Do you think that people with ADHD appear lazy (perhaps they're overwhelmed by what they need to do and can't begin)

or

Do they appear extremely busy (perhaps because they have trouble staying on task and jump from one to another)?

Do you think that people with ADHD appear lazy (perhaps they're overwhelmed by what they need to do and can't begin)

or

Do they appear extremely busy (perhaps because they have trouble staying on task and jump from one to another)?

mauvais,

I think it depends on whether you have hyperactivity or not, and on what coping methods you've adopted.

I'm sure I look like a lazy so-and-so because I keep forgetting to do the tasks I said I would do, and I don't even notice the messy chaos around me.

I know someone else who looks like she's always busy because she makes lists and time schedules and follows them religiously, but she's barely holding it together and goes ballistic when other people interrupt or talk too much while she's trying to do things or if her schedule needs to be changed.

I know someone else who's got a successful job doing large gardening jobs and household repairs and I keep meeting him in the neighborhood, but he seriously needs someone to be the keeper (and maker) of his schedule -- he does wonderful work when he's on the job, but we have to keep calling and hope we actually talk to his wife to get him to commit to a date to come by and even after he's made his estimate it can take months getting his attention again to do the actual work while he's busy (!) doing jobs for the people who've managed to corral his attention.

--Rheanna

Do you think that people with ADHD appear lazy (perhaps they're overwhelmed by what they need to do and can't begin)

or

Do they appear extremely busy (perhaps because they have trouble staying on task and jump from one to another)?

Can I ask why you are asking? Are you talking about in school or in everyday life?

Work, school, AND life.

I have ADHD and I think I look lazy because I get overwhelmed and don't even know how to begin tasks. THis is at work and at home.
I know a few people at work who always appear to be in a whirlwind though they don't get much done- I suspect they may have ADHD, but they could have another problem.

Work, school, AND life.

I have ADHD and I think I look lazy because I get overwhelmed and don't even know how to begin tasks. THis is at work and at home.
I know a few people at work who always appear to be in a whirlwind though they don't get much done- I suspect they may have ADHD, but they could have another problem.

Sounds right to me!

mauvais, I know what you mean about being overwhelmed. How can you prioritize if everything was supposed to be done yesterday? But I'm learning to stop and ask myself if there's something else I should be doing instead of what I am doing. Sometimes that doesn't work. Like now.

Also, if you aren't sure exactly how to do something, the temptation to put it off can truly be overwhelming.

Also, if you aren't sure exactly how to do something, the temptation to put it off can truly be overwhelming.

Exactly my problem. Even when I get something and don't know where to put it in my house, it'll just sit there for months because I don't know how to deal with it. :(

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I have hyperactivity, and am "lazier" since I've been on my meds. Before, I cleaned constantly, talked too much, and spent when I shouldn't have. I also didn't sleep nearly as soundly. I actually did get a lot done, but I couldn't stand the restless, almost driven feeling I had.

For the first time in years I've been able to walk through my house without tripping over something. I get SO overwhelmed that I can't do anything at all. It doesn't help that I have fibromyalgia too. For the past few days I've told myself that I MUST spend 20 minutes cleaning.

Growing up I was taught to clean by picking an item (desk, table, couch, anything with clutter on it) and just put everything on it away. That has never worked for me because I don't recognize the items as being out of place, or if I do I can't figure out what to do with them.

So for the past few days I've been running around, completely inefficient, just puting away anything that catches my eye and I can think where it goes. It takes a lot longer and a lot more energy than it would take for anyone else, but I'm making progress, which is a lot better than I had done before.

This is such an interesting question. I'm trying to think about it, and I think that without Ritalin I just appear -- crazy. Or a combination of both busy (because I'm always running around frantically) and lazy (because no one ever sees many results from me). So without my meds, I am liable to bite your head off for asking me to pull a file out or something because I just can't DEAL with another request when I have to juggle so many other things. Meanwhile, those "other things" keep piling up because I can't get organized enough to complete the details necessary to finish them. So it's like chaotic damage control all the time. Wonderful huh. I think I appear both lazy and busy all the time. I wonder what my boss thinks of me?

:dizzy: Sounds just like me always confused. I do get a's and B's in college, but it's definitely a struggle! I wish my husband would read all your post he would think I wrote them all because it sounds like me. I feel guilty and lazy, but I just can't deal with stuff either :eek: . It doesn't help I've learned how to paint, sew and make wigs. It has just caused my life to be more chaotic than before because I would much rather work on my hobbies and then I never have time for anything I need to do. It's a blessing and a curse both. I would love to just be able to focus on things and be organized even have a calendar that I maintained. the few times when I have been somewhat focused I was mean and evil :nono: if things were not just right. It almost seems to be too stressful to be perfect. There is an author who wrote a book about his ADD orADHD and he talks about how he has learned to manage his life despite his add adhd. I only hope I learn to deal with mine soon as it doesn't seem meds will be an option for me. My psychologist said I am one of three things
1. I have ADD ( duh I figured that out on my own a long time ago)
2. I never learned how to manage time and to properly do things such as cleaning , studying, etc.
or
3. :nono: I am Lazy I just don't give an effort to do things (gee if that's the case what do I do to get the energy to give the effort.)

I really liked him until he said that. I don't need a doctor to tell me I am lazy I need him to tell me how to function normally. < I have a desire for things to be neat and tidy, I would love to be organized , I just don't know where to start.>

This is what he told me after I told him It took me 4 full days to get my house somewhere near clean, He said if you did get it done your not dealing with ADD. I think he is wrong. I struggled for days to deal with the mess while I was alone with no kids or hubby to take care of. It should have taken 2 days Max. I ran from room to room never finishing anything the first 3 days. I couldn't focus until I felt pressured because my family was on their way home. I can do somethings like write a paper complete assignments , but only under pressure. :bouncing:
May be I don't have it but I know I act like it.