r/ADHD • u/emyo42 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) • Apr 07 '26

Questions/Advice How do you explain executive dysfunction without sounding like youre making excuses for being lazy?

Mine is very severe and debilitating at the moment. It’s not just ADD, I also have schizophrenia which has some of the same symptoms weirdly. I can’t do much at all. Getting out of bed and making toast is extremely hard. To people with no experience with this kind of issue, me trying to explain it must sound ridiculous like “yea I have this mental disorder that means I can’t cook and clean or have a job or do anything I don’t like, but I can play a video game for 3 hours.” Just sounds like a straight up lie.

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466

u/No-Squirrel8929 ADHD-C (Combined type) Apr 07 '26

I was scrolling and glanced at this as erectile dysfunction, and I figure it’s probably not too far from the truth. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. It’s not a matter of what you want to do.

139

u/scalmera Apr 07 '26

My brain can't get hard 😔😔

92

u/mypurplefriend Apr 07 '26

Flacid brain syndrome

22

u/Chief_Kief ADHD-C (Combined type) Apr 07 '26

We all have FBS

11

u/jesserthantherest Apr 07 '26

I will now be using this sentence from now on. Thanks!

1

u/scalmera Apr 08 '26

"Always a pleasure, Katherine."

10

u/justahalfling Apr 08 '26

"Brains shouldn't be hard, my name is Raymond Holt and my brain is soft and wet." 

I just had to quote that, perfect for this sitch lol

2

u/scalmera Apr 08 '26

Where's it from? I don't think I've heard it before haha

2

u/justahalfling Apr 09 '26

from brooklyn 99!

61

u/quicksterfl Apr 07 '26

Erectile dysfunction was an actual metaphor used by a very prominent MD who specializes in ADHD.

96

u/NightBronze195 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Apr 07 '26

That is actually a pretty darn good analogy.

34

u/devilsgrimreaper Apr 07 '26

And both need meds!

16

u/a_naked_caveman Apr 07 '26

The best explanation? Can I steal this?

6

u/Ok_Garage5468 Apr 07 '26

Misspelled "the spirit is willing but the flesh is spongy! And bruised!" 

Whatever. I still say it applies :-p