I can’t seem to concentrate at all.

Ask a Therapist Is This Normal?
1

This has been going on for about a week where I feel like I’m constantly having this rush of adrenaline and I feel like I can’t exactly focus and I have too much energy and I feel like going to start to bounce off walls or something. It has been going on for this period and I feel as though I can’t focus on my school work. The only silver lining is that I am able to now actually do stuff that I actually enjoy, but at the cost of productivity in school. I feel like I’m constantly trembling/shaking and some of my friends have also noticed this change in behaviour as well. I also noticed that even when I want to sleep, I can’t as well. My thoughts seem to feel extremely incoherent and racing through my head as well. Is this something to be concerned about or is it something that will pass on its own.

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Dear @focusedhamster8735

Thank you for writing in. What you have described sounds very intense and is concerning. I believe the symptoms you have described can happen for many reasons especially when one is undergoing a lot of stress and feeling overwhelmed. I recommend to speak to a trusted adult in your family of what you are going through for the past one week. Discuss seeking medical or counselling support soon instead of letting the symptoms subside on their own.

May I also suggest to reduce stimulants like caffeine/energy drinks, get off your phone at least one hour before bed time, observe healthy eating habits, exercise and give your body proper rest to manage stress and establish routine. Please do not go through this challenging phase alone, seeking help will help to address the issues early and safely. :yellow_heart:

3

Hi, I’ve told the school counsellor in my school (JC) about this thus far as well, specifically 2 days ago. I’m currently running on 5h of sleep because I can’t sleep easily and I wake up feeling the adrenaline again. I don’t think I can last much longer since it’s already been a week of this, and I still find myself struggling to concentrate even during tuition. The only bright side to this is that I’ve gained a newfound passion for the activities I’ve lost interest in previously and I’m more goal oriented now, even before other periods of stress, I feel the time rushing by as I work towards my goals. I sometimes feel like this but not to this extent. I’m still unsure of what caused this stress but I feel extremely wired and jittery and if there’s any way to reduce the effects other than the ones previously mentioned please do let me know.

4

Dear @focusedhamster8735

Thank you for updating that you have consulted the school counsellor. If you can, keep a record of the patterns you are observing; for example do you feel a greater adrenaline rush during certain times of the day, before some types of activities or when you are feeling anxious. Letting your counsellor know these patterns could help to uncover what conditions are contributing to this rush of adrenaline.

Adrenaline is fight or flight hormone that gives muscles a boost of energy, increases breathing, blood flow and heart rate usually in anticipation of danger or stress. In your situation it sounds like there are persistent surges of adrenaline which are affecting your body negatively. To control adrenaline, you need to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest-and-digest system. This is the opposite of the fight-or-flight response. It helps promote equilibrium in the body and allows your body to rest and repair itself.

I recommend the following relaxing deep breathing exercise ( follow steps 1 to 10) to engage the parasympathetic nervous system:

  1. Sit comfortably.

  2. Breathe in through your nose for 6 seconds (try to fill your abdomen first, then up through your upper chest).

  3. Hold your breath for 2 to 3 seconds.

  4. Release your breath slowly through pursed lips.

  5. Repeat 10 times.

  6. Sit comfortably.

  7. Close your eyes.

  8. Take one deep breath and release it while saying the word “relax” either silently or aloud.

  9. Breathe naturally 10 times while counting each breath (try to relax your face muscles as well as shoulders and other areas).

  10. After counting down from 10 to 1, open your eyes.

    I have seen that it is not healthy nor sustainable to sleep only 5 hours a day in the long term. Do discuss with your family the option of consulting a doctor to investigate potential medical conditions that may be affecting you.