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If you havepost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), you may notice that you have trouble concentrating or that you have issues with your memory, such asmemory loss.In fact, memory and concentration problems are commonsymptoms of PTSD. People with PTSD also often experience difficulties sleeping, and poor sleep can further impact your ability to concentrate and stay focused during the day.Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do toimprove your memoryandboost your concentration skillswhen you have PTSD. Here are a few options to consider.
If you havepost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), you may notice that you have trouble concentrating or that you have issues with your memory, such asmemory loss.
In fact, memory and concentration problems are commonsymptoms of PTSD. People with PTSD also often experience difficulties sleeping, and poor sleep can further impact your ability to concentrate and stay focused during the day.
Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do toimprove your memoryandboost your concentration skillswhen you have PTSD. Here are a few options to consider.
Improve Your Sleep
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Poor sleep can have a tremendous negative influence on your ability to concentrate and stay focused during the day. By practicinggood sleep hygieneand improving your sleep, you can also improve your concentration and ability to remember important information and facts.
If it is nightmares that are keeping you from getting good sleep,imagery rehearsal therapymay help. This involves working with a therapist to change the ending of your reoccurring bad dreams so they aren’t as troublesome.
Sleep-related breathing issues can be dangerous to your health, especially if they are not controlled. Therefore, working with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment is important.
Sleep Problems When You Have PTSD
Work on Your Mindfulness
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PTSD symptoms can be very distracting. You may find that you spend so much time focused on your fear, anger, or shame, for instance, that it affects your memory. One way to overcome this is to become more mindful.
Mindfulnessinvolves being in the here and now. It requires letting go of the past, not worrying about the future, and being totally present in what is happening this moment. Ultimately, this removes your mental distractions.
Mindfulness meditation not only increases self-awareness and attention control, but it also helps you better regulate your emotions. So, it offers many benefits beyond those related to PTSD and memory loss.
What Is Mindfulness?
Download Memory-Boosting AppsMichael Regan / Getty ImagesTechnology today can help you improve most any area of your life. There arehypnosis apps, for instance, that can assist you with everything from weight loss toreducing your anxiety.Other apps have been designed to help you improve your memory, enhance your recall ability, and increase your retention of information. One study found that 65% of users felt that they had better memories because of the apps. Roughly 67% said that they could also think better and 69% said the apps improved their attention.Brain games andbrain training apps and websitesare a fun way to work on focus and memory skills, so you can remember the things you need. Plus, you can use them anywhere as long as you have your tablet or phone and a good internet connection.How to Improve Memory Effectively
Download Memory-Boosting Apps
Michael Regan / Getty Images
Technology today can help you improve most any area of your life. There arehypnosis apps, for instance, that can assist you with everything from weight loss toreducing your anxiety.
Other apps have been designed to help you improve your memory, enhance your recall ability, and increase your retention of information. One study found that 65% of users felt that they had better memories because of the apps. Roughly 67% said that they could also think better and 69% said the apps improved their attention.
Brain games andbrain training apps and websitesare a fun way to work on focus and memory skills, so you can remember the things you need. Plus, you can use them anywhere as long as you have your tablet or phone and a good internet connection.
How to Improve Memory Effectively
Talk With a ProfessionalSpencer Platt / Getty ImagesResearch reveals that people with PTSD-associated memory issues sometimes have a harder time finding treatments that resolve certain symptoms, such as nightmares. In cases such as these, talking to a medical or mental health professional can help you find the best treatment for you.PTSD treatment optionsoften include taking medications and engaging in psychotherapy. Complementary and alternative therapies exist, as well, and include options like yoga and acupuncture. These might be helpful along with traditional treatments.You don’t have to live with memory loss when you have PTSD. Working with your doctor can help you decide which therapies could be the most beneficial for preventing or reducing your PTSD memory issues.7 Tips for Becoming More Mentally Focused
Talk With a Professional
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Research reveals that people with PTSD-associated memory issues sometimes have a harder time finding treatments that resolve certain symptoms, such as nightmares. In cases such as these, talking to a medical or mental health professional can help you find the best treatment for you.
