Thread: Trouble Concentrating

Counting

The sounds good, I'll try it. The only problem is that I've tried counting in my head before, I lose track pretty easily.

Originally Posted by Venomblood

The only problem is that I've tried counting in my head before, I lose track pretty easily.

When you lose track.. either start over or simply begin where you left off.

I often loose track around 50, just pick up about where you think you were. I count down but by the time I'm really deep I'm all over the place: 20, 19, 18, 17, 18, 19, 18, 17, 17...

internal talking & the songs stuck in your head are the worst to concentration sometimes.

Maybe to improve your concentration, you could try various meditations or visualization techniques?
After you have practiced meditation for some time, your inner vision will become keen and clear. It might help you?
Try it if you want to clear your mind barriers to concentration.

I agree with the song and internal dialogue and stuff, but counting is mundane enough not to break concentration. Uhg, I hate getting songs in my head.

Originally Posted by Venomblood

When I try and go to sleep, or try a technique which requires "passing out" or falling into your dream from the waking state, I constantly have something going in my head like a song. Sometimes I get it to end, but I "improvise something" which goes continuously. I also have my "voice" in my head talking. If I try not too think, that's what's going in my head: "I'm trying to not think...dangit!". It's really bothering, anyone know a good solution?

Probably its the way how you approach the process of Concentration. You should first eliminate internal dialogue. Its the first thing, that distracts. But be aware, that words cannot stop themselves. I usually switch my concentration to music making or image construction. So I emphasize one sensoric channel which stops internal dialogue from itself.

Second. You should stop awaiting something. Do not want.... Just wish it to come. Thats probably most important. Your brain is you actually. How would you react in your life if people around you approached you with sentences like: I want you to make this..., I want you to make that... What feeling do this sentences invoke?

Third: You thing, that you will succeed with this technique tomorrow? Forget about it. Its an advanced technique. Still worth trying. But dont expect it to come as fast and dont be cruel about yourself. You know what this sentence means?: "I'm trying to not think...dangit!".
I want to achieve it right NOW, pronto.. Give it time. You know what to do to be concentrated, but your brain is not at that state every day. So maybe, today you wont achieve it... Maybe yes.

Thanks everybody, I got rid of the music by counting, but the internal dialogue is still there. The way it works with me, is if I try and form a picture, I can remove the "top layer" of my internal dialogue, but theres "more layers" that are weaker. It's hard to explain, but I'll keep trying. Again, thanks!

Originally Posted by Venomblood

Thanks everybody, I got rid of the music by counting, but the internal dialogue is still there. The way it works with me, is if I try and form a picture, I can remove the "top layer" of my internal dialogue, but theres "more layers" that are weaker. It's hard to explain, but I'll keep trying. Again, thanks!

Maybe more interesting would be to find the time, when not to start wilding.
{just guess}

I know exactly what you mean with the layers of internal dialogue.. I have the same thing going on and it messes up my concentration as well :/

Originally Posted by ninja9578

I often loose track around 50, just pick up about where you think you were. I count down but by the time I'm really deep I'm all over the place: 20, 19, 18, 17, 18, 19, 18, 17, 17...

I beat that... Sometimes I loose it at twenty.

You could try reverse blinking if you have trouble concentrating. Every time you let out a deep breath open your eyes for only a moment. When I try this during an afternoon nap I can have the spinning sensation in 20 breaths.

I have my own question here too, whenever I get to 20 reverse blinks and stop counting I can feel myself spinning, but then after a few seconds I stop feeling that. any tips?

Originally Posted by Sugarglider11

I beat that... Sometimes I loose it at twenty.

You could try reverse blinking if you have trouble concentrating. Every time you let out a deep breath open your eyes for only a moment. When I try this during an afternoon nap I can have the spinning sensation in 20 breaths.

I have my own question here too, whenever I get to 20 reverse blinks and stop counting I can feel myself spinning, but then after a few seconds I stop feeling that. any tips?

It's probably because you realize that you feel you're spinning, so get slightly excited. Even if you don't, it alerts your physical body. As for tips, trying to not open your eyes as much after a while. It might work

Your probably right, the first time I tried was the best, maybe next time I should focus on something else, or actualy try to make the spinning occur. I guess I will try both.

If you have a clock in your room, listen to its ticking. Count along, imitate the sound in your mind, whatever. Just make the ticking the centre of your concentration. It's great for keeping the mind awake while the body falls asleep.

As for the internal dialogue, I think that you guys are wrong to be trying to get rid of it competely (don't take any offence from that however, that's just the way I see it). Counting in itself is internal dialogue. What you need to do is instead of listening of the dialogue, be the dialogue. Make comments like, "I will stay concentrated", or "I'm going to stay calm". I do it, and it works fine.

You're taking concentration in the wrong direction when you are trying to competely get rid of all thoughts.

Originally Posted by Sean999

If you have a clock in your room, listen to its ticking. Count along, imitate the sound in your mind, whatever. Just make the ticking the centre of your concentration. It's great for keeping the mind awake while the body falls asleep.

As for the internal dialogue, I think that you guys are wrong to be trying to get rid of it competely (don't take any offence from that however, that's just the way I see it). Counting in itself is internal dialogue. What you need to do is instead of listening of the dialogue, be the dialogue. Make comments like, "I will stay concentrated", or "I'm going to stay calm". I do it, and it works fine.

You're taking concentration in the wrong direction when you are trying to competely get rid of all thoughts.

Thanks for the suggestions. As far as a ticking sound, I don't have a clock that ticks (in my room). I'm not trying to remove the internal dialogue completely. The "top layer" of it will never go away, I can control it. The lower layers are basically, thoughts about what I'm thinking about. Again, it's hard to explain. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not trying brainwash myself .