Forgetfulness causes and treatment. Can distraction and forgetfulness appear at a young age? Ways to improve memory

Absent-mindedness is an acquired thing, not a hereditary thing, so it can be got rid of with some effort. Experts give practical advice on what to do with poor memory and absent-mindedness. Using them, absent-mindedness can be overcome, "put on the shoulder blades."

What is distraction?

The classic distracted state is characterized by wandering attention, distracting a person from important, priority matters or plans. This condition manifests itself in the following:

• difficulty or even inability to focus on one subject or topic for a long time. Attention seems to wander extensively from object to object;
• lack of concentration in sensations and thoughts, they are vague and uncertain;
• impotence and relaxation;
• indifference and disinterest in what is happening;
• boredom.

Impaired attention and memory are very selective, unstable and small in volume.

understand the reason

The guarantee of victory in any battle is to know the enemy by sight. Therefore, in our case, asking the question of how to overcome absent-mindedness, first you need to understand why memory can become dull. One of their reasons is laziness, unwillingness to focus on business, which you don't want to do. The following causes of bad memory: monotonous monotonous activity, chronic lack of sleep, physical and mental exhaustion. All this can serve as the beginning of inattention. If nothing is done to solve these problems in a timely manner, it can develop into pathological absent-mindedness. Another reason is psychological illness which may be caused by brain damage. In this case, medical treatment is needed.

Need for treatment

Treatment for absent-mindedness depends on the degree of the disorder.

1. Internal factors. Organic brain damage. The need for clinical treatment.
2. External factors. Overwork or illness.

In the first case, inattention is considered as a mental disorder, which can even occur with a complete loss of memory. Most often this happens due to depression or an anxiety disorder. With this diagnosis, medication is prescribed, antidepressants or nootropic drugs are prescribed. At the same time, a psychologist is helping to work out emotional situations, if any.

"Fluttering" attention

The second type of attention disorder does not require serious medical treatment. It can be called "fluttering" attention. It is typical of teenage contingent and people of advanced years. This kind of inattention is observed in people who are overworked or weakened by illness. Their inability to flutter like a butterfly, switching from topic to topic.

In ordinary people, this type is temporary, subject to the fight against such inattention and the reasons that cause it. This pathology is affected by a temporary decrease in the mobility of nervous processes. In the case of the clinic, this happens due to cerebral oxygen starvation or cerebral atherosclerosis. It most often occurs in older people.

How to get rid of absent-mindedness and bad memory? What to do?" - a frequently asked question of anxious patients, which they address to psychologists. They are concerned about whether this disease is serious, whether it needs treatment, and how to deal with absent-mindedness. Often this type of inattention manifests itself in the inability to concentrate and the difficulty in switching attention from one object to another or from one activity to another. This type does not need serious treatment for absent-mindedness. The cause may be elementary physical, emotional or mental overwork. In this case, it is clear what needs to be done. Just give the body a rest, perhaps even a change of scenery for a while.

Self-prevention

Here are some tips on how to deal with absent-mindedness, how to prevent its critical state, when you already have to resort to treatment. Distractedness needs to be declared war. Children need the help of their parents in this area. People prone to absent-mindedness need to understand that this weak area needs to be worked on.

• Learn to live deliberately and slowly. Often the nature of absent-mindedness is vanity and haste.
• Follow the train of thought, whether they are consistent; they need to be organized, stopping the fussiness in the head and directing the train of thought in one direction.
• You have to learn to do only one thing at a time. This is discipline.
• Fight the habit of living automatically. Teach yourself to systematically put things in their place.
• Memorizing difficult words is easier with the help of figurative prompts by association. Also don't be lazy
  “reminders” that will help you live more organized, keeping the priorities of the importance of things.
• Do not overload the brain; give yourself short pauses so that you don’t think about anything.
• Develop observation, shifting your gaze from yourself to the outside, establishing contact with the outside world.
• Vigilance is needed when a situation of haste, anxiety, stress comes. Consciously say “stop” to panic or fuss, calm the mind and choose the right way out.

Everything will work out

If there is difficulty in observing oneself, and absent-mindedness is not subject to self-control, then it is worth contacting a doctor for an individual treatment of absent-mindedness.

The responsibility of each person is to monitor their lifestyle: am I able to relax, am I lazy in training my memory and attention, develop self-control?

For a more effective result, it is important to find out the individual and try to deal with it instead of “fighting” with the consequences of the problem. Then everything will work out.

