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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone else have issues with concentration?

35 replies

JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:09

It completely baffles me how people can concentrate and stay still on teams meetings. I find this SO difficult. Even if the subject matter is interesting. I am constantly touching my face, thoughts running through my head (usually completely weird and irrelevant and I can't switch them off). It's a huge struggle to try and make myself actually listen and I get distracted by my mind and surroundings. I will have full blown conversations with myself in my head. I feel like it must be obvious to my colleagues but it is completely uncontrollable. AIBU to think I can't be the only one? It's got to the point that I feel like it must be part of some kind of deeper issue or neurodiverse condition (I've always suspected it is down to this but I'm unsure of what, much of my family is neurodiverse) because I just CANNOT concentrate. Feel like I need to get to the bottom of it.

OP posts:
1hyuny · 07/01/2023 23:14

This is me and I've just been referred for an ADHD assessment .

FunnysInLaJardin · 07/01/2023 23:15

sounds like ADHD to me too

Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:15

I feel like I don't have any other symptoms of adhd but equally don't know much about it...

OP posts:
Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:21

The waiting list for adhd help (or even proper assessment) on the NHS in my area is 2 years...

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 07/01/2023 23:35

Have you always been like this? Or is it new?

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 07/01/2023 23:38

I've been like this since peri menopause, could that be a possibility for you?

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 07/01/2023 23:38

I'm like this. Not just in teams meetings, but in lots of aspects of every day life. I'm fairly confident I've got adhd.

Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:39

XenoBitch · 07/01/2023 23:35

Have you always been like this? Or is it new?

Always. Without being big headed I am quite intelligent but school and university were huge struggles due to inability to focus.

OP posts:
Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:39

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 07/01/2023 23:38

I've been like this since peri menopause, could that be a possibility for you?

I'm 31 so I don't think so. I've always been like this.

OP posts:
Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:41

Can you have ADHD without the H bit? I'll add that my sister has aspergers and possibly also my dad, and my brother has adhd. Not sure how relevant that is.

OP posts:
FrankieWapp · 07/01/2023 23:42

Me…I’ve got adhd (inattentive) have a look at adhd in females.

Phrenologistsfinger · 07/01/2023 23:43

FrankieWapp · 07/01/2023 23:42

Me…I’ve got adhd (inattentive) have a look at adhd in females.

Same

Circe7 · 07/01/2023 23:44

This is interesting. I used to have a really good attention span even for quite boring things but now struggle to even watch a whole film or read a book etc and really struggle on long work calls. I start doing something else at the same time or my thoughts wonder etc.

I'm pretty sure I don't have ADHD as had zero signs of it before I had children. I feel that it got worse when I started spending more time on my phone but that might be a symptom rather than the cause. Or maybe I'm so used to doing multiple things at the same time for the children, job, house etc. that it's hard to focus on one? Or sleep deprivation? Or too much sugar?

I'd love to get my focus back in any case so I'll watch this with interest.

DuplicateUserName · 07/01/2023 23:48

I was like this and thought it was due to peri menopause.

Turned out to be a very underactive thyroid, which can cause ADHD-like symptoms.

Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:50

DuplicateUserName · 07/01/2023 23:48

I was like this and thought it was due to peri menopause.

Turned out to be a very underactive thyroid, which can cause ADHD-like symptoms.

That's interesting. I had my thyroid tested for other reasons a while back and all was normal.

OP posts:
LesOliviers · 07/01/2023 23:50

Definitely look up adhd in women. I'm 99% sure I have inattentive adhd but it's very difficult to get a diagnosis where I live.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 07/01/2023 23:51

JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:41

Can you have ADHD without the H bit? I'll add that my sister has aspergers and possibly also my dad, and my brother has adhd. Not sure how relevant that is.

Yes. It used to be called ADD (attention deficit disorder) and now it's inattentive type ADHD.

Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:51

LesOliviers · 07/01/2023 23:50

Definitely look up adhd in women. I'm 99% sure I have inattentive adhd but it's very difficult to get a diagnosis where I live.

Same here. 2 year waiting list. If there was a medication that could help with this I would jump at it because it affects my life so very significantly.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 07/01/2023 23:52

Circe7 · 07/01/2023 23:44

This is interesting. I used to have a really good attention span even for quite boring things but now struggle to even watch a whole film or read a book etc and really struggle on long work calls. I start doing something else at the same time or my thoughts wonder etc.

I'm pretty sure I don't have ADHD as had zero signs of it before I had children. I feel that it got worse when I started spending more time on my phone but that might be a symptom rather than the cause. Or maybe I'm so used to doing multiple things at the same time for the children, job, house etc. that it's hard to focus on one? Or sleep deprivation? Or too much sugar?

I'd love to get my focus back in any case so I'll watch this with interest.

I read somewhere that smart phone and social media is having an effect on concentration spans. All the apps and notifications give us instant gratification... you don't get that with having to concentrate on a task, film etc.

Original poster
JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:56

The only thing that has ever helped in the past is when I've taken a large dose of LSD (I don't do this anymore). It literally cured it for about 10 days and I could focus on literally anything.

OP posts:
SleekMamma · 07/01/2023 23:56

Welcome to the land of undiagnosed ADHD.
I'd get yourself on that diagnosis waiting list.
And while you wait you can still put in place lots of ADHD coping things to make your life easier.

1hyuny · 07/01/2023 23:57

JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:21

The waiting list for adhd help (or even proper assessment) on the NHS in my area is 2 years...

How do you know that if you don't even know much about ADHD 🤔

Montague22 · 07/01/2023 23:58

I’m very like this…always have been. I do wonder.

Original poster
JungleJungle · 08/01/2023 00:00

1hyuny · 07/01/2023 23:57

How do you know that if you don't even know much about ADHD 🤔

Show quote history

Because my brother has recently had his appointment after 20 months and they told him people joining the list now are expected to wait 2+ years. Knowing how long a waiting list is is a bit different to being an adhd expert, is it not?

OP posts:
LesOliviers · 08/01/2023 00:11

JungleJungle · 07/01/2023 23:51

Same here. 2 year waiting list. If there was a medication that could help with this I would jump at it because it affects my life so very significantly.

Show quote history

You could look into private diagnosis if you feel it could be adhd. That's what I'm considering doing now.

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