Lazy or depressed quiz

In this blog we present you a quiz to find out whether you are lazy or depressed. 

We will also discuss some of the telltale signs that show the difference between laziness and depression, as well as provide you with some tips on how you can cope if you have depression.

Lazy or Depressed Quiz

Here is a Lazy or Depressed quiz that you can use to figure out if you are just lazy or if you have an underlying condition such as depression that is masking as lazy.

When did you first become aware that you were feeling lower than normal,more often than normal?

• I’m not really feeling lower than normal,more often than normal
• Quite a few months ago
• Not that long,may be a month or two ago

How lazy do you feel during a typical day?

• I’m lazy every single second of the day
• Most of the day I experience lazy feelings

Have family or close friends commented on your changing moods?

• A few times recently
• Once or twice
• Not recently

Have you noticed a change in your eating habits or your weight?

• Both have changed a little
• My appetite has changed a little, but I haven’t noticed a weight change
• No,my eating habits and weight are normal for me

Are you having trouble sleeping?

• Some nights i can’t sleep,but they’re infrequent
• Very much. i toss and turn all night sometimes
• No,not right now

Do you frequently feel helplessness,hopelessness and self-loathing?

• No,not frequently
• Definitely right now
• Recently I’ve been feeling helpless and hopeless.

Is your temper quicker than normal?

• Not too much,just a little sometimes
• Yes,I get angry a lot more quickly and I have little to no patience
• Not at all

Do you feel literally tired of life?

• Yes,I do
• Sometimes,I do
• Yes to be honest,I just want to die

Have you ever tried any form of self-harm?

• I’ve only tried one
• I’ve tried a few things,yes
• I’ve never tried

Finally,what do you think you are?

• To be honest,I don’t think I’m lazy at all
• Clinically depressed

This quiz is not an official diagnosis for depression. To get a diagnosis and treatment, you will have to speak to a medical or mental health professional for it.

Are you Lazy or Depressed? 11 ways to know the difference

Here are some of the main differences between laziness and depression:

Pain

When you are lazy you do not experience pain. However, when you are depressed you might experience not just emotional pain, but physical pain as well.

Depression can take on atypical forms, which often manifest at the somatic level- this means in terms of physical health you might experience headaches and nausea to back pain and even digestive problems.

Anger and bitterness

If you have been noticing that you are angry and irritated for most days then not or if you feel triggered into an angry outburst even due to small inconveniences- it is impossible that you’re experiencing emotional distress related to depression. 

However, these anger outbursts have to be more intense than appropriate with respect to the event that triggers it. 

Changes in weight

When you’re dealing with depression, you might notice a lot of changes in yoru weight- from weight gain to weight loss.

You may also notice that you are eating a lot more or a lot less compared to when you were healthier. 

Substance abuse

It is possible that you might have depression if you are suddenly engaging in a lot of substance use.

Alcohol and substance abuse can have a temporary soothing effect, keeping you disconnected from the pain you feel due to depression. 

Numbness

Another difference between laziness and depression is that when one is depressed they feel especially numb and are unable to feel joy or sadness. 

If you notice that this feeling of numbness has surfaced and you have no interest in anything in your life- even activities that you once loved, it is possible that you are depressed. 

Daydreaming

It is normal to daydream, however, if you have been engaging in day dreaming so much that it is impacting your day to day life, your ability to concentrate, work, study, and tend to your relationships, it is possible that you have depression.   

Indecision

If you are depressed it is likely that you are also indecisive about various options given to you because you either lack the confidence to trust your own judgement due to poor self esteem.

Lack of grooming and hygiene

Another difference is that even if one is lazy, they might take care to groom themselves and maintain good hygiene; however, if one is depressed they are usually unmotivated to do so and it is noticeable by others. .

Everyone worries about you

If you are depressed, it would have been noticeable by others since it will spread to various areas of your life and not just one area of your life. 

