HEALTH SPECIAL...ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

What was that again ?
Call it what you want.
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Short Attention Span Syndrome. Or the `lifestyle flu' of our times.
Here's a lowdown on the condition in short, bite-sized morsels for the easily distracted reader. Oh, gotta rush now, we have other pages to look at in the magazine
SOUNDS FAMILIAR?
Do these words and phrases resonate with you?
RESTLESS, IMPATIENT CHANNEL SURFING ANXIETY DIFFICULTY GETTING THINGS DONE ON TIME UNFINISHED TASKS INFORMATION OVERLOAD MEDIA SATURATION COFFEE ADDICTION EASILY BORED EASILY DISTRACTED DISORGANISED CHRONICALLY LATE STRESSED FRUSTRATION If even half of them did, you may be the victim of short attention span syndrome / attention deficit syndrome, often called the yuppie flu / lifestyle flu of our times
WHY? HOW?
Consultant psychologist at Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Kersi Chavda says that `attention deficit syndrome' has more than just the obvious causes. “Overload of everything ­ technology, stress, work etc ­ is just one of the reasons,“ he says.
Check these out:
TOO MUCH INTRUSION IN ONE'S PRIVATE SPACE
From the Internet to TV to films to social networking in the real and virtual worlds to workload ­ there isn't enough time for everything. Everything has to be compressed into tiny capsules, because anything longer than a tiny capsule is beyond our short (and steadily shortening further) attention spans.
A RESTLESS TEMPERAMENT
An anxious, nervous temperament can be a big cause of attention problems. With more than one thing to do, many people are constantly anxious about finishing the work on time and getting on to other tasks, resulting in them not being able to focus on anything.GENERAL TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE
Because we have so many things to do, we tend to overlook our stress levels and continue exerting ourselves. That fatigue often manifests itself as an inability to concentrate.NO SLEEP OR TOO MUCH OF IT
Either way, your attention span could go for a toss. While it may feel good to say that you can do with just a few hours of sleep, what it actually means is that your temperament is borderline hyperactive, which is not really a good thing. Hard as it seems, you must have a calm mindset to go about your work properly, say experts. Similarly, too much sleep is unhealthy, making you lethargic. Ideally: a six to eight hour sleep ritual is what you should stick to.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
Lack of a nutritious diet, say experts, is a primary reason for lack of concentration. While small meals every two hours is a great concept, experts say that these can't substitute the three meals-a day ritual. Psychologist Dr Seema Hingorrany says a proper breakfast with cereals, fruits etc., is a must, as is a proper lunch and dinner. “You must have green vegetables, fruits and dairy products such as milk, curd, paneer etc. Have coconut water, but you can't make it a meal,“ she adds.
LACK OF SUPPORT STRUCTURES
According to Dr Seema Hingorrany, this could be due to disintegration of joint families or just our growing individualistic mindsets. “We are left with no or minimum support structures and need to do everything on our own. From buying groceries to catering to kids and our spouse to giving 100 per cent in office, the responsibility is solely on the individual,“ says Hingorrany.
TOO HOOKED TO TAKE A BREAK
Most of us don't know when to switch off. It is necessary to take that 30 minutes and walk in the fresh air. “Shut off your phone, Facebook, Twitter, all your connections with the world and find a few minutes to be with yourself. You will be able to come back with much better focus,“ says Hingorrany.
SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH MULTI-TASKING?
It's important for us to realise that we have been multi-tasking for a while now. After all, working women juggle multiple responsibilities of childcare, home care and work tasks. So it's not multi-tasking that is the problem ­ it's the fact that we multi-task frequently in a state of panic, rushing around doing things in a haphazard manner. If our mind is calm, we can actually multi-task in an efficient manner.
SOLUTION:
Tried and tested yoga and meditation go a long way in calming the mind. If you can't manage this, spend some time with yourself, while commuting by bus or train, for instance.Don't read or listen to music, just stare into space. Initially, you will find thoughts crowding your mind ­ but eventually, you will find your mind calming down.
That's what sociologist and corporate trainer Dr Anonna Guha, Nrityanjali Education and Management Services, advises
BY THE WAY...DON'T CONFUSE THIS WITH THE REAL McCOY
Don't confuse the `short attention span syndrome' with ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which is a problem that affects children of school-going age.Experts agree that the signs (inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsiveness) seem the same but in adults it usually isn't a disorder of a clinical nature.“Rather, it could be termed as a lifestyle crisis. With so much and more to do in a limited span of time and the number of tasks increasing fast, it is becoming nearly impossible for people to hold their attention on a single thing for more than a few minutes,“ says Dr Kersi Chavda, consultant psychologist, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.The cure?
Not medicines. Just learn to be calm and try and go slow.
WHEN YOU CAN'T CONCENTRATE AT WORK
HR consultant Mayuri Mistry says that at training sessions, many executives complain of work stress caused by endless distractions. They are invited for meetings by bosses, tea and smoke breaks by colleagues and bosses, plus all manner of people drop by for a chat. This results in work spilling over to beyond office hours.
HER ADVICE:
Learn to say no politely, and let colleagues know that you mean it.
Problem area number two is when multiple tasks are assigned, and office workers are not able to prioritise tasks, causing them a great deal of stress.HER ADVICE: It's simple.Make a to-do list in terms of priorities and stick to it. Finish one task and move to the next one.
HTBR13NOV11