Attention in psychology is the selective focus of perception on an object. Violation of this property does not allow a person to focus on the subject of activity and keep the task in mind for the required time (in short-term memory). Signs of absent-mindedness are: a superficial attitude to activity, distractibility and wandering of the focus of attention, forgetfulness.

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Scattered attention in children

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is referred to in psychotherapy as a neurological disease condition that occurs in 5% of children, more often in boys than girls. Behavioral symptoms of this disease appear from an early age. It is difficult or impossible for such children to concentrate on one task. They get bored if they perform one action even for a very short time. They start several cases or games at once and never finish a single one.

Attention deficit is usually combined with hyperactivity, although it can occur without it. Such children attract attention and cause public condemnation with their restlessness: they are always on the move, fussing, running around the room, etc. Often the child knows the rules of behavior and even requires others to follow them, but he himself is not able to do this.

Causes of ADHD

The causes of ADHD have not yet been clearly established. There are several hypotheses. According to one of them, certain parts of the brain do not receive the necessary chemicals. The signals of the nervous system that provide control of behavior and concentration of attention are not transmitted by nerve cells. Violations may occur due to:

• complications of the course of pregnancy (infection, exposure to drugs and drugs, alcohol, tobacco), the threat of miscarriage;
• birth complications that led to injuries of the fetal spine, asphyxia (lack of oxygen and excess carbon dioxide in the blood), cerebral hemorrhages;
• premature, transient or prolonged labor, stimulation of labor, the use of anesthesia;
• diseases in newborns, accompanied by high fever and requiring the use of potent drugs;
• complications that disrupt the normal functioning of the brain - asthma, pneumonia, heart failure, etc.

Experts attribute the deterioration of the environmental situation and genetic factors to the causes of the appearance of pathology.



signs

ADHD usually affects more than one area of ​​the brain, so a child may show signs of attention deficit along with hyperactivity and impulsivity. The attention of the involuntary type in such children prevails over the attention of the arbitrary: they focus on the new, attractive, interesting, easy to perceive.

The following symptoms indicate an attention disorder:

• the child is easily distracted, unable to stay focused even for a short time;
• concentrates only on what is interesting to him at the moment;
• for a short time “turns off”, being in society, does not respond to a call, appeal;
• with difficulty or unmotivated, easily switches to another activity;
• gets carried away, succumbing to a momentary impulse, and just as quickly loses interest;
• rarely gets things done;
• does not understand the sequence of tasks;
• disorganized, forgetful, therefore scatters and loses things;
• postpones duties, daily affairs to the last, does not fulfill promises;
• often asks for help even in elementary actions, therefore he is considered too lazy;
• does not learn from his mistakes.

Children with ADHD who start school experience even greater difficulties. While reading, they often stop, lose a line, do not understand what they read. They write some letters and numbers in reverse; handwriting is unstable, illegible. Such children read under compulsion, even if the books are selected according to age and interests.



Multiple spelling and poor handwriting in a child with Attention Deficit Disorder

Children with ADHD are distinguished by impulsive behavior: it seems that the child first does, and then thinks, and in response to a question, he says the first thing that comes to mind; easily upset or irritated. Failure in any activity, the need to try again or make an effort quickly causes anger, rage, aggression.

Hyperactivity is manifested in the fact that the child is constantly in motion, sometimes aimlessly.

The result of ADHD is the failure of children in school, the formation of low self-esteem. In an effort to get rid of the constant discomfort associated with studying, in middle and high school, children shy away from doing homework, they begin to skip classes.



Correction methods

In neurology, ADHD is regarded as a persistent syndrome for which no definitive correction has yet been found. 30% of children "outgrow" manifestations of hyperactivity, and gradually adapt to impulsiveness and absent-mindedness. In adult life, difficulties with the perception of information and a decrease in intelligence are predicted.

In the treatment of such patients, a combination of several methods is used: psychotherapy, pedagogical and neuropsychological correction. The set of measures is selected individually in each case. The child must learn to control himself, to be rational, not to give in to a momentary impulse, to weigh his decisions. Drug treatment (psychostimulants to make the child more balanced) is used as an additional method.

Timely definition of ADHD allows you to correct it before the onset of problems in school. In the absence of psychopathologies, the main reason for impaired attention in children is a low level of interest in the educational process. You should look for an approach in which the child wants to concentrate on completing the task. Kindergarten teachers and teachers should act together with parents, helping the child to adapt to the team, direct his activity, and give feasible responsible assignments.

