Do your days often end with an unfinished \u201cto-do\u201d list or various forgotten tasks? Do loved ones become annoyed or frustrated at your inability to arrive on time, follow a schedule, or remember to keep your commitments? Perhaps you\u2019ve even been called lazy\u2014by others or even by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While everyone occasionally forgets things or catches themselves running late, doing these things despite trying your hardest may indicate you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Those with ADHD<\/a> are often labeled as \u201clazy,\u201d but nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, the ADHD brain works harder than a neurotypical brain to stay focused, remember important things, and curb impulsivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The guide below answers the question: do I have ADHD or am I just lazy? We\u2019ll explain what ADHD is, how it\u2019s different from other conditions, and things you can do to manage it more effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you suspect your laziness is related to ADHD? On Klarity, connect with a licensed mental health professional who can evaluate your symptoms, provide an appropriate diagnosis, and start you on a journey to managing your symptoms. To get started, take a free self-evaluation<\/a> to learn more about whether your laziness is just laziness or if it could be a symptom of ADHD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest difference between true laziness and ADHD is that those who are lazy don\u2019t typically make an effort to complete tasks\u2014and don\u2019t usually feel anxiety or guilt when they fail to do so. Those with ADHD often feel anxious or nervous about completing tasks and put significant effort into focusing long enough to get things done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, laziness is a lack of effort or concern about a task, whereas ADHD individuals put significant effort into a task and become upset or frustrated when it\u2019s incomplete or done incorrectly anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many adults who exhibited symptoms of ADHD as children, such as absent-mindedness, frequent daydreaming, general restlessness, and difficulty paying attention in class or concentrating on schoolwork, can often go overlooked. As adults, these symptoms may be even less noticeable to the outside observer but make it hard to manage your daily life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you suspect you have ADHD and are ready to find out, getting an official diagnosis has never been easier. Start by taking Klarity\u2019s free 2-minute online evaluation<\/a> so we can connect you with a certified ADHD healthcare provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults with ADHD often swing among several states of being, including feeling: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although adults with this mental health disorder may exhibit less hyperactivity compared to their younger counterparts, the intensity of symptoms remains significant. Constantly transitioning from one project to another, experiencing hyperfocus on a single task, feeling restless without a clear cause, and having racing thoughts can all impact their daily quality of life. The inherent dopamine-seeking nature of the ADHD brain keeps individuals in a perpetual state of movement, both internally and externally, leaving little room for rest and limited attention to details such as schedules and routine tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biological differences in brain structure, function, and chemistry make it more difficult for a person with ADHD to stay organized, develop schedules, concentrate, and manage impulsive behaviors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversely, the ADHD brain is tremendously creative, often connecting seemingly-unrelated events and ideas to innovate, problem-solve, and strategize much more easily than a neurotypical person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are generally able to complete tasks or finish projects, remember important dates and appointments, and usually have a good sense of time and time management, chances are you don\u2019t have ADHD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, there is no age limit for ADHD. Many people associate ADHD with children and adolescents, mistakenly believing it\u2019s something you can \u201cgrow out of\u201d over time. This isn\u2019t true\u2014many adults newly diagnosed with ADHD simply weren\u2019t diagnosed in childhood. If you have ADHD, you\u2019ll likely be able to examine childhood behaviors and recognize that you had this mental health disorder all along. If you can\u2019t do this, you likely don\u2019t have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While ADHD is usually associated with hyperactivity and restlessness, the combination of racing thoughts and frenetic physical energy often interrupt sleep patterns. This makes it difficult for those with ADHD to get the rest they need, causing fatigue and low energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The absent-mindedness associated with ADHD can also force individuals to habitually backtrack to look for misplaced items and complete unfinished tasks. This cycle, if left unmanaged, can become exhausting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD procrastination<\/a> is the chronic inability to start or complete tasks because you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each type of ADHD procrastination is linked to insufficient dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. If a task doesn\u2019t produce these neurotransmitters, it\u2019s less desirable to the ADHD brain and more difficult to accomplish. The key to overcoming ADHD procrastination is to modify tasks to make them more palatable or stimulating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few ways to do this include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Identifying ADHD can be challenging because it shares so many characteristics with other mental health issues, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD can also be comorbid with each of these other mood disorders, confusing the matter further. If you think you have one or more of these conditions, a medical evaluation can help determine which one you have so you can access the right treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD and depressive disorder<\/a> present with many of the same symptoms\u2014plus, those with ADHD are more prone to developing depression from the overwhelming stressors they experience daily. Both conditions cause an inability to concentrate, low energy, disturbed sleep, and acute apathy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone with depression will experience these symptoms constantly, while someone with ADHD experiences them contextually. They also experience sleep disturbances differently. Depression may make it easy to fall asleep, but cause frequent waking throughout the night. ADHD makes it difficult to fall asleep due to racing thoughts or hyper-fixation on a specific task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD and anxiety<\/a> often go hand-in-hand. A person with ADHD may have an anxiety disorder as a comorbid condition or simply feel anxiety more often or intensely than a neurotypical person would. Both conditions can also cause panic attacks, disordered sleep, and gastrointestinal problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest way to determine whether your symptoms are from ADHD or anxiety is to pay attention to when they happen. Symptoms of anxiety are situational and usually only occur around certain people or in a certain context. ADHD symptoms can arise in any context or situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While 21st-century life is full of constant distractions\u2014from mobile devices to brightly colored advertisements and crowded spaces full of noise\u2014there is a difference between a shortened modern attention span and ADHD. For instance, when a neurotypical person needs to focus on something, they\u2019re usually able to shut out distractions and \u201cpower through.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you have ADHD, it may not be possible to filter out distractions simply by choosing to. Even if you want to complete an assignment or task, your mind may still wander to the last interesting conversation you had, the high-pitched whine of nearby fluorescent lighting, or someone humming two desks over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obsessive-compulsive<\/strong> disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes unwanted intrusive thoughts\u2014called obsessions\u2014combined with repetitive behaviors referred to as compulsions. The repetitive behaviors help regulate and dispel the often overwhelming obsessive thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though ADHD and OCD share symptoms like difficulty concentrating, disturbed sleep, and gastrointestinal issues, they\u2019re actually quite different. Challenging ADHD symptoms occur when interacting with or responding to external stimuli. Those with OCD internalize their stressors, which then manifest as intrusive thoughts that need to be regulated with repetitive movements or activities. OCD treatment aims to help alleviate the obsessive thoughts so compulsive actions have a less disruptive effect on a person\u2019s daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOrdinary\u201d Laziness vs. ADHD: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do I Know If I Have ADHD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Does It Feel Like To Be an Adult with ADHD?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How a Person With ADHD Thinks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Signs You Don\u2019t Have ADHD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can You Have ADHD and Be Low Energy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Overcome ADHD Procrastination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Can ADHD Be Mistaken For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Do I Have ADHD or Am I Just Depressed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do I Have ADHD or Anxiety?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do I Have ADHD or Am I Just Easily Distracted?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do I Have OCD or ADHD?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Happens if ADHD is Left Untreated in Adults?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n