PTSD treatment optionsoften include taking medications and engaging in psychotherapy. Complementary and alternative therapies exist, as well, and include options like yoga and acupuncture. These might be helpful along with traditional treatments.
You don’t have to live with memory loss when you have PTSD. Working with your doctor can help you decide which therapies could be the most beneficial for preventing or reducing your PTSD memory issues.
7 Tips for Becoming More Mentally Focused
7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Khazaie H, Ghadami MR, Masoudi M.Sleep disturbances in veterans with chronic war-induced PTSD.J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(2):99-107. doi:10.5249/jivr.v8i2.808Qaseem A, et al.Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133. doi:10.7326/M15-2175Smyth J, Johnson J, Auer B, Lehman E, Talamo G, Sciamanna C.Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e11290. doi:10.2196/11290Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Tang Y, Holzel B. Posner M.The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(4):213-225. doi:10.1038/nrn3916Torous J, Staples P, Fenstermacher E, Dean J, Keshavan M.Barriers, benefits, and beliefs of brain training smartphone apps: An internet survey of younger US consumers.Front Hum Neurosci. 2016;10:180. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00180Scott J, Harb G, Brownlow J, Greene J, Gur R, Ross R.Verbal memory functioning moderates psychotherapy treatment response for PTSD-related nightmares.Behav Res Ther. 2017;91:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.004
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Khazaie H, Ghadami MR, Masoudi M.Sleep disturbances in veterans with chronic war-induced PTSD.J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(2):99-107. doi:10.5249/jivr.v8i2.808Qaseem A, et al.Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133. doi:10.7326/M15-2175Smyth J, Johnson J, Auer B, Lehman E, Talamo G, Sciamanna C.Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e11290. doi:10.2196/11290Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Tang Y, Holzel B. Posner M.The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(4):213-225. doi:10.1038/nrn3916Torous J, Staples P, Fenstermacher E, Dean J, Keshavan M.Barriers, benefits, and beliefs of brain training smartphone apps: An internet survey of younger US consumers.Front Hum Neurosci. 2016;10:180. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00180Scott J, Harb G, Brownlow J, Greene J, Gur R, Ross R.Verbal memory functioning moderates psychotherapy treatment response for PTSD-related nightmares.Behav Res Ther. 2017;91:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.004
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Khazaie H, Ghadami MR, Masoudi M.Sleep disturbances in veterans with chronic war-induced PTSD.J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(2):99-107. doi:10.5249/jivr.v8i2.808Qaseem A, et al.Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133. doi:10.7326/M15-2175Smyth J, Johnson J, Auer B, Lehman E, Talamo G, Sciamanna C.Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e11290. doi:10.2196/11290Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Tang Y, Holzel B. Posner M.The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(4):213-225. doi:10.1038/nrn3916Torous J, Staples P, Fenstermacher E, Dean J, Keshavan M.Barriers, benefits, and beliefs of brain training smartphone apps: An internet survey of younger US consumers.Front Hum Neurosci. 2016;10:180. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00180Scott J, Harb G, Brownlow J, Greene J, Gur R, Ross R.Verbal memory functioning moderates psychotherapy treatment response for PTSD-related nightmares.Behav Res Ther. 2017;91:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.004
Khazaie H, Ghadami MR, Masoudi M.Sleep disturbances in veterans with chronic war-induced PTSD.J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(2):99-107. doi:10.5249/jivr.v8i2.808
Qaseem A, et al.Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133. doi:10.7326/M15-2175
Smyth J, Johnson J, Auer B, Lehman E, Talamo G, Sciamanna C.Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e11290. doi:10.2196/11290
Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.
Tang Y, Holzel B. Posner M.The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(4):213-225. doi:10.1038/nrn3916
Torous J, Staples P, Fenstermacher E, Dean J, Keshavan M.Barriers, benefits, and beliefs of brain training smartphone apps: An internet survey of younger US consumers.Front Hum Neurosci. 2016;10:180. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00180
Scott J, Harb G, Brownlow J, Greene J, Gur R, Ross R.Verbal memory functioning moderates psychotherapy treatment response for PTSD-related nightmares.Behav Res Ther. 2017;91:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.004
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