Distinguishing between ADHD and laziness can be challenging, especially when struggling with a lack of motivation and task completion. But it’s crucial to differentiate them to avoid self-doubt, frustration, and even delayed diagnosis or treatment. It’s a myth that ADHD is just being “lazy” when in fact, it is a neurodevelopmental disorder and can be managed.
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Do I Have ADHD, Or Am I Just Lazy?
Although some symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may look like laziness, it’s important to differentiate the two. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impact one’s ability to start tasks, regulate emotions, and concentrate due to genetic and environmental factors. Laziness, on the other hand, is a term used more for lack of motivation and is not a medical or psychological condition.
Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
Common signs and symptoms of ADHD include ADHD-induced impulsivity, time blindness, emotional dysregulation, distractibility, and inability to multitask. ADHD can present as three different types: inattentive ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, and combined ADHD, which will have symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive.
Common symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:
- Difficulty paying attention and easily distracted
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble staying focused
- ADHD paralysis
Common symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include:
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Impulsive behaviors without regard for consequences
- Difficulty with emotion regulation
- Disorganization
- Poor time management
- Low frustration tolerance
Differences In ADHD That Causes “Laziness”
Research shows that the ADHD brain differs from a non-ADHD brain and these differences impact how they function daily, causing laziness-like symptoms. For example, the prefrontal cortex is often smaller in those with ADHD, which controls executive functioning, like rational decision-making and attention span.1 The limbic system controls emotional regulation, and those with ADHD can struggle with mood swings. ADHD symptoms due to differences in the basal ganglia can include impulsivity and hyperactivity. Dysregulation in the RAS can cause insomnia for people with ADHD.
ADHD Executive Dysfunction & Laziness
The prefrontal cortex, along with other parts of the brain, is responsible for executive functioning. Executive functioning has seven components: time management, adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, and time management. People with ADHD struggle with executive dysfunction due to the changes in the PFC, which makes these tasks more difficult to complete.2
The symptoms that result from ADHD executive dysfunction can be misinterpreted as laziness. Executive dysfunction can make someone with ADHD struggle with procrastination, have difficulty in managing their time, or take a long time to complete a project. Executive dysfunction can also look like low motivation to complete tasks, making them look “lazy” when in fact, it’s due to how their brain processes information.
ADHD Brain Chemistry & Laziness
Neurotransmitters are messengers that use chemicals to carry messages from one nerve fiber to another. They are molecules that give our brain information on breathing, digestion, mood, and more. Individuals with ADHD have a dopamine deficiency and also have lower levels of norepinephrine, GABA, and serotonin. Differences may be due to insufficient receptors, a lack of certain neurotransmitters, or the body not processing them correctly.
Lower levels of these neurotransmitters can result in low motivation, trouble with self-starting, or distractibility, which may be mistaken for laziness. However, these symptoms are not a choice someone with ADHD is making but are caused by chemical changes in the brain.
Neurotransmitters that are different in people with ADHD include:
- Dopamine: Dopamine allows us to feel pleasure, motivation, and satisfaction. People with ADHD may have low dopamine levels, sometimes causing them to seek ways to get instant gratification. However, it can also cause you to be less motivated, which could be masked as “laziness”.
- Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine regulates stress reactions, attention, arousal, and cognitive function. People with ADHD have low levels of norepinephrine, which can cause depression and chronic fatigue, symptoms that look like laziness but are, in fact, due to a chemical imbalance.
- Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that manages happiness, optimism, and mood, which can sometimes be lower in the ADHD brain. Low serotonin is also linked to fatigue, which can manifest physically as low mood or motivation, looking like laziness.3
How To Know If You Have ADHD Or Laziness
If you’re wondering if you have ADHD or are just lazy, consider how long the problem has existed. ADHD often starts in childhood and persists into adulthood. Laziness, on the other hand, comes and goes in temporary periods of procrastination. Getting a clinical diagnosis is an important step to differentiating between laziness and ADHD or any other physical or mental health issues.
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If It’s Not ADHD, What Is It?
If a person does not have ADHD but is struggling with laziness, it is likely they have another mental health disorder. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, or complex PTSD can exhibit symptoms resembling laziness. These disorders often involve imbalances in neurotransmitters, resulting in low mood or a lack of motivation. Understanding these connections can be a crucial step in addressing and treating these symptoms.
Other mental health disorders that can cause laziness-like symptoms include:
Depression
Individuals with depression are also often labeled as “lazy.” Depression and ADHD share many symptoms, including a loss of energy, sleeping too much (or too little), and feeling hopeless or empty. Simple tasks, such as getting out of bed when depressed, can feel overwhelming. These symptoms can make someone appear lazy. However, this is not a choice but a symptom of the underlying condition.
Complex PTSD
Another condition that can mirror “laziness” is complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) which is when a person experiences multiple traumatic experiences. Because those with CPTSD will often suffer from sleep disturbances, avoidance of certain triggers (this could be a place, a person, or an event), and mood swings, those symptoms can look like someone not wanting to motivate or self-start.
Anxiety
It can be difficult to parse apart “laziness” caused by anxiety vs. ADHD because they exhibit similar symptoms, such as racing thoughts and difficulty concentrating. The constant state of hypervigilance can cause people with anxiety to struggle with forgetfulness, focus, and attention, which are all symptoms of laziness. However, someone with anxiety is struggling with these symptoms due to the impact their condition has on their daily functioning.