A child with attention deficit needs a lot of patience. It is necessary to act gently, and not in the form of ultimatums.

1. 1. Form a trusting relationship between parents and the child. He must know that he can tell his parents about his experiences or deed without fear of being punished.
2. 2. Make a child's daily routine and follow it. In the routine, there must be a place not only for study, but also for active games, walks and sports. It is better if it is a sports section corresponding to the interests of the baby with its own team and a professional coach.
3. 3. Let the child choose the household chores for which only he will be responsible. You can get a pet that the baby will be interested in taking care of on their own. Do not allow things to be put off until later, otherwise the habit of “forgetting” about responsibilities will develop.
4. 4. Reduce the time spent watching TV and playing computer games.
5. 5. Formulate your instructions clearly, step by step. The child must realize the feasibility of the task. The phrase “go to bed” is decomposed into an algorithm: put toys in a box - change into pajamas - put clothes on a chair - wash your face and brush your teeth - go to bed.
6. 6. Develop with the child a system of rewards for fulfilling duties and penalties for ignoring them (depriving them of something interesting, but not food and sleep).
7. 7. Praise the baby for achievements, do not compare him with classmates and familiar children. Motivate him to the desired behavior with the help of praise (this will help the child to believe in himself, form a normal self-esteem).
8. 8. When school begins, equip the first grader with a workplace where distractions will be minimized. Be sure to establish contact with the class teacher, act together with him.
9. 9. Strictly regulate the time for doing homework.
10. 10. Create a conflict-free environment in the family, be on the side of the child and support him, do not mock his negative qualities.

Punishment and violence will not help children with ADHD fulfill a request or task.

Attention impairment and forgetfulness in adults

Distracted attention is associated with a violation of the nervous system, which can manifest itself in any person. Physiologically, this is the absence of a strong and persistent focus of excitation in the cerebral cortex.

With a true dispersion of attention, a person is in prostration: he seems to be disconnected from the world around him, does not show interest in what is happening, his feelings and thoughts are vague. This condition occurs as a result of severe fatigue, insomnia, fatigue, constant pain, monotonous activity.

Imaginary absent-mindedness arises from deep inner concentration. A person is not able to adequately distribute attention between objects of the external environment and his thoughts. He does not notice what is happening around, being concentrated on a problem or finding a solution (professional absent-mindedness), or is in a state of daydreaming (poetic absent-mindedness).

Senile absent-mindedness is poor switching from one task to another in combination with low concentration. The attention of an elderly person is fixated on one object, but its degree is low (they fall asleep while reading, watching TV). This is due to brain changes associated with aging.

Absent-mindedness is characterized by a lack of concentration, low intensity and insufficient stability of attention. But it can also be a long-term retention of intense attention on a specific task, when a person does not notice anything around.

Clinical manifestations

Violation of attention can be short-term and long-term. In the chronic form, absent-mindedness covers more and more areas, significantly worsens the quality of human life, and leads to the loss of professional skills. Such people begin to lose personal things, unable to focus on details (go back several times and reread the lines, lose understanding of the whole text); forget to do the usual things. Unusual traits appear in behavior: irritability, sudden mood swings, unmotivated anger. The condition may be accompanied by headaches, dizziness, jumps in blood pressure. The sleep cycle is disturbed: tiredness (even after rest) and drowsiness are felt during the day, and it is impossible to fall asleep at night. The patient complains of deterioration in memory and performance, decreased activity, including sexual activity.

Causes of attention disorder

It is difficult for a person to concentrate due to excessive fatigue, chronic nervous strain, lack of sleep. One of the reasons is the unconscious reluctance to focus on activities that one does not want to perform (lack of motivation).

Distracted attention is one of the manifestations of various mental disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and clinical depression. This condition can also develop as a result of organic lesions of the brain, causing disruption of its blood supply and oxygen starvation:

• vascular disorders: atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, dyscirculatory encephalopathy, migraines, high blood pressure;
• Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia);
• autoimmune and systemic diseases affecting the brain and nervous system;
• anemia;
• lack of essential minerals in the body (iron, magnesium), excess lead;
• brain oncology.

Treatment

In many cases, distraction does not require medical treatment. A person is advised to rest, change the environment and eliminate the cause of anxiety, sometimes with the help of psychotherapy. A diet and a vitamin-mineral complex are prescribed.

