I’m just suffering from ADHD.

relaxed child

No mom! I’m not lazy, I’m just suffering from ADHD. 

Imagine you're frantically trying to finish a project, but every time you make a bit of progress, something else grabs your attention. It feels like your brain is a room full of noisy fans, making it impossible to focus. Your plans and to-do lists are all over the place, and even simple tasks become overwhelming mountains. You're not slacking off or avoiding work on purpose; it's like there's a constant internal struggle making it hard to stay on track and finish what you start. You want to do well, but it’s like trying to catch a bus that keeps moving out of reach. It’s not about being lazy—it’s about this invisible barrier that makes organizing and prioritizing incredibly tough. Like the feeling of— Stop cutting me off! No, I’m not making excuses, mom! I’m literally pouring myself out to you and you just keep on cutting off!

That’s just a hilarious comedic quip on my part to demonstrate a 4th wall break combined with the use of stereotypical lines teenagers use in a humorous way to tell you that ADHD and laziness can sometimes, or almost often, be confused with one another, but I am here to inform you that they are not the same thing. Yes, there are lazy people in the world, and there is an ongoing stigma wherein people with ADHD might appear lazy, but this is often due to the challenges associated with the disorder rather than a lack of motivation or effort. Here's how ADHD might affect what might be perceived as laziness:

• Difficulty Starting Tasks: People with ADHD often struggle with initiating tasks due to their issues with executive functioning skills. What is executive functioning you might ask? This is a skill responsible for planning, organizing, and prioritizing which results in them facing difficulties when they need to do a new task, this causes an overwhelming sense of where to begin or how to structure their approach. No, it’s not because they are unwilling or they are TOO lazy to do it, but rather it is because their brain struggles to kickstart the process. You know the feeling that you KNOW what needs to be done, but feel paralyzed by the complexity of simply starting your tasks, which leads to a delay in action. 

• Procrastination: ADHD can lead to procrastination, not because a person is lazy, but because they find it hard how difficult it is to manage your time and how complex the task may be. Tasks that need constant focus and concentration might seem overwhelming to a person with ADHD, which may trigger procrastination. The person might get a feeling of anxiety about doing the task, this leads to them avoiding it overall just to escape the potential stress it might cause the person.

• Emotional Regulation: ADHD can impact emotional regulation, leading to frustration and a sense of being overwhelmed. This emotional turmoil can affect an individual's motivation and productivity. An example would be that whenever the tasks, as mentioned earlier, feel so overwhelming for the individual, this causes feelings of frustration and anxiety, which leads to avoidance of the task overall, showing a lack of follow through. This is not related to one’s attitude, but rather how their brain works and how they typically handle stress.

In essence, what might be seen as laziness in someone with ADHD is often a manifestation of the difficulties they experience due to the disorder. Understanding and addressing these underlying challenges can help differentiate between genuine motivational issues and the symptoms of ADHD. But, this does not excuse them from personal accountability, remember, we hold the direction of our lives in our hands, it is still up to you on how you can overcome the challenges presented to you, and here are some solutions that we can offer so you can overcome them.

• Establish Structure and Routines: Develop daily routines and be sure to stick to them as much as possible, even though your brain is forcing you not to. This helps with time management and reduces the unpredictability that can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. You can use this by utilizing visual clues such as employing calendars, planners, or apps to keep track of appointments, deadlines, and daily tasks.

• Implement Organizational Tools: Keep a daily or weekly to-do list to stay organized. Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to make them less overwhelming. 

• Reduce Distractions: One of the most effective ways of reducing the challenges that ADHD brain of yours forces you to face is via creating a focused work environment wherein you designate a specific area for work or study that is free from distractions. You can use tools such as noise-canceling headphones or white noise if necessary (in case you really can’t focus).

• Build Strong Support Systems: Educate your loved ones of your condition, your family, friends, or even colleagues, about ADHD to foster understanding and support just so they can be aware of what to expect, and can cater to what you need. Share your strategies and needs to create a supportive environment.

Seek Professional Support: Work with a mental health professional who specializes in ADHD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other therapeutic approaches can help develop coping strategies and address behavioral challenges. This is what we here at Favor Mental Health Services offer, so if you feel like you have tried all of the strategies above and none of them seem to work for you, just give us a call.