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is there a medication that increases observation skills?

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is there a medication that increases observation skills?

Postby ChevChelios » Sun Oct 22, 2017 4:12 pm

hello I am 30 years and i have suffered from impairing social anxiety since my early childhood which sadly was left untreated until my mid twenties.My problem is that for example when i walk to a street i do not pay attention to my surroundings my mind is distracted with any kind of thoughts.I can walk the same street one hundred times and still can not remember a single building.i think this is a defense mechanism to be preoccupied with your thoughts in your mind thinking that if you are not aware of your surroundings and the people around you they can not harm you.It is useful when you are isolated at home for months because it keeps you sane or stops you from facing reality and your problems which way you prefer to see it.
I am going to start a new job this month and i need to be there 100%.Is there a medication that keeps you mind focused and alert?
Comordid disorers:ocd,gad and avpd
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Re: is there a medication that increases observation skills?

Postby Alucard » Mon Oct 23, 2017 4:07 am

Hey there.

I am also distracted by my thoughts (among other experiences) when i'm out walking in public or doing something that requires me to be around other people. For me, it's become a way to reduce the amount of sensory overload that happens out there (cars, people, voices, sunlight, wind, e.t.c). I'll have music in my ears, which helps me focus a lot more.

There are medications that are stimulants that reportedly help you focus, often something like Adderall, Desoxyn (which is basically meth), Ritalin, Strattera. I'm sure there are anti-depressants or some anti-anxiety meds that help as well, Effexor helped me focus quite a bit, until the side effects became too horrible.

There's nothing man-made that will bring you into the present without also requiring quite a bit of effort from you as well. I know for me, when I used to panic in public or feel myself disconnecting from the area around me, I'd pick some things to focus on that I can analyze like a tree, looking at all the different colors, the bark, the roots, picking it apart detail by detail essentially. It helped me bring myself into the present and become aware of where I was, who was around me, and how I was feeling internally.

Also, I've learned over time that it's okay to have an overabundance of thoughts. It's not bad or wrong, and to try and stop them would essentially be stopping a natural process. Sometimes it's more about facing them and coping with them, and the other things in your life that might cause this distressing amount of distraction. I'm not saying a medication is wrong, if you feel they would help with focusing, I'd encourage you to discuss it with someone and give it a try! But they won't be a quick fix, as I'm sure you know.
I like living in the world in my head because I'm in charge half the time.
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Re: is there a medication that increases observation skills?

Postby mrnintendowii » Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:04 pm

There is no need for medication.

Will power, determination and discipline is your medication.

In my opinion, medication for mental problems like this is not necessary. It can be worked on.

As a former benzodiazepine addict I can tell you that it is only going to give you crutches in life. Once I realized that I can mimic the effects of relaxation and anti-anxiety in those pills, I stopped taking them and took what I learned with me.

It takes work to work on yourself, a lot of it. But taking pills will hold you back further. Just try concentrating on the present moment. Look around while walking the streets, take note of the color of the flowers, the length of the buildings, the cracks on the floor. Anything and everything you see. Take note. It is called practice. Don't take the loser easy way out. That's my tough love for you.
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Re: is there a medication that increases observation skills?

Postby ChevChelios » Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:09 pm

Alucard wrote:Hey there.

I am also distracted by my thoughts (among other experiences) when i'm out walking in public or doing something that requires me to be around other people. For me, it's become a way to reduce the amount of sensory overload that happens out there (cars, people, voices, sunlight, wind, e.t.c). I'll have music in my ears, which helps me focus a lot more.

There are medications that are stimulants that reportedly help you focus, often something like Adderall, Desoxyn (which is basically meth), Ritalin, Strattera. I'm sure there are anti-depressants or some anti-anxiety meds that help as well, Effexor helped me focus quite a bit, until the side effects became too horrible.

There's nothing man-made that will bring you into the present without also requiring quite a bit of effort from you as well. I know for me, when I used to panic in public or feel myself disconnecting from the area around me, I'd pick some things to focus on that I can analyze like a tree, looking at all the different colors, the bark, the roots, picking it apart detail by detail essentially. It helped me bring myself into the present and become aware of where I was, who was around me, and how I was feeling internally.

Also, I've learned over time that it's okay to have an overabundance of thoughts. It's not bad or wrong, and to try and stop them would essentially be stopping a natural process. Sometimes it's more about facing them and coping with them, and the other things in your life that might cause this distressing amount of distraction. I'm not saying a medication is wrong, if you feel they would help with focusing, I'd encourage you to discuss it with someone and give it a try! But they won't be a quick fix, as I'm sure you know.


My main concern is with my new job performance, i spent several months trying to find a new job and these months increased my anxiety considerably.Not observing my environment due to overthinking is a main symptom i noticed these months.I want to the best i can be to my new job and if there is a medication that could help me be more focused,alert and anxious free i would welcome it until i have some confidence at my workplace.Facing and coping with your thoughts is easier when you have a stable job and income,it increases your confidence and self-respect that is why i want to be certain i have done all can do to perform well at my job.I'll ask a doc what he thinks.
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