If the disorder occurs due to stress or depression, antidepressants are prescribed, and in case of brain damage, nootropic drugs that can increase the brain's resistance to excessive stress or lack of oxygen, enhance mental activity, improve memory (tablets Glycine, Phenibut, Vinpocetine, Piracetam and others ).

An adult can deal with absent-mindedness on his own by doing exercises to train attention and memory, and the formation of self-control skills. It is important to increase one's own interest in the activities carried out, the search for motivation to work:

1. 1. Since forgetfulness is the result of a lack of concentration, you should train yourself to think only about the work you are doing. You need to focus on what is happening in the moment.
2. 2. Visual reminders can help get rid of inattention. Non-standard items should be placed in sight: a frying pan lying on the sofa while watching a movie will remind you to turn off the dish in the oven.
3. 3. Using the method of conscious associations, a person comes up with a connection between an object or situation and a task.
4. 4. Clutter and unnecessary items on the desktop scatter attention. You need to train yourself to deliberately put things in their place.
5. 5. You can leave stickers for yourself that remind you of important things. Don't forget to clean them up as you go.
6. 6. You need to take small breaks in work, giving a rest to the brain.
7. 7. Do not put off until later things that do not require long preparation and do not take much time to complete.
8. 8. Before starting a complex business, you need to think it through to the details - break it down into stages, realize what resources will be required to complete it. Reward yourself after each completed milestone.
9. 9. Develop observation, look at the world around.

If absent-mindedness progresses, becomes a character trait and determines the way of life, the help of a neurologist or psychologist is needed. To diagnose the condition, an examination by a doctor and a biochemical blood test are performed. Then, according to the indications, it can be prescribed:

• Doppler study of the vessels of the head;
• computed tomography or MRI of the brain;
• electroencephalography;
• neuropsychological testing;
• genetic research.

According to the results of the study, the doctor will determine the cause of absent-mindedness and prescribe treatment.

Every person lacks concentration from time to time when it is impossible to spend more time on something and focus on it. The lack of concentration can have various causes. Lack of sleep, stress, malnutrition, cerebrovascular accident, depressed mood, or poisoning can cause attention problems (inattention). Read all the important information about common causes and treatment options for poor concentration, distraction and forgetfulness.

Concentration deficit or impaired concentration means a reduction in a person's ability to perform a particular task for a longer period of time. Victims are easily distracted by outside stimuli and their thoughts wander quickly. Lack of concentration can be temporary and harmless in nature, such as lack of sleep and exercise or stress triggers. However, concentration disorders can also be a sign of serious illness. These include, for example, Alzheimer's disease, kidney weakness and hypothyroidism.

Lack of concentration: causes and possible diseases

Possible reasons for the lack of concentration:

• Mental overload: professional and/or private overwork, severe stress and lack of time before burnout are possible causes of concentration disorders.

• Sleep deprivation/insomnia: When a person sleeps too little for whatever reason, they must struggle throughout the day with a lack of concentration.

• Malnutrition. The brain needs enough carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water to function optimally. For example, irregular or insufficient intake of carbohydrates causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This can lead to reduced productivity and decreased concentration. Lack of other nutrients, such as B vitamins, iron, or magnesium, can cause concentration problems.

• Lack of physical activity: Lack of physical activity can cause a lack of concentration.

• Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Concentration disturbances as well as motor and internal restlessness are common symptoms of narcotic alcohol withdrawal.

• Circulatory disorders of the brain. Insufficient concentration can also occur if the brain is not properly supplied with blood, so it is not adequately supplied with oxygen and nutrients. A common cause of this lack of blood flow to the brain is "calcification" (atherosclerosis) of the cerebral vessels.

• Dementia: Dementia diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, are associated with impaired memory, orientation, and concentration.

• Attention deficit disorder without (ADD) or with hyperactivity (ADHD): Not only children but also adults can suffer from ADD or ADHD. The disease is associated, among other things, with a violation of concentration.

• Low blood pressure (hypotension): Concentration disturbances are typical symptoms of hypotension, as well as lack of performance, fatigue, palpitations, and cold hands and feet.

• Cancer chemotherapy can cause mental and concentration disorders as a side effect. Doctors talk about "chemobrain".

