Inability To Focus To Read

[scout86]

Me too, sometimes. I actually had thought about there being a REASON...... And, I kind of took it to be an ADHD thing. But, since it's intermittent, maybe not? It depends a little on what I'm reading. I'm a huge Stephen King fan. He's such a great story teller I nearly always get sucked in to the story and have a hard time putting the book down. Something like a government form (or anything else I'm not interested in) it's nearly impossible to work my way through it. Sometimes (recently, in fact) even stuff I'm interested in, like the posts on here, it's hard to slow down enough to read all the details. I experience it as "difficulty slowing down". I'm not aware of any anxiety. But then, I'm OFTEN not aware of anxiety.

It's interesting, and kind of encouraging, that this seems to be a common problem. Maybe "normal" people do it too and just don't have the guts to admit it?

 

[Chava]

It's interesting, and kind of encouraging, that this seems to be a common problem. Maybe "normal" people do it too and just don't have the guts to admit it?

Reading requires a pretty specific kind of attention. I'm sure normal people deal with it too. I know plenty of "normal" people who just don't read at all. But yeah, I notice a difference in my extreme areas of either shutdown or hyperness, because I really can't muster the right attention.

 

[DogwoodTree]

My attention span for reading varies. I'm a voracious reader when it comes to my special interests, but at some point it starts feeling like every source is just saying the same thing over and over, and I have to stop reading. I speed-read, so unless it's new ideas and fresh material, I can't make myself slow down enough to get anything out of it.

Talking...that's a different matter. I've had a really hard time focusing on what people are saying, and what they mean when they're talking. It's like I'm having to go through even more layers of interpretation to identify any real meaning in what's being said.

I do a lot of researching for my job, and I can tell the difference between when my brain is engaged in the learning process, and when it's barely processing. My brain actually feels different. I'm trying to identify the specific differences so I can choose which mode to be in at any given time. I think the "off" modes are needed right now, but maybe I can learn to compartmentalize those modes into specific times when it won't interfere so much with my work.

 

[Recovery4Me]

:hug::hug: @sun seeker

When I have pushed myself beyond my physical set, when I am emotionally exhausted from exercising new skill sets or just flat line coping...my attention wavers within reading a physical book unless the typecast, texture of paper is of a major comfort level. I have a few for comparison during those times of questioning.

However electronic has back light, allowance of interaction (within many texts or articles), the dopamine potential of a :ninja:diversion quick peek on another tab. As well, many kindle readers (ect) choose the type size, angle of eye travel for the dominant eye. When I taught keyboarding there was an actual set of test to find their eye spot in order to improve their strokes. Often their speed would improve 5WPM with fewer errors (focus) just by finding which side to read from on positioning. The software was KeyBoard Pro at that time.

So, when I am extremely tired or flighty, I highlighted portions within the paragraphs to break down the length. It helped. xx

 

[KwanYingirl]

I can either read a book nonstop, have 4 books going at once, switch to non-fiction only, switch to comedy when I'm depressed it helps. I had a neuropsych evaluation done-8 hours straight of tests to analyze all realms of my brain. Compared to my IQ, tests measuring attention and other executive functions were below average. It was diagnosed as PTSD. The psychologist told me that being chronically hyper vigilant interferes with mundane activities. I am acutely aware when my mind drifts away from what I am reading. That's when I put one down and try another. I can always get totally absorbed in any book if I'm in my chair at the beach. Love that!! I feel very safe at the beach. I can fall asleep with no worries.

I also like my kindle. I can change the style and size of the font which helps me to absorb information. I have a degree in Social and Language Development and wrote my thesis on comprehension techniques for expository text. Sorry to say that I choose not to bother with them as I am not in an academic setting where I'd be tested on what I read. But texts that do not have an emotional content are harder for the brain to connect to. That's why so few teachers depend on expository textbooks to reach students. They do better with multi sensory inputs.

I've learned to just go with the flow. I know I have trouble attending to many things, but I'm not at all interested in taking Adderall. I'd get addicted to it so I'm never going to try it.