5 Reasons You May Have Trouble Concentrating

By Fathima Chowdhury, PA-C — Next Step Psychiatry, Lilburn, GA

We've all had those days when focusing feels nearly impossible. You sit down at your desk, open your laptop, and twenty minutes later you realize you've been scrolling your phone instead of working. For many people across the Atlanta metro area, occasional distractibility is just part of life. But when concentration problems become persistent, they can signal something deeper.

Here are five common reasons you might be struggling to focus—and what you can do about each one.

1. Sleep Deprivation

This is the most straightforward culprit. Research consistently shows that insufficient sleep impairs working memory, cognitive speed, and decision-making. If you're getting fewer than seven hours a night, your brain simply doesn't have the fuel it needs to maintain attention. Between Atlanta's traffic-heavy commutes and demanding work schedules, many Gwinnett County residents find themselves chronically underslept.

2. Stress and Overwhelm

When your mind is juggling financial worries, relationship tension, or work deadlines, concentration suffers. Stress floods your body with cortisol and adrenaline—hormones designed for short-term survival, not sustained attention. The result? Your brain keeps scanning for threats instead of settling into productive focus.

3. Undiagnosed ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder isn't just a childhood condition. Many adults live with undiagnosed ADHD for decades, assuming their difficulty concentrating is a personal failing rather than a neurological difference. Signs of adult ADHD include chronic disorganization, frequently losing items, impulsive decision-making, and difficulty completing tasks.

At Next Step Psychiatry, ADHD evaluation and treatment is one of our core specialties. We work with patients throughout Lilburn, Lawrenceville, and the greater Gwinnett County area to provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans—including both medication management and lifestyle strategies.

4. Depression or Anxiety

Many people don't realize that difficulty concentrating is a core symptom of both depression and anxiety. Depression can create a mental fog that makes even simple tasks feel overwhelming, while anxiety hijacks your attention by keeping you focused on worries rather than the task at hand.

If you've noticed your concentration problems alongside persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, excessive worry, or irritability, it may be time to talk to a psychiatric provider.

5. Too Much Multitasking

Our culture glorifies doing multiple things at once, but neuroscience tells us the brain doesn't truly multitask—it rapidly switches between tasks, losing efficiency with each switch. If you're constantly toggling between emails, meetings, and notifications, you're training your brain to scatter its attention rather than sustain it.

When to Seek Professional Help

Occasional lapses in concentration are normal. But if focus problems are interfering with your work performance, relationships, or daily functioning, it's worth having a conversation with a psychiatric professional. Conditions like ADHD, depression, and anxiety are highly treatable—especially with the right combination of medication management and therapeutic strategies.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.