• Other diseases and disorders: lack of concentration can occur as a secondary symptom of various diseases and health conditions, such as low thyroid, kidney, weakness, depression, anorexia, and excess blood glucose (hyperglycemia)

Inattention (absent-mindedness) in children

The possible causes of attention deficit disorder in children are basically the same as in adults. Often, school and family overload or too busy, overcrowded leisure planning without adequate rest causes a lack of concentration and, as a result, forgetfulness.

• Mental stress: lack of sleep, stress and emotional imbalance are also possible causes of poor concentration in children. Stressful experiences that a child cannot easily take away negatively affect concentration.
• Physical reasons: physical causes may also be related to concentration problems in children, such as hormonal or mineral imbalances, lack of physical activity, influenza, pneumonia, intolerances (such as certain foods or chemicals), and environmental toxins.
• Lack of muscle tension: even insufficient muscle tension can cause impaired concentration.
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): often observed in combination with forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. Less common is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD), but it can also cause a lack of concentration.

When should I go to the doctor with a lack of concentration?

If you feel lack of concentration, absent-mindedness and inattention as extremely unpleasant or even dangerous symptoms, you should go to the doctor. The same applies if the attention deficits occur suddenly and cannot be explained (through an unusual amount of stress) or worsen. Frequent and unexplained lack of concentration in children should also be checked with a doctor.

What does the doctor do?

First, the doctor will ask the patient in detail about his medical history (anamnesis). A physical examination, and possibly further investigations, may help to elucidate the organic cause of the inattention.

Thus, the doctor may perform either a tomography (if arteriosclerosis or dementia is suspected) or other studies. For example, blood tests (for example, if iron deficiency, kidney failure, or hypothyroidism is suspected) or blood pressure measurements (if hypotension is suspected) are used.

If an underlying condition is behind the concentration disorder, it should be treated first. It usually also improves the ability to concentrate.

What can you do on your own with inattention

The following general tips can help with distraction and lack of attention in children and adults:

• Eat a balanced and varied diet to provide your brain with all the nutrients it needs. This prevents a lack of concentration due to malnutrition.

• Drink about two liters of fluid per day. The best are water, mineral water and (unsweetened) tea. A “thirsty” brain cannot function optimally, which contributes to a lack of concentration.

• Avoid too much caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sedatives and stimulants.

• Take regular rest breaks to help your body and mind recover, especially when stress and overwork can cause you to lose focus. Recommended, for example, walks in the fresh air.

• Make sure you get enough sleep to fix your focus problems. It is best to always go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time in the morning if possible. If you suffer from nervous system-related sleep problems or can't turn off in the evening, relaxation techniques such as autogenic training, yoga, or progressive muscle relaxation can help.

• Limit media consumption (TV, computer, etc.) and excessive sound (stereo, headphones, etc.). If the brain is flooded with too many external stimuli, it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate.

• You can increase your concentration by massaging your ears by massaging your ears vigorously with your fingertips for one minute.

• Special breathing exercises can eliminate concentration disorders. They are suitable for both children and adults. The following exercise to improve concentration and reduce stress should be performed several times a day: just sit down and put your feet next to each other on the floor. Place your hands on your hips, close your eyes and slowly inhale and exhale several times. So-called cross movements are also suitable in case of insufficient concentration (for example, right elbow to left knee, then left elbow to right knee and repeat). They promote cooperation between the left and right hemispheres.

• In the science of medicinal plants, attention deficit is treated with various medicinal herbs. For example, ginseng root extracts are recommended in cases of malnutrition and minor concentration disorders in middle and older age. Ginkgo extracts improve cerebral blood flow, which is used when the concentration is insufficient as a result of Alzheimer's disease or insufficient cerebral blood flow.

• An aroma lamp with essential oils can also dispel a lack of concentration. Suitable oils are, for example, lavender, bergamot and rosemary. However, it is recommended to be careful with a tendency to allergies!
• Homeopathy also has various remedies for attention disorders such as Avena sativa D3 (for inattention and forgetfulness), potassium phosphate (D6 for forgetfulness) and Kokory D6 (for lack of concentration).

- “a feature of the great”, but so say people who do not want to get rid of their shortcomings, and not as harmless as it might seem.

What is distraction?

Experts determine distraction, as a state of attention, expressed in the inability of a person to focus on events and actions. Distractedness is also called lack of concentration, inattention and forgetfulness; sometimes it is emphasized that this is not a vice, but only a property of nature, or character.

