Ask HN: How do I work on regaining ability to think? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How do I work on regaining ability to think?

7 pointsStefanBatory13 comments

I'm finishing my undergrad this year and I have to say I have one, quite big issue.

I am incapable of thinking. My thoughts are shallow, and I'm having trouble with anything that requires mental effort from me. My attention span is short, and even in environment with no distractions I am constantly with my head in the clouds.

Even with writing I have issues. Both in my native language, and in English, whenever I try to speak up, few sentences is all I can do.

I remember I wasn't always like that, at least to that extent - because I always dealt with not being able to focus or being easily distracted. But now there's this part of not being able to think too.

If any of you dealt with that, what are the steps to start facing up to this?

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Use a different part of your body, and offload the ‘write log’ to an external medium/buffer.

Eg if you just constantly type at a computer screen and have recurring moments of waiting for your mind to recall what you are attempting to do next.. well maybe that’s because effective coding involves jumping around a lot, and each new atomic idea involves making a new chain of jumps, while tracking what you just did and what you want to do next and what you still have been putting off. So instead get a piece of paper and try thinking in drawn sketches.

Or if you are having lots of thoughts that bubble and then fizz before you have strung them together well, try just freely speaking into an audio recording while going on a walk, using some app that automatically transcribes it etc so you can revisit it in a new order later.

Or if you have some other sense of thought obstruction, just try to figure out what the “big thing” you are avoiding perceiving your thoughts about are, by dumping anything that comes to mind, or by rearranging the structure of your environment, or noticing your digestive system sensations etc..

If there are too many audio signals, try noise canceling headphones. Or if you feel like your energy reserves are prohibiting your mind from even letting you spend the mental energy to open the door to thoughts you think you might want to think about, then go to bed, etc.

If speech isn’t working for you, then try to use the images that you might ‘see’ for the messages you feel aren’t easily heard, etc. we are somewhat fortunate to be able to sense the cost of communication while also having many means at our disposal to get them across, both to confirm to ourselves, or to be recognized by good faith companions. But the right move for a given situation may look like something not easily verifiable externally, I guess.

Thank you!

I have similar problems but I don't know if you have the same problems as me.

>Even with writing I have issues. Both in my native language, and in English, whenever I try to speak up, few sentences is all I can do.

I face this problem too and I was aimlessly stuck for many years. I face many of the other problems you mentioned also. These problems have gotten worse over the years.

Possibilities: ADHD, CDS, Expressive Language Disorder/Some developmental language Disorders comorbid, Brain fog Idk what would be causing it - gut issues, some other disorders and imbalances, deficiciences, or maybe due to some illness

This problem has screwed my life. It took to several years to even realize something was wrong.

Your best bet is to visit multiple relevant professionals and get the appropriate scans / tests done.

It's better to get medicated I don't know if lifestyle changes will suffice.

Besides, your head is "in the clouds" so it will be much much more difficult for you to do it without medication (speaking from similar experience of many years) Some medication have side effects so that needs to be factored in. (it's great if you can reverse your problems without medication)

There are adhd related language issues as well but I am not a doctor and it's just my experience trying to figure out.

I would like to contact you. The moment I read this problem, I decided to reply. >Even with writing I have issues. Both in my native language, and in English, whenever I try to speak up, few sentences is all I can do.

I was to psychologist in the past. I was on Sertraline for a while, I got diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. I was told by both psychologist and psychiatrist I cannot have ADHD, as I did well in school when I was young.

Honestly I know I need to talk to specialist, I don't really have money though + in general it feels I should be able to tough it out by myself.

Does the change correlate with COVID? You might have long COVID brain fog.

Aside from that, this is quite an interesting read as someone with post concussion syndrome. That largely recovered in time.

I've found that going outside, taking a break, and going for a walk helps my symptoms. Lifting weights helps, too, and the modern treatment regimes (not that I followed them; my doctors misled me) emphasise cardiovascular exercise.

Maybe avoid LLMs for a while. They're incredible tools, but I find they encourage intellectual laziness.

Perhaps you have ADHD?

Far as I know, I never had Covid.

Oh yeah, I hate LLMs purely for that reason. It doesn't help me, it offloads my thinking. Which is not good when I'm still learning and not an expert.

I don't, I was with it to a specialist. I was told I can't have it, and most likely it's only anxiety.

First off go easy on your mind when this happens. Can you chunk the problem down so your goal is smaller. Fix the bug -> collect data. Collect data -> grep logs. Forget the original goal for a bit and imagine all you need to do today is write a command line to filter the logs.

I find this way either gets me in the groove or as a minimum provides respite even when there is a damn deadline or whatever.

You can break it down more. Your next step: breath. You need to do that to stay alive so it is benefitial!

Maybe you're just burnt out? If you can, try to take some time away from study, tech, distractions, and maybe even people. Get some mental distance from all of that, and all of the stress they bring.

If that doesn't work, perhaps you should (as another poster suggested) consult a medical or mental health professional.

Swap your smartphone for a flip phone. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/what-happened-when-4-teens-swa...

Climbing may require concentration, try indoor autobelaying. It requires effort to think about anything but the next move. Perhaps that will start you on growing back the ability to focus.

Or indoor bouldering. I find it requires a bit more thinking than climbing, though both are good for focus and concentration.

you need the advice of a medical professional, not HN.

Keto diet

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