Do you think that sometimes depression is mistaken for laziness?

Depression is very often chemical and when that happens the body is sapped of all energy. If you are experiencing this make sure you get to expert medical help, As you have seen with your Father it can ruin life for you.

Yeah, I think I have said this about my husband many times, and it turned out he was depressed..But getting him on meds didn't improve it any, but then again he also has cronic back pain too, that causes less activity..

Absolutely depression can be mistaken for laziness! And sadly oftne the person depressed isnt aware that they are and actually make their depression worse by belittling themselves for being what they assume is laziness..

Yes, as a therapist I have often had clients who were suffering from depressive illness got told to "pull themselves together" and they were malingerers and all sorts of things. This just serves to make the situation worse for them, as they do want to get better more than anything else in the world. There are lazy people around, but they are rarely depressed or even portray symptoms of depression. . Derek

Hi friends, I know from experience, unfortunately, that one of the first questions that is asked is if you have lost interest in things you used to enjoy. Well of course. If you are depressed you aren't going to want to go to social events. In a way, you are sad. But you know you are sad. Therefore nobody wants to bring people into your sadness. And I believe that yes, I wouldn't say laziness, but you become lethargic. You don't feel like getting up and running around or doing much. Luckily I receive medicine for my depression and have for many years as I was diagnosed quite young. My mother suffered from terrible depression. However, she was one of the strongest people in my life. I also know that without her, even after 13 years of her being gone, I don't feel my depression will lift until I meet with her again. God Bless Cheryl

No, I don't think you could ever mistake depression for laziness. Some people who don't feel like doing anything might use that as an excuse sure. But depression is very real with very significant symptoms. I think if the "lazy" person shows other signs, then they are having something more going on definitely. I think as a society we are still skeptical about depression. But having known friends and relatives that have had to deal with major depression over the years, I know how real it is and how much it can effect people. And I think you have hit on it. I don't think even those of us who are depressed on some level or another, always KNOW that is what we are feeling or why we feel that way.

I do think that depression is sometimes mistaken for laziness and the opposite, too... but probably more often, depression and a physical problem are misdiagnosed. My oldest daughter always seemed lazy, but eventually we found out that she was severely anemic. Once that was taken care of, her energy bounced back and she was happy and productive again. What I'm saying is that sometimes another real problem is mistakenly diagnosed as depression. That's really sad, because depression medication can make things a lot worse instead of better in that case.

There are a lot of people out there who are in denial about depression, especially when someone else near them is suffering from it, and they don't want to admit that their loved one is actually ill. I once had a severely depressed friend almost get into dangerous trouble when his mother told him it was all in his head, and that he just needed to get over it. :(

for the ordinary guy on the street yes it is almost always mistaken for laziness, but a trained professional does know the difference. Yes the average person is quick to judge.

I am not an expert in depression either and I can not really say that I have suffered from one either. Anyway, I have heard a lot of people feeling too dperessed to go to work or do anything around the house. I think that sometimes, depression can be mistaken as laziness when this happens. People sometimes do not undestand why their loved ones do not like to go to work so they just assume that that person is being lazy.

Hi miamilady! I am sorry that you are going through it now. I have bouts with depression too and I try to fight it as best as I could. It is difficult to do so and it is really disheartening when people are quick to judge you as being lazy. I do agree with you that it goes deeper than that. My father who is really old has been in and out of depression too but I could see that he is also fighting it the best he can. I never let anyone see my depression and this is very hard. There was a time that I cut my communication with all my friends for a year because I was depressed. I avoided the phone calls and had avoided seeing them. I tried to get involved with other things even if I have no interest on doing them. I always find myself just crying and being numb sometimes and sometimes I will just be in my room most of the time. It was difficult but have helped myself by forcing myself to find some hope on other things that are new to me. I prayed a lot during those times. And I do hope and pray that you will feel better soon my friend. take care and blessings to you dear! lovelots..faith

i can say yes in a way and no in a way. har har har. i know thats kind of crazy. my mom is in depression for my dad left her for another woman who is younger. i was a teen back then. she was so depressed that she can not even wash the dishes or cook our food. it was like life was over for her. now that i am an adult with my own family my wife gets depress too.... and she works around the house when she is depress she makes herslef busy so she will not think about the reason why she is depress. so as i see two womens in my life with different styles to face depression i can say that yes my mom is lazy.... for she can be lazy in the first few weeks because my dad did an awful thing. or maybe it also depends on what is thereason why a certain person is depress. i think making yourself busy will make you focus yourself to another thing than just thinking about your depression. just my views.

Maybe some lazy people can use it as an excuse but depression is a real illness and anyone who has it is not doing it because they are lazy. Yeah, some lazy people can have depression but I never confuse the two.

Yes, I do. If someone is now going through it like you are, then they just won't understand how you are feeling. I have this problem with my boyfriend. I am extremely depressed at times and don't feel like doing much and then he says something mean and it just makes me feel even more worthless.

Definitely. Lethargy leads to depression and depression more lethargy. De ja vu--did I already post a similar comment to this exact thread? Sorry, if I did. It's been a while (obviously). While, I'm no expert, experience while battling my own daemons has shown me that we've just got to be active--we've just got to do SOMETHING to genuinely call it living, and to experience it as such.

Yes that is possible. You can also be depressed and lazy as well, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. I have a physical disorder that saps my energy and I do not look sick so people assume I am scamming the system and am lazy. Nothing could be further from the truth as I am doing something usually in every waking moment, although I sometimes cannot accomplish what an able bodied person can, there are some things I cannot do and some things take me ten times as long.

yes it is ..but partly because you do become lazy for no reason..

Absolutely. Lack of motivation/energy are two extremely common symptoms of depression that I know I have. I actually have disability documentation with my school so that professors will understand/excuse my occasional absences that happen due to stress or exhaustion or what-have-you. I have very little energy most of the time, and the times when I do put in real effort are usually to avoid having to go back to my home town which makes most of my problems a zillion times worse.

I am depressed. But, I cannot make myself go to the doctor. So, I work, when I have to. I take the kids where they need to go, when my husband cannot do it. I spend the rest of the time on my couch at home. I often wish I could just sit here alone, forever. I don't have, and have really never had, friends. I have gotten close, but I always sabotage it. I worry that they are talking about me or dislike me for some reason. I know all the rationalizations for depression and getting treatment and I know how much my children need me healthy and so on and so on. I simply cannot bring myself to get the treatment. I want to get better, but, I cannot.. I don't know why, this is the one thing I cannot rationalize, there is no logic to this, I simply cannot bring myself to go to a doctor and say, 'I am depressed', 'I want medication', I simply cannot do it. So when we argue, like all spouses do, I admit I am lazy, I admit that I should do more, that I am lazy and I am sorry!

Most time, its my work..with ontime deliveries and work loads. I try to divert mind on music and i feel better.