However, no person is born absent-minded - of course, we are not talking about congenital mental disorders. Some people, wanting to console their inattentive acquaintances, call absent-mindedness a “cute flaw,” but there are many cases when this flaw has caused real tragedies: for example, it turned into a violation of industrial safety regulations or a traffic accident. Of course, not all scattered people pose a threat to the security of society, but they create enough problems: they are ineffective at work, and in the family they cannot build relationships, creating domestic “cataclysms” and forgetting about the urgent needs of loved ones - everything is attributed to absent-mindedness and poor memory.

Distractedness has nothing to do with memory impairment- this is a violation of attention, and this feature in the vast majority of cases is not innate - it is acquired in the process of life. Consequently, distraction can and should be eliminated if you want to improve your life and stop causing minor, and possibly major, troubles to yourself and others.

Reasons for absent-mindedness

Experts distinguish two main types of distraction: real and imaginary.

In the first case distraction can really be due to health problems: these are neurasthenia, various types of anemia, diseases of the respiratory system and nasopharynx, chronic fatigue syndrome and severe overwork. People in such cases can hardly keep their attention on something specific, and are easily distracted - in order to focus on an action or object, they have to make a lot of willpower.

The imaginary distraction, paradoxical as it sounds, often arises precisely because of concentration, but excessive, when attention is directed to one thing, and a person does not notice other objects and phenomena. This type includes the “absent-mindedness of the great”: scientists, professors, executives, and even businessmen and politicians often “suffer” from it - the absent-mindedness of the latter is quite costly for other people.

In Western culture, there is a belief that absent-minded people “cannot be fixed,” but this point of view is not based on anything - people simply do not want to take care of themselves. But in the east there are few scattered people: it would not occur to an oriental person to justify his inattention to the world around him with a weak memory and character traits.

So that distraction is not a fatal property, and its causes can be completely eliminated on their own.

How to get rid of distraction

It is in our power to adjust our sleep and rest schedule, learn how to avoid stressful situations, arrange a balanced diet for ourselves and give up bad habits. Already what has been enumerated here is often enough to make absent-mindedness recede; if it doesn’t work out to the end, it may be due to a lack of certain substances - for example, B vitamins, and especially folic acid and B12.

Folic acid, necessary for the brain to function normally, is rich in peanuts, liver of livestock and poultry, beans, lettuce and spinach, nuts and seeds, broccoli and wild garlic, barley groats and horseradish, mushrooms and leeks, citrus fruits and whole grains, tomatoes and eggs. Some of the listed products contain a lot of vitamin B12, and it is also found in seafood and sea fish, rabbit meat, cheese and sour cream. If you make sure that these products are always in the diet - they can be alternated and combined - the manifestations of absent-mindedness will significantly decrease or disappear altogether.

True, it is worth adding to this some ways to train memory, and meditation, and also start learning to live and act in such a way that there is no room for absent-mindedness.

This is especially true for women: not because they are more forgetful or inattentive than men - they just often have to do several things at the same time. Psychologists recommend accustoming yourself to strictly follow certain rules.

To begin with, sadly, you will have to give up the habit of doing several things at once: do one thing at a certain point in time. When attention is restored, it will be possible to return everything “in place”, but without fanaticism.

Start any business after you have clearly thought out the sequence of actions. In general, it is proposed to do all the actions mentally - it will take some time, but you are unlikely to forget where you wanted to go, what you wanted to say, take, bring, do, etc.

Other tips: associate your thoughts with certain images, pick up visual cues - this can be done, but there is also such a way out - do not put off small things “for later”. If the task requires preparation and time, immediately compose a written reminder hint for yourself (or better, several, on bright sticky leaves), and leave it in the place where you visit most often: in the kitchen, in the bathroom, or on the mirror in hallway. Reception with a mirror helps many women - after all, we look into it more than once a day.

Another, rather unexpected advice is to write down everything related to your life in a special notebook. distraction. For example, you forgot to do something important, and on this basis there were problems, or even troubles - write it down, and do it every day: after a few weeks, you will notice that there are fewer cases of absent-mindedness.

