ADHD and the Myth of Laziness
Does this scenario sound familiar? Maybe it’s 6 pm and you’re still in your pajamas, you’ve been wanting to tackle that stack of dishes all day, but yet, they remain on your counter, unwashed and crusted over. Or maybe you’ve known that you really should fold that mountain of laundry, but you just don’t move? This may indicate ADHD. Oh, the agony and angst of a homework assignment with a hard deadline. And what about those plans you made last week, because, it seemed so far away at the time, that now loom over you? But yet you sit there. Staring at your phone, scrolling through cat videos. Contentment and hyperfocus soon give way to the gnawing guilt. It whispers “You’re lazy” in your ear. And maybe other people in your life confirm that sentiment. If you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), this struggle is all too familiar. But here’s the truth, and it’s good news: you are not lazy, despite what you may think and may have been told by a parent, spouse, boss, or teacher. Laziness is often the label someone gets when it appears that they are procrastinating or not putting in the appropriate amount of effort to accomplish that thing they need to do. But ADHD is not a problem with willpower, though that is what is popularly believed. And though it is not a battle with laziness, ADHD behavior can be deceptive and look like laziness to those around you. Why? Because ADHD causes your brain to access motivation differently, giving the appearance of laziness to those whose brains work differently. Frisco Christian Counseling can help you or your loved one better understand and manage ADHD with compassion and effective strategies. Why does ADHD look like laziness? Several characteristic behaviors in people with [...]
