Though the two are often conflated, “depression” and “laziness” are very different things. Depressive
episodes and laziness both have a negatively correlated relationship with
motivation
and
productivity, but there is a key difference between the two: Laziness is a chosen behavior,
whereas
depression
is a diagnosable mental disorder that requires
psychological treatment
.
Depression involves other symptoms
besides a lack of productivity, such as changes in mood or
emotions, thoughts (reasoning, judgment, or problem-solving), and functioning. People with
depression have additional challenges in dealing with things like their energy levels, their ability to
make decisions, ability to start tasks, or even their desire to take care of themselves.
Laziness is a term that is rarely, if ever, used in mental health. It is used colloquially to describe a
person that one believes has the ability to carry out a given task but
chooses
not to.
What Can Be Mistaken for Laziness?
There are many conditions that can be mistaken for laziness. Examples include:
Feeling apathetic or unmotivated:
Having a lack of purpose or direction to help you behave
“productively”
Feeling
overwhelmed
/overstimulated:
Dealing with many strong emotions at once, making it more
difficult to take action or make decisions
Inattention/forgetfulness:
Not completing a task due to a lack of remembering or difficulty focusing
Low
self-confidence
:
Lack of trust in your abilities, causing you to avoid the task altogether
Indifference/disinterest:
Difficulty finding enough motivation to complete a task due to a perceived
lack of importance or incentive
Lack of ability:
Not having the skills required to perform the task
Substance use
: Substances can dull your senses, ability to make decisions, problem-solving skills, and
motivation, causing behavior that is perceived as “lazy” by others
