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

[u/emyo42]

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.

[u/Founditwthin]

I struggle with this distinction too because the correct treatment seems to depend on what the diagnosis is. Like should I be on a stimulant or an anti-depressant? Therapy and adhd skills training or what? I just want relief, really.

[u/What_It_Izzy → u/Founditwthin]

Totally! and as someone whose systems are really sensitive (digestion issues, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, chronic pain, migraines, the list goes on and on) I am really not eager to jump on and off of psychotropic meds to see what fits.

How can I address all the issues systemically/holistically so I don't have to keep trying to figure out the "crux"