Concert Syndrome: A shift of focus

 

     There are always times when a person is supposed to not be noticeable. This may be during a concert, a theater movie, a play, or some other place. In addition, at present time, extra noises may be a cause for concern as potential indicators of illness.

     So, I am in a concert. I haven't coughed, or sneezed, or had my nose itch all day. But when the lights go out, all of a sudden I start wanting to do all three -- maybe at the same time. Or perhaps I am at the blood center, giving blood, with tubes attached and my arms unable to move -- yes, that nose starts itching. The exciting, revealing line in a play is about to be given and here comes that desire to cough. I call this the "Concert Syndrome".

     This is similar to the period when you start becoming aware of something that is always present. Linus, in the cartoon Peanuts, has a period where he starts to become aware of his tongue.  You could also become aware of a stray eyelash or, perhaps, a minor injury that is healing. Itches are particularly susceptible to becoming hard to ignore.

     Every day, there are lots of sensations that are happening with us that we "tune out". Perhaps it is a lot of traffic noise or a neighbor's dog that barks a lot. That flashy billboard advertising a product that you go by every day on the way to work -- it disappears. This is an ability that is very important to our everyday lives in order to prevent sensory overload.

     It is not always benign -- you can start not hearing the conversation of someone who talks non-stop with a stream of consciousness kind of flow. They might be saying something important and, certainly, they deserve to have some attention. While driving, it is important that you constantly keep awareness of the surroundings as the unexpected is something that can easily occur.

      A lot of this seems to center on focus. Once the movie, or concert, is going (if it is interesting) then we focus on that and the extraneous coughs and itches disappear. If I am driving someplace that I normally don't have as my destination, I need to pay close attention or I will automatically take the exits and turns that are used for more frequent destinations.

     A shift in focus can be activated internally or externally. If a person starts a conversation with you, and prefaces the speech with your name, attention usually switches immediately to the person speaking. A tap on the shoulder can either get your attention or make you jump out of your chair -- depending, in part, on just how focused you are on other matters.

     Meditation can often be used for improving internal focus. It may seem that focusing requires rigid discipline but, in effect, it often makes use of relaxation much better (not quite to the point of sleeping). Time organization can be helpful to prioritize items in terms of what comes first but it does not, in itself, help to focus.