For a while I thought it was just because I am bored at my job, but I notice I cannot stick to an activity while I am at home either. I have had more problems starting a project letting alone finishing it in the last 6 months or so than ever before in my life. Sometimes I could swear I have ADD but I don't have any of the other symptoms and I haven't always been this way, so I'm pretty sure its not ADD.

I used to be very ambitious, a self-starter, good at school, could do projects on the side, etc..nowadays i can't even concentrate on things I am genuinely interested in. I feel like such a loser cause all I want to do is watch tv. Does anyone else have this? Is it because of anxiety or meds?

Re-reading this it sounds like depression, but I don't have depression sympoms either, just GAD. I am interested in things, just have no drive or motivation to fo them.

I do big time...doc thought maybe ADD but now we agree it's probably my anxiety. IQ-wise I'm (supposedly) really smart, but I've really underperformed in college and grad school because of it.

my concentration and memory are and always have been poor
this is common for anxiety sufferers

Hi. My name is Ray and I have suffered with both Anxiety and Depression for more than thirty years, I'm from England so I don't understand the abreviated illnesses you mention, but I do recognise your symptoms of lack of confidence and self esteem, lack of interest and the innability to consentrate
some of the other feelings that you mite have are that you have lost your sense of humour, where as before you were good at handling situations and making decissions, this becomes very hard and you just can't be bothered
also you don't feel like going anywhere, just leave me alone. If by now you are recognising the patern then I think you are well in to suffering with depression and you need to seek help. If it helps I have some thirty years of Expert Patient, as we call it over here, experience to draw on and if I can be of any help at all I will be only too happy.
Ray

anxiety/depression have over lapping symptoms. I have GAD and a few times a year I get like you. Might be time for a change in your meds. My doc said that if your on a med for even as little as 1 year it can actually cause depression if it stops working for you. Everyones different of course.
My concentration has been poor since I can remember , I dont have ADD either, just anxiety but I just had my meds changed because I was becoming depressed as hell. On the new meds I am starting to feel like me again. The other meds just quit working I guess. :bouncing:
Best wishes

Thanks for your responses, it makes me feel better that others feel this way too. I just started Effexor two weeks ago, but I have been feeling this way for about 5 or 6 months, so I don't think its that, although I have been taking Xanax for a while, that may be part of it. I honestly do not think I am depressed, I have no depression symptoms, I am just unable to concentrate. I guess you could say I like to do things that are "easy" but I have no patience for anything that requires effort :). If anyone knows of anything that helps this please let me know. I am going to try ginko biloba for something else, maybe that will help.

I have anxiety/depression/OCD and have been on Zoloft for a year...when it didn't help with my memory and concentration I went back to my psychiatrist and she started me on Adderall...it's only been 3 days and I'm on such a low dose right now, so I haven't noticed a whole lot of a difference...but my point is: you can have both anxiety and ADD.

Sounds like a combo of mild depression and anxiety. I have this occasionally when my meds need increasing, and I just stay huddled up in bed, afraid to face the world. The trouble concentrating is a key sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, so if I were you, I'd go to my doctor and get checked out.
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

After reading some of the depression boards and reading a little about it I agree with you all that I do think I probably have a little depression along with my anxiety. I guess you don't actually have to feel sad to be depressed.

Do you ever find that once you actually force yourself (or are forced) to do something you don't want to do, you feel a lot better? I guess that's how I would describe myself - if I MAKE myself go out with friends or force myself to work through a project, I usually feel very good afterwards, but 5 minutes later I am unmotivated again. I am on my 4th week of Effexor this week and have just upped the dose to 107.5 mg. I know a lot of people take 150 mg. Do you think after this week if I am not feeling quite a bit better I should up the dose to 150? If that doesn't work I may need to try something else.

I am feeling better anxiety-wise, although I still have to take Xanax when I am in a slightly stressful situation, every other day or so, so I don't think the Effexor is working 100% yet. And of course there is still the lack of concentration/motivation issue.