Highlights
- Depression is a mental health disorder affecting more than 20 million American adults.
- Fatigue and lack of motivation are core symptoms of depression.
- Laziness is a choice-driven state where a person chooses not to complete tasks they could do out of a desire to avoid effort.
- Due to overlapping characteristics, depression and laziness can be difficult to tell apart.
- Stigma and dismissive attitudes towards perceived “lazy” behavior can prevent people from getting much-needed help for depression.
There’s often so much guilt when we feel lazy. In a culture that values go-getter attitudes and constant productivity, it can be easy to question whether we’re depressed or “lazy” when we aren’t operating at Energizer Bunny speed. Society doesn’t seem to extend grace to people with different energy levels. When does a lack of motivation actually indicate a mental health issue? Let’s debunk some myths about lazy people.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression? Is Laziness One of Them?
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by a persistently low or depressed mood that is often accompanied by a loss of interest in once-loved activities lasting for at least two weeks or more. It’s estimated that more than
Common
- A persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood.
- Hopelessness or pessimism.
- Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness.
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.
- A sudden loss of interest in hobbies and activities.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Trouble focusing.
- Memory issues.
- Decision-making difficulties.
- Changes in sleep patterns, ranging from difficulty sleeping to sleeping too much. Some people going through depressive episodes wake up too early in the morning.
- Appetite and eating changes.
- Weight changes, including significant weight loss or gain.
- Aches and pains.
- Unexplained physical health issues like frequent headaches, cramps, and unexplained digestive issues.
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or suicide attempts.
Fatigue, lack of energy, and feeling slowed down or “mired down” are all classic depression symptoms. It can feel like you’re walking through heavy mud just to complete simple tasks. However, it’s important to note that not everyone experiences depression the same way. Some people will only have one or two symptoms. Others might experience most or all of the symptoms.
Why Depression May Look Like Laziness?
Generally, the theme with depression is that symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to function on a daily basis. The consequences of low energy and poor performance that look like “laziness” to outsiders can cause distress for the person living with depression. From the outside, depression symptoms can look like:
- Increased anger and mood volatility.
- Restlessness or agitation.
- Being withdrawn or detached.
- Being negative.
- Engaging in risky behaviors.
- Self-isolating behaviors.
- Issues with sexual performance or desire.
While some people are able to function as usual while living with depression, many find that keeping up with daily responsibilities becomes impossible. Many people with depression are not able to meet family or relationship obligations. In addition, the condition can affect work life and education.
Is Laziness Always a Sign of Depression?
Not necessarily. We have to be careful not to paint with a broad brush when discussing laziness and depression. In some cases, lack of motivation may come down to personal choice. However, sudden and unexplained “laziness” likely points to an underlying problem, such as mental health issues (depression or anxiety) or physical conditions. Trouble sleeping, autoimmune disorders, underlying diseases, genetics, and other health factors can all contribute to persistent fatigue.
A chaotic or overwhelming schedule can also lead to
What Can Be Mistaken for Laziness?
Depression isn’t the only condition that can be mistaken for laziness. As covered above, autoimmune disorders and other diseases can also be confused for it. Common medical issues that can be mistaken for exhaustion or fatigue at first include:
- Lyme disease.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Thyroid disorders.
- Hormonal imbalances or deficiencies.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Celiac disease.
- Sleep apnea.
- Heart disease and cardiac issues.
- Anemia.
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
- Lupus.
There are hundreds of diseases that can cause fatigue. Ideally, a person experiencing sudden and unexplained symptoms should consult with a doctor. Blood panels and other tests can reveal if there’s an underlying trigger behind why you feel lazy.
Additionally, some other mental health conditions can also cause what appear to be “lazy” behaviors. This includes anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with these conditions can get so caught up in distractibility, fight-or-flight responses, or compulsions that they neglect daily duties.
Am I Lazy or Depressed? Key Differences
The general consensus is that a person is being lazy if they are choosing not to do something they could physically and mentally do based on the effort involved. This generally results in a state of idleness. If they do make an effort at all, they may either do it badly or substitute a less-strenuous version of the task. Laziness is ultimately defined by letting our motivation to spare one’s self of effort override the motivation to do a task using our best efforts.
Unfortunately, physical symptoms and feelings alone aren’t always enough for a person to decipher whether they are a lazy person or someone struggling with a mental health disorder. A good place to start is with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It is the most widely used depression test.
However, self-diagnosing can cause you to miss opportunities for proper treatment. This is why getting an accurate diagnosis of depression from a licensed mental health professional is necessary. A qualified provider will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, approved questionnaires, and other credible sources to assess your symptoms.
What Is the Main Cause of Laziness?
If it turns out that your behaviors can be chalked up to laziness instead of major depressive disorder, there may be something lacking in your daily life. Many people who exhibit lazy behaviors don’t have intrinsic motivation to get things done because the rewards seem too far away.
However, experts are quick to point out that not all people who appear lazy are intrinsically lazy. It’s common for people to fall into laziness ruts because they haven’t found something that motivates them. Fear, hopelessness, and despair about the future can cause some people to develop a “why bother?” attitude. Additionally, people with low self-esteem may actually use laziness as a self-sabotaging method to essentially stop themselves in their tracks before they are disappointed by failure or ridicule.
How to Feel More Motivated
Motivational tips are not replacements for a professional intervention if you either believe that you have depression or have been diagnosed with depression. However, the average person struggling with laziness has many ways to get motivated. Try putting some pep in your step with these tips:
- Learn stress-management techniques: If stress makes you freeze up or give up, you may have never learned healthy coping techniques that help you to move forward in spite of stress. Adopting self-care strategies, prioritizing eight hours of sleep per night, or joining a support group can all be healthy ways to deal with stress.
- Enjoy better stress management with better time management: If you feel lazy because you’re overwhelmed, consider learning some time-management techniques that remove the confusion and dread of completing tasks in day-to-day life. For example, the 3-3-3 system allows you to define a manageable number of priorities for your days and weeks to avoid the pressure that comes from having an overstuffed calendar.
- Prioritize exercise: There’s evidence that physical activity boosts motivation and well-being. It may even impact workplace performance. According to experts, employees who engage in regular exercise are more likely to experience
higher job satisfaction [4*] , increased energy levels, improved concentration, and enhanced creativity. - Learn self-care strategies: Recognize that what looks like laziness may actually be exhaustion or burnout. Try to carve out time away from the grind of daily responsibilities to reset. Getting out of a “hamster wheel” environment for a bit may help you to see if your symptoms are actually depression or just circumstantial.
The Risks of Untreated Depression: Importance of Seeking Professional Help
There’s no glory in “shaking off” or “pushing through” depression instead of seeking a diagnosis. Waiting for depression to go away on its own is dangerous. Experts know that untreated depression changes the brain. Untreated depression is associated with a number of neurological changes that can include
Depression also appears to alter neurotransmission processes in the brain to make it more difficult for different brain regions to communicate. The lasting impact of untreated depression can vary based on the severity and length of a depressive episode. It’s important to consult with a medical provider or a mental health professional to create an individualized treatment plan.
Summing Up
You may not be in a place where you can combat laziness on your own if you’re actually suffering from depression symptoms. Well-meaning family and friends can often contribute to the problem by telling you to simply “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” when you’re feeling fatigued or listless. They assume that a pep talk is enough to shake off laziness. In reality, clinical depression is a serious mental health condition that requires professional intervention, including in-person or online therapy, medication, or their combination.
