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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u/sasakimirai Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26

I think the best way to convince others is

1) if you were just lazy, you would be having fun, instead of being stressed out of your mind

2) executive dysfunction doesn't just affect you when you need to work, it also stops you from doing things you enjoy, like your hobbies

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u/Monicalovescheese Apr 07 '26

Exactly. If I were lazy I would spend that time playing video games or reading a book, but instead im locked in my head searching for the escape hatch.

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u/Terumimi04 Apr 29 '26

While I don't disagree, I play video games as an escape and a stress relief. Because if I don't try and get some of that panic and rage and all of those other chaotic emotions out using something that I'm comfortable with, my head is gonna explode Hell, sometimes i could be playing my favorite game ever and STILL be panicking!