<p>Hi grown-ups,
I used to be a very focused student. Academics were my life and being good at school was all I cared about. Then I went to college, developed mental problems, and left school for two years. Now that I’m recovered, it seems my priorities are different. Somehow I’ve lost my sense of urgency. I have an important deadline tomorrow and I nearly forgot it existed. I don’t think I’d be capable of pulling an all-nighter anymore because assignments don’t seem important to me. I can’t seem to stick to goals anymore, and while I got good grades this year (because of how excited I was to be back in school), I’ve done very little work for my summer internship. How can I turn myself around and regain my focus?</p>
<p>Congratulations on addressing your mental health problems and getting back to school. Is it possible that you’re on some meds that may interfere with your ability to focus?</p>
<p>This sounds like depression to me. Sometimes there is a physiological reason behind the depression (nutritional deficiencies such as Vit D or B vitamins, or omega 3/6, or hormone imbalances, lack of physical exercise which ups the seratonin levels, poor nutrition…etc.). However, depression is sometimes just related to your genes and onset can happen at any point in your life if there are others in your family that have had issues with it. Most colleges have support for you if this turns out to be the cause, so please find out where to find help. </p>
<p>The other common reason may be addiction or addictive behaviors. Just have to mention that incase. This can be partying which can alter brain chemistry, internet/gaming, or anything else that pulls you away from your present life and commitments. If that’s the cause, then same as above, you need to find support to stop the behaviors.</p>
<p>You can turn this around and find your focus and excitment for life again. Best!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys. It’s weird because I’m the happiest I’ve been in my whole life, probably because of medication and the new carefree outlook (and friends). I probably could benefit from less internet, but maybe if there wasn’t internet I’d find something else to do, I don’t know. I could try, I guess. That’s what my therapist tells me to do. But every time she tells me to do something I just don’t do it because it doesn’t seem important.</p>
<p>I don’t think meds are hurting my ability to focus, I know some meds do but when I’m not on my meds I focus even less. They’re probably making me more carefree though - not always a good thing.</p>
<p>So I guess I don’t know what to do now. Do you have any suggestions for increasing general willpower, or at least remembering that I have to do stuff and that it’s important?</p>
<p>There can be a thousand physical or mental causes, and I’m sure many will be named here, but sometimes a person just doesn’t have their priorities in order. It doesn’t always rise to the level of needing medical attention.
It may be a couple of circumstances will negatively affect you, and then you’ll come right around to realizing what you need. Good luck.</p>