Stop living "on the machine" and start being aware of yourself at every moment of time - be "here and now." You can start with the simplest: while performing actions, say out loud what exactly you are doing. Literally like this: “I close the car door”, “I turn off the electric stove”, “I take medicine” - gradually you will learn to track your actions in any situation, and “separation from the world” will disappear. Automatism is often the result of overwork: the brain needs rest, and it doesn’t care what happens to you if you forget about some business that is important to you - it will simply turn off your attention, and you will begin to act unconsciously and automatically. Review your affairs and responsibilities: perhaps some of them can be entrusted to others, and some of them can be completely abandoned, and it’s fine to do without them until your distraction did not lead to any life catastrophe.

Distracted attention is more common in children and the elderly. Poor memory is characteristic of the smallest and the oldest. They talk about such, loving, jokingly: "I fell into childhood."

But there are circumstances when each of us can be distracted, at any age. When a person performs monotonous work for a long time, is tired, exhausted, he is no longer able to concentrate.

His attention becomes distracted. This dispersion is called true. The reasons for its appearance are the usual fatigue, congestion, monotony.

The treatment for true absent-mindedness is the simplest. You need to go to bed, sleep, take a break from the monotony of actions. Bad memory needs to be dealt with in detail.

Causes of poor memory and its deterioration

Memory problems happen for a variety of reasons. Young and old individuals have head injuries, vascular diseases that affect the functioning of the brain.

Lifestyle, good and bad habits, quality of food, everything affects our abilities. Memory impairment as a result of endless drinking is a natural process. The first thing to do in this case is to stop drinking.

Absent-mindedness at working age is a consequence of the disease. With VVD, a person's heart rhythm changes, pressure rises or falls, pains appear in the region of the heart, dizziness, close to fainting.

The subject, who has vegetovascular dystonia, is afraid for his life, begins to intensely listen to his well-being, internal state and becomes distracted, loses orientation in the real world surrounding him. Attacks of dystonia lead to a weakening of attention, insomnia, the ability to concentrate on one thing.

This type of distraction is called imaginary when a person is focused on his inner world of thoughts and forgets about normal behavior in the outside world. So the professor, constantly pondering his discovery, "instead of a hat on the go, suddenly put on a frying pan."

There is student absent-mindedness in a child, low concentration of thoughts on one task for a long period of time. The child suffers from distracted attention syndrome (ADS) due to high activity. Often the rapid growth of the bones of a schoolboy does not have time to cope with the development of the brain.

Especially in boys who grow 10 cm over the summer, frequent headaches and increased intracranial pressure are noted. These negative and painful feelings prevent the student from focusing on learning new information.

In addition, it has long been noted that modern schoolchildren are bombarded with too much information. Therefore, incompetent teachers and indifferent parents are often responsible for absent-mindedness in teenagers.

Teachers who are unable to properly build a training program, and parents who, instead of moral support, have an intimidating effect on the child, punishing him, scolding him.

A mother who yells at her son so that the windows of all the neighbors shake will not help him solve a math problem. She will only make it clear that she does not love him. The child will be upset, will be sad. From this, his absent-mindedness will only increase and his memory will not improve.

Forgetfulness and distraction, to which people who have crossed the border of 60-65 years are prone, is determined by the natural withering of mental activity. However, much later, she visits those who learn foreign languages, solve crossword puzzles, pick mushrooms in the forest, swim in the pool, dance tango.

Attention! To activate attention, at any age, to help your brain wake up, try to ventilate the room. Fresh air will increase brain function by 10%. Drink a glass of water, the brain will become more active by 20%. Knead your fingers, rub your palms, blood will rush to your head and add 30% of your work capacity to it. A piece of dark chocolate will saturate the gray matter cells and cheer you up.

Types of memory disorders

Memory ailments come from a blow to the head, old age, stroke, and alcohol. Amnesia is transient, and smoothly flowing. A person can forget his name, but remember professional skills. Only parts of the events that take place can disappear from memory, or the whole life, along with the biography and surname, can disappear.

Such cases are told in the movies. Too frequent memory lapses in able-bodied, healthy men suggest that special drugs have been developed to eliminate memory. A person who does not remember himself can become an obedient doll in the wrong hands.

Dangerously! Do not accept treats from strangers on trains. Do not drink with strangers in restaurants. Clonidine and other drugs can be imperceptibly added to drink and food, causing persistent and complete amnesia.

Korsakov's syndrome

Disorientation in time, the inability to remember real events with a holistic memory of the past, is called Korsakov's syndrome. Patients begin to believe in fictitious events that they themselves came up with, concentration of attention is disturbed.

These symptoms are the result of endless drinking, malnutrition, sometimes head bruises. Young people, if they give up alcohol, can be cured by taking medications that improve brain function.