Bipolar Disorder
Depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and ADHD “laziness” both involve low energy, reduced motivation, and struggling with basic tasks. Symptoms of bipolar mania, such as racing thoughts and impulsivity, can make it hard to concentrate and also appear like laziness. It’s important to recognize that this is a symptom of the disorder, not a choice.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
People with OCD may appear lazy because their obsessions and compulsions are so consuming they struggle to complete basic tasks. Symptoms of OCD are often internal, and therefore it can be especially hard not to assume the individual is lazy.4
Autism
Folks with autism often approach the world and complete activities differently from people who are neurotypical. They often have difficulty focusing on tasks they aren’t interested in and trouble shifting focus.5 This often causes the misconception that they are lazy or inefficient as it differs from the “norm”.
How to Cope With ADHD Laziness
Coping with ADHD symptoms that resemble laziness can feel overwhelming or like they’re out of your control. However, there are things you can do to manage these symptoms better and decrease the impact they may be having on your day-to-day functioning. Just starting with one tool or lifestyle change can make a big difference in motivation and your overall mood.
ADHD Management Tools
Inflow App is the #1 science-based app to help you manage your ADHD. Their support system helps you understand your neurodiverse brain and build lifelong skills. Free Trial
Here are eight coping skills to help with ADHD lazy-like symptoms:
- Use organization tools: Using apps like RescueTime, Habitica, or even the notes app on your phone can help you manage tasks like paying bills on time or following up with a friend to avoid forgetting. Organization tools can also help a person with ADHD to focus by providing an external structure that can be difficult to find internally.
- Lean on support or delegate: Use the people or resources in your life to help when needed. For example, you can outsource house cleaning or grocery shopping. Alternatively, you can try using a body double to hold you accountable for getting things done.
- External motivation: Rewarding yourself for completing a task can help with motivation or even getting started. Try to match the difficulty of the task with the size of the reward. For tasks that are within your reach, plan to gift yourself with an ice cream. For tasks that feel incredibly overwhelming, save some money for a nice pair of sunglasses or an expensive dinner.
- Use short-term goals: It may be hard to conceptualize how long something can take, so break them into smaller, more achievable steps so you don’t feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by your ADHD.
- Write everything down: Forgetfulness is common with ADHD, so write everything down in a journal or use sticky notes to ensure you don’t forget important tasks.
- Set reminders: It can be really easy just to read a text or email and think you won’t forget to respond or miss a deadline, but as soon as you miss a deadline, you may have moved on to the next thing. Set reminders in your calendar to help, no matter how small!
- Practice meditation: ADHD meditation can strengthen executive function and assist with ADHD-related laziness by enhancing focus, reducing stress, and improving emotional regulation. The more you practice meditation, the easier it will become.
- Exercise: Exercising for ADHD doesn’t mean you need to do 60 minutes of intense cardio every day! Just moving your body a small amount daily by walking, doing yoga, or gentle stretching, has a profound impact on your mood and brain health.
When to Seek Professional Support
A person should seek professional help If they find that their ADHD “laziness” is getting in the way of the career they wish to develop or the relationships they want to explore. It’s important to find a professional you trust and who understands the unique challenges of ADHD, especially if you find that this is impacting your social and occupational functioning.
Online Psychiatry For ADHD Covered By Insurance
Talkiatry can match you with a real psychiatrist who takes your insurance and is seeing new patients. They’re in-network with major insurers and offer medication management. Get started with a short online assessment
You can use an online therapist directory to search for a neurodiverse-affirming therapist, knowing that they will understand ADHD and be nonjudgmental about whatever symptoms you are experiencing. Alternatively, online therapy platforms can easily assist you in getting care wherever and whenever needed, ensuring that you don’t even need to leave your house to see a therapist. If you wish to explore ADHD medication options, online psychiatrist services can help you get assessed via telehealth and can prescribe ADHD medication virtually.
In My Experience
In my experience, people with ADHD are often seen as lazy because they can’t function in a neurotypical way, which is how the world is set up. It’s so important to remember that this “laziness” is actually a symptom of changes in the brain. Lifestyle changes along with therapy will have a direct impact on decreasing these symptoms, making it easier to manage and less overwhelming when you have support. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, I can attest that even making very small lifestyle changes can have a significant impact on your mood, motivation, and distractibility
Additional Resources
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.
ADHD Management Tools
Inflow App Inflow is the #1 science-based app to help you manage your ADHD. Their support system helps you understand your neurodiverse brain, and build lifelong skills. Free Trial
Online Psychiatry
Circle Medical – ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment. Affordable and accessible ADHD evaluations and treatment, including possible controlled substances medication if clinically appropriate. Diagnosis and prescription over video. Insurance accepted. Same & next day appointments available. Visit Circle Medical
Online Therapy
BetterHelp Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. Take A Free Online Assessment and get matched with the right therapist for you. Free Assessment
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For Further Reading
- Inflow ADHD App Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For
- Best ADHD Podcasts
- Best ADHD Books
- The CBT Workbook for Adult ADHD: Evidence-Based Exercises to Improve Your Focus, Productivity, and Wellbeing
- How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing
- ADHD For Smart Ass Women: A Podcast by Tracy Otsuka
- Struggle Care Podcast by KC Davis
- Arguing With Someone Who Has ADHD: Why It Happens & How To Stop
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Best Online Psychiatry Services
Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.