Re: Depression and concentration

JJ wrote:
Hello everybody

Does anyone here think that their mental abilities are seriously impaired by depression or anxiety? I worry about this a lot. I have a job in IT which requires that I think on my feet. However, I am beginning to feel more and more out of my depth due to difficulties with concentration.

With growing panic I watch as my mind seems to become darker and darker. I don't even seem capable of simple problem-solving any more. Whenever I encounter any kind of complexity, I feel immediately deflated, confused and upset. My instinct is to avoid work I don't already understand at all costs. I think the reason I have survived this long in my job is because I am very good at a few things that nobody else within the company can do, and in that way I have become somewhat valuable.

I'm pretty sure that avoiding situations is making me worse but I am so terrified of being exposed. I wish I could avoid work altogether but that would just be suicide.



I used to get this at uni doing experiments, they wouldnt actually be that hard but my anxiety affected my thinking and people who were not that bright seemed better able to handle it.

Have you seen your doctor about this? There are anxiety management courses they can put you on and they can be helpful. One important thing is not to panic. You may feel that time is ticking away and you are not performing but the more you panic the harder it will be. If you can put time out of your mind for a while and think through the situation so it is clearer in your mind, you will build up more confidence.
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