For those who continue to drink after 65, the prognosis is not so positive. Fatal outcomes that end with regular binges are not uncommon.

The choice is yours! Vodka or life!

Dementia (dementia, senility)

It's nobody's fault that we're getting old. The natural process of withering of brain cells leads to the fact that over the years, all older people show absent-mindedness and poor memory.

Dementia occurs in many after the age of 65. But those who learn poetry do not become isolated in their problems, they know how to communicate in social networks, walk in the park, do exercises, read daily about the news in the newspaper, and do not fall into senile insanity. Active longevity is possible if you fight adversity.

Attention! If your elderly father has memory loss, there should always be a note in his pocket with the phone numbers of his relatives. Include in the note that he can sometimes forget where he lives.

Pick's disease

Sometimes insidious diseases await a person in old age. Why they attack one and bypass the other is unknown. Very transient atrophy of the frontal and temporal cortex of the brain leads to the destruction of personality.

The inattention of relatives in these cases can lead to unpredictable events. Treatment does not give quick results. Mental attention, kind words, medicine, walks, fresh air and care slow down the development of the negative process.

Important! Do not miss the moment of loss of complete orientation in space and time. Do not leave a person who has forgotten his identity unattended so that fires, floods and other unpredictable problems do not happen.

Alzheimer's disease

This disease affects many older people over the age of 70-80 years. What to do with bad memory in these years? Train her! Learn to use a computer. Solve crossword puzzles. Go to visit, support forgetful girlfriends.

Read prayers in foreign languages. Breathe in fresh air. Do exercises without getting out of bed in the morning. Go to ballet with your grandchildren.

Senile diseases take away memories, but if you fight, these processes slow down. Life becomes rich, interesting and long. Children should definitely support their elderly parents in these difficult years.

Cerebral atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels

Cerebral atherosclerosis is a lesion of the vascular system of the brain. If, in Pick's disease, pathological proteins are deposited in the cell bodies of the cerebral cortex, in atherosclerosis, cholesterol plaques are deposited on the walls of the arteries of the head, gradually impeding blood circulation.

Consequences of poor oxygen supply to the brain:

• memory deteriorates gradually;
• concentration of attention decreases;
• characterized by absent-mindedness, sleep disturbance;
• headaches, blurred vision;
• other signs of brain deterioration.

How to treat atherosclerosis? Fight obesity, stick to a diet without fatty, fried, smoked and sweet "sweets". Drugs that reduce the percentage of cholesterol and blood sugar, vasodilators, anti-inflammatory, vitamins will help. Walking, daily physical activity, rational nutrition will improve the condition of blood vessels and the brain.

Treatment of memory disorders

Treatment for absent-mindedness largely depends on the cause that led to it. If a person is overworked, he needs to rest. If you are sick with VVD, you first need to treat dystonia. When diabetes is the cause of atherosclerosis, something must be done about it.

A distracted child should be helped by loving parents and experienced teachers. Teach your child to understand information, not memorize it. Then the memory is not overloaded and attention is not scattered.

Brain boosters:

• Inteplan;
• Nootropil;
• Glycine;
• Piracetam;
• Picamilon;
• Tanakan;
• Aminalon;
• Many that improve mental performance.

Folk methods

Grated fresh horseradish with honey, grated lemons perfectly improves memory. Crush five walnut kernels in a mortar and mix with cream.

A tablespoon of dry mint, mixed with the same volume of dry sage, pour half a liter of boiling water. Infuse for a day, strain, drink 50 ml 4 times a day for half an hour before a meal.

Nutrition, diet

The diet should be varied. But, if you want to improve memory, give preference to:

• dried fruits;
• baked potatoes;
• sunflower seeds;
• fresh vegetable salads with olive oil;
• bananas;
• walnuts;
• fresh berries and fruits;
• bitter chocolate;
• cottage cheese;
• cheese.

Eliminate alcoholic beverages, fried, smoked, fatty, excess sweets from the diet.

Sports, gymnastics

In order for the brain to be better supplied with oxygen, new information to be remembered more easily and absent-mindedness to disappear forever, learn to dance. Do not strive for Olympic records. But daily walks and light, feasible gymnastics will help improve the quality of life.

Children should play snowballs in winter, go skiing, go to the pool in summer, play football. A healthy lifestyle helps at any age to maintain efficiency and not lose memory.