Self-help program

For humans, being alert has been important for survival. Those who reacted quickly were more likely to survive. It’s natural for attention to shift automatically to unexpected, intense, or personally significant stimuli.

In addition to automatic reactions, people are also able, to some extent, to consciously choose where to direct their attention.

Concentration requires calm

When a person is anxious, afraid, or hungry, their primary goal is to satisfy their emotional and physical needs. If the senses are tuned to detect threats, safety, or sources of food, it becomes difficult to focus on anything else.

When the situation and one’s state become sufficiently balanced, it’s easier to regulate attention. However, sometimes consciously controlling attention is difficult even when circumstances are otherwise good.

The impact of circumstances

Concentration difficulties are very common. They’re not always caused by an illness or a disorder. Circumstances can also create or maintain concentration difficulties.

It’s normal for concentration to vary, for example depending on the amount of sleep and stress. Long-term sleep deprivation causes concentration difficulties for everyone.

A busy life and concentration

If a demanding lifestyle and insufficient recharging continue for a long time, they can lead to prolonged concentration difficulties.

In the following video (2:23), experts discuss in which kinds of life situations concentration is typically challenged and how stress affects concentration.

Childhood environment and ability to concentrate

An unsafe or chaotic early childhood environment can cause changes in the nervous system. These changes can lead to difficulties with attention.

Syndromes, illnesses, and injuries

Developmental attention disorders

Concentration difficulties may also be developmental, meaning they are present from birth.

ADHD is associated with more persistent difficulties in regulating attention. These are already visible in childhood.

Many learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, and behavioral disorders also involve problems with concentration.

Neurological conditions and injuries

Effective attention management depends on the normal functioning of the brain. Concentration difficulties are common during and following neurological diseases and brain injuries.

Physical illnesses

The physical symptoms and treatments of illnesses—especially associated pain—can temporarily or more permanently impair the attention management.

Mental health disorders

Concentration difficulties are a symptom of many mental health disorders. Concentration may be affected even before the onset of the disorder or only when it happens. Even temporary concentration difficulties often subside more slowly than the actual psychological symptoms.

In psychotic disorders, these difficulties are often more severe and long-lasting than, for example, in depression and anxiety.