Do I Have ADHD Or Am I Just Lazy? Understanding The Difference
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), previously called attention deficit disorder (ADD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder and form of neurodivergence that can impact a person’s ability to focus and control impulses. People with ADHD may experience hyperactivity and forgetfulness, which could make it difficult to complete tasks on time. If you’re experiencing challenges with organization or time management, you might ask yourself, “Do I have ADHD, or am I just lazy?”
Assessing Your Mental Health
Having trouble focusing or making mistakes due to ADHD does not mean a person is lazy. For individuals with an ADHD diagnosis, working with a mental health professional may be a beneficial way to reorganize their lives. A therapist can help individuals manage symptoms of ADHD along with other mood disorders that may occur comorbidly.
What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts around 11% of children and 4.4% of adults in the U.S. Individuals with ADHD may experience a range of symptoms, including inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, which may have negative consequences at work, school, or in interpersonal relationships. Some people may think ADHD is a choice or that people with ADHD are acting out for attention. However, these labels are not accurate and can contribute heavily to stigma.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms: Do I have ADHD or am I just lazy?
Some people confuse ADHD with laziness, and they may think that a person with ADHD is intentionally missing deadlines to complete tasks or is forgetting information due to laziness. Laziness refers to making a choice not to fulfill responsibilities or duties. When someone is living with ADHD, their symptoms are not a choice but a result of their mental health condition.
Other mental health diagnoses
In some individuals, a doctor or therapist may diagnose a comorbid mental health disorder like depression or anxiety. Depression and anxiety may impact motivation and the ability of a person to complete tasks on time or remember to complete all the details a task or job requires. These omissions may not be due to laziness but a result of symptoms of a mental disorder.
Do I have ADHD or am I just lazy? Key differences between ADHD and laziness
ADHD and laziness are different, and a person with ADHD may miss deadlines or experience forgetfulness as a symptom of their condition. Key differences between ADHD and laziness may include:
Behavioral patterns
Individuals with ADHD may forget a meeting or miss a deadline due to impulsive behavior and forgetfulness, which can make it challenging to stay on track. Contrarily, laziness often requires a person to actively choose not to participate in or complete a task, often without an understandable or productive reason. For example, laziness might fit in a situation where someone decides to miss work because they prefer to stay home and play video games.
Cognitive aspects
ADHD may include a disruption in executive functioning, which can make it challenging to remember times, dates, and other important information. However, laziness may be associated with a lack of effort or ability to sustain effort over time.
Emotional factors
People with ADHD may experience frustration and guilt over forgetting information or missing important events, whereas a person who is lazy may be indifferent when these events occur.
As with other disorders, a person with ADHD may also be lazy or miss deadlines as a result of factors other than ADHD symptoms. A therapist or other mental health professional can help a person with ADHD identify symptoms and manage the impact of ADHD on their daily life.
Diagnosis of symptoms and treatment
If you are experiencing some symptoms that resemble ADHD, it may be beneficial to see a professional. A professional therapist or doctor may diagnose ADHD and provide you with ADHD treatment designed to reduce or manage symptoms. Mental health professionals are knowledgeable about the support options available for ADHD, including medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and other therapeutic modalities.
The diagnosis process may involve seeing a primary physician or healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can look at your symptoms and use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to make a final diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made, your provider may recommend treatment methods designed to target ADHD symptoms and productivity related to these symptoms.
Strategies for managing ADHD symptoms
Managing ADHD symptoms to improve productivity may require a multi-dimensional approach that can reduce the prevalence of symptoms and their impact. After an ADHD diagnosis, a doctor or mental health professional may work with you to identify potential treatment options and discuss how they may impact you, reduce the appearance of laziness, and improve productivity. These techniques may include ADHD-specific strategies, general productivity strategies, and selected lifestyle and environmental changes.
ADHD-specific strategies and therapy
One step in improving productivity is managing ADHD symptoms, including inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. By managing these symptoms, a person may stay on track while working on a task, allowing them to complete more work in less time and be more productive. Often, these strategies can be implemented by working with a mental health professional like a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or counselor.
A mental health professional may work with you to determine if medication could help you reduce your symptoms. If so, your provider may work with other professionals to prescribe a stimulant medication, a non-stimulant medication, or both to manage symptoms. When taking medication, communicate with your provider so they can monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and make adjustments.
In addition to medication-based treatments, a mental health professional may offer therapy or behavioral interventions. One such modality is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), designed to help clients identify negative thought patterns and replace them with productive and beneficial thought patterns. This type of therapy may help a person to identify situations where their symptoms are often incited and implement a coping strategy to stay on track. However, there are hundreds of therapeutic modalities to choose from, so consider meeting with a therapist for a consultation before starting services to find someone who takes an approach that resonates with you.
Consult a medical doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication for any condition. The information in this article is not a replacement for medical advice or diagnosis.
Productivity-specific strategies
While reducing symptoms may be the key to managing productivity for individuals with ADHD, a person can also use strategies designed to improve productivity. A mental health professional may help you set manageable goals and break large tasks into more manageable ones to work more effectively and efficiently.
A therapist may also work with you to develop time management and organizational techniques to keep you on track and progressing in your work. These techniques could include developing a calendar system or strategies to manage workflow, such as using a timer to work for a set period before taking a five-minute break. No single approach is effective for all people, so your mental health professional can work with you to create strategies that build accountability and increase productivity at work, home, or school.
Lifestyle changes and environmental changes
Specific lifestyle changes may also impact the management of ADHD symptoms and productivity. Getting daily exercise, for example, can be a way to reduce overall ADHD symptoms, including hyperactivity and impulsivity while increasing attentiveness. This increase can lead to more time spent working on a task at work or school and less time with distractions.
Another lifestyle change that may benefit individuals with ADHD is practicing healthy sleeping habits. Getting enough sleep helps the brain reset each day, which may improve overall focus and reduce ADHD symptoms. A healthy night’s sleep may start by practicing sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene can involve reducing screen time before bed, limiting caffeine intake in the afternoon, and sleeping in a dark, quiet space.
Outside of lifestyle changes, a person with ADHD may make environmental changes to increase productivity and reduce distraction. For example, they might arrange their workspace to avoid foot traffic or other distractions. Keeping a minimalist workspace with few items that draw attention may be beneficial. Doing so could keep you focused on what you hope to accomplish rather than getting sidetracked.
ADHD therapy: Mental health support options
While some of the above strategies can be implemented without help from a professional, having a person in your corner who can look at the bigger picture and provide guidance can be beneficial. A therapist can look at your overall goals and design a mental health plan that works for your individual ADHD symptoms.
Online Therapy
If you face barriers to in-person support options, it might also be helpful to try online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy is as effective as in-person options for treating ADHD symptoms. An online therapist can connect with you virtually to assess symptoms, recommend coping strategies, and implement support options.
People with ADHD who struggle with productivity may find it challenging to commit to meeting with a therapist in a brick-and-mortar office once a week. It can be intimidating and inconvenient to travel during business hours to meet a therapist. One of the benefits of online therapy is that you can meet people from anywhere with an internet connection. In addition, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions, giving you control over how you receive support.
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