. Heart problems can make a person have problems with memory and thinking skills. Heart problems can make a person have problems concentrating and even consciousness. Cognitive issues are strongly associated with cardiac diseases and reduce the overall quality of people’s lives. According to Dr. Albert Hofman (chairman of the department of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), related cognitive issues are strongly associated with cardiac diseases. Dr. Albert said, “An estimated one-third of all cases of dementia, including those identified as Alzheimer’s, can be attributed to vascular factors.”

21. Heatstroke

One of the most severe forms of heart disease, heatstroke, is a medical emergency. In extreme temperatures, the body can suffer fatal health consequences as major organs and systems are destroyed. Individuals suffering from heat strokes can suffer long-term cognitive impairment, an inability to focus, and disruptive cognitive functions due to neurological responses following the attack.

23. Chronic Infections

Many infections and immune responses have very negative effects on the brain. In a few smaller studies, the following viruses are associated with a lack of cognition and inability to focus:

• Herpes virus
• Hepatitis
• HIV

Research shows that immune system reactions can directly affect concentration, focusing, thinking, and behaving. In other words, you can expect to have a harder time concentrating and focusing on tasks if you are sick! Immune system reactivity and the inflammatory process can cause a lot of discomforts as well.

24. Lung Disease

There are many obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. COPD is a lung disease that makes it hard for your lungs to handle and move oxygen. Lung inflammation is a condition in which your lungs become swollen or irritated and causes shortness of breath. Pulmonary edema is caused by excess fluid in the lungs and can lead to death due to a lack of oxygen. A research study showed that around 60% of the population suffering from pulmonary or lung disease also suffered from cognitive problems, including a lack of focus, inability to concentrate, and even amnesia. The condition can be further complicated if one has to experience these symptoms because they make it more challenging to carry out everyday tasks in addition to experiencing other kinds of trouble that involve the brain.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Issues

25. Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a health condition when the body lacks crucial nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. According to experts, malnutrition has profound effects on a person’s cognitive ability from an early age. The primary impact areas are mood, memory, behavior, and focus. In a study, a group of monkeys was supplemented with a healthy diet. Another group was given a diet of only bananas. The monkeys given only bananas were severely malnourished and did not display signs of healthy growth. By 18 months, the second group of monkeys performed worse in tests that measured memory, behavior, and focus relative to the first group. This study demonstrates that the proper application of nutrition to one’s diet is important to developing a child’s cognitive ability.

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26. Overexerting Yourself

If you’re finding it difficult to think clearly and feel as if you have a fog over your head, then you may be exhausted and overtired. Being overworked can cause your body to produce excessive stress hormones and disrupt your circadian rhythms. Your body has a natural sleep-wake cycle, and if it’s disrupted, you’ll have a hard time staying awake and focusing on your work properly. According to an animal study in nature, lack of sleep and disrupted circadian rhythms causes a potentially permanent loss of brain cells. The study found that 30 days of a disturbed sleep cycle resulted in a 50% loss of circadian control of the cells in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is related to memory and the development of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This research could explain why sleep-deprived people are prone to accidents, have decreased alertness, and feel mental cloudiness. The discovery could also improve the treatment of mental health and chronic pain.

27. Negative News Programming

There are too many things happening around you in such a fast-paced world. The human brain is naturally inclined to emphasize the bad news more than the good news. How well you focus is a direct result of how you feel. Consider the situation where negative news is circulating a lot. As a result, you are more prone to continuously relate negativity to your conflicts and issues in life, which leads to everything spiraling out of control. People who don’t focus on negative news are usually happier and more content with their lives. They are far less likely to have troubled concentration than those who dwell on negative news and events.

How is Being Unable to Focus Diagnosed?

There are multiple possible causes for your inability to focus. Only a mental health expert can make the final diagnosis; there may be various tests to be conducted. Please tell your doctor everything you know about your symptoms, when they started, any medications you are taking, and any underlying diseases you have. A doctor may order specific tests as well as take all the details into account, such as:

• Blood tests for hormone levels
• CT scans of the brain
• EEG of the brain

Your tests and examination results will determine the actual cause of your lack of focus.

What is The Treatment for Inability to Focus?

Inability to focus does not have a standard treatment. In turning to these coping skills, you can gradually improve your ability to focus and concentrate over time, discussed later in the article. It’s best to talk to a medical professional about treating the underlying issues that could potentially be causing you to lose focus and have trouble concentrating. The first step may involve discussing problems that would require a psychiatrist or therapist to diagnose exactly what is going on.

For example, suppose you found that you had trouble concentrating due to anxiety. In that case, it might be for one of two reasons:

• Your brain does not produce enough Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine neurotransmitter chemicals, or
• Too many other neurotransmitters are being synthesized (Metabolism)

Whatever the reason, you may need an anxiety medication prescription in some form or another, depending on the particular issue you happen to face.

Are There Any Supplements that Can Help to Increase Focus?

Many supplements contain phytochemicals known for boosting focus and increasing concentration. The best focus-enhancing supplements include:

Huperzine A Supplement

There is an active chemical in Chinese club moss known as Huperzine A. This compound helps produce a brain neurotransmitter called ‘acetylcholine,’ which improves memory and concentration.

Phosphatidylserine Supplements

Phosphatidylserine has been shown to improve mental alertness and memory in older people. This essential compound is made in the body, but it can also be sourced externally from food supplements.

Taurine Supplements

The body produces taurine, which is a critical amino acid. It provides benefits for the heart and brain when taken as a supplement. The use of taurine helps specifically calm the nervous system, thereby increasing concentration and focus.

Vitamin B12 Supplements

Vitamin B12 has been used for centuries in treating mental and neurological disorders. This vitamin helps strengthen the nerves and make them more efficient as they process information from the brain. Only use these supplements under the direction of a certified health professional. Please notify your health professional if you have any side effects or symptoms.

What to Do if You Can Never Focus?

There is no specific treatment for your lack of focus and concentration, but the management techniques listed below might assist you.

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Techniques to Improve Mental Focus

Life is full of ups and downs, making it hard to stay focused. But the ability to focus is one of the superpowers that every person needs to succeed. Here are some tips on how you can increase your attention span and enhance your concentration:

The Pomodoro Technique

Many people who find themselves trying to be productive in a chaotic and busy day may find the Pomodoro technique effective. It comprises four simple rules:

1. Decide on what you have to do
2. Remove all distractions
3. Focus intently
4. Take frequent breaks

Engage in Focus-Driven Activities

You can also develop focus more naturally and holistically. Engage in activities that will increase your heart rate, like cardiovascular workouts. This will not only help you stay fit and healthy, but you’ll have a better focus on everything else you try to accomplish throughout the day. You can try activities such as:

• Playing a counting game
• Practice active listening
• Arts and crafts
• Learning something new, i.e. a new language

Avoid Clutter

We advise that you be somewhat of a minimalist in lifestyle and wealth (own goods). Don’t allow your space or yourself to be bogged down by everything from clothing to gadgets and gizmos. It’s okay to let some items go out of your life; this is a great way to keep your mind from being clouded with a cluttered mind. And after all, clutter keeps us from striking up conversations, keeps us from learning about our neighbors, and can often lead us to miss out on the rare moment when life seems purpose-orientated.