If you are depressed, your friends, family, coworkers, and bosses will notice it and bring it to your attention; however, if you are lazy it will most probably affect a certain part of your life. 

Lack of motivation

Another important difference between laziness and depression is the lack of motivation. However when someone is depressed, they might want to do something or they realise that they have to do certain things out there that are physically and mentally incapable of tending to their responsibilities even if they try. Nothing motivates them to get done. 

Negative thoughts

If you are depressed it is likely that you are striggling with engaitve throughs of hopelessness, despair, wohtlessness, and even suicidal intent. 

However, if you are lazy, it is unlikely that you will be struggling with thoughts other than a sense of guilt and disdain for work. 

How to cope and manage if you are depressed?

Mental health is a crucial part of a person’s life as any disruption in their mental well-being can impact their daily lives, their relationships with other people, and also their occupational progress as well. 

Interestingly, this relationship between mental health and the various factors such as relationships, jobs, day to day activities is bi-directional meaning that such factors can be affected by our mental health and at the same time, these factors can affect our mental health. 

A few things that we can do on an individual’s level to manage and maintain our mental health include:

Seek out therapeutic care

Engaging with a therapist, being diligent with your medication, and making the changes you need to make to get better will determine your prognosis.

If the cost of therapy is becoming a burden consider talking to your therapist for a sliding scale option or the possibility of a pro bono case, and if that is not possible ask your therapist to refer you to someone who can take on your case at a much lower rate or for free. 

Your therapist will help you understand what is happening to you, might prescribe you medication if needed, and can help you tap into your own strengths that can help you adapt to challenges, changes, and overcome them.

Join a support group

Another thing you can do for yourself is to join a support group of people struggling with depression so that you can experience emotional support first hand within these communities and over time learn how to manage your challenges by learning from each other. 

It is possible that people with depression can also struggle with a sense of worthlessness, a feeling that you have nothing of value to offer. By joining a group that is open, empathetic, and growing towards healing, you and your experiences can be an excellent sense of support to someone else who is also in their early part of their journey. 

Actively seek positive experiences

According to positive psychology research, positive feelings are an important aspect of well-being. For a person to engage in activities and other experiences that help them feel positive feelings such as love, belongingness, achievement, and a sense of hope is important.

This could be as simple as watching a movie, petting your cat, taking your dog for a walk, eating ice cream. Do what makes you happy without judging yourself for these choices.

Spend time with loved ones

Once you feel like you are up for it, take time to seek out support from your friends, family, and loved ones. Positive relationships are also important for wellbeing. 

Talk to them about how you are feeling- let them know that you feel alone or lonely. Let them provide you company when you do not want to be alone- take effort to reach out to them. 

Allow yourself to feel loved by people who genuinely care for you and seek out new meaning from these positive and healthy relationships. 

Focus on resting and recovering

The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to rest and focus on recovering, do not rush yourself to get better so that you can go back to school or go back to work. 

Instead, take time to eat well, rest well, exercise, give time to yourself to think and engage in things you used to like doing before you started working- be it reading comics, or playing video games, or walking your pet.

Take effort to engage in things that you love doing, explore new activities if you feel like it and explore the world around you. 

Conclusion

In this blog we presented you with a quiz to find out whether you are lazy or depressed. 

We also discussed some of the telltale signs that show the difference between laziness and depression, as well as provide you with some tips on how you can cope if you have depression.

FAQ related to lazy or depression quiz

Is laziness the same as depression?

No, laziness and depression are two different things.

Laziness is a matter of choice and it is a momentary state whereas depression is a psychological disorder where an individual does not choose to not act or not engage in their life but rather it is because they can’t. 

Does having depression make you lazy?

Depression does not make you lazy because laziness is a choice rather, depression can cause fatigue, indifference, and lack of drive which can make you appear lazy. 

Why do I feel so lazy and unmotivated?

There are plenty of reasons why you might be feeling lazy and unmotivated:

• Chronic Stress
• Being overwhelmed
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Uncertainty

References

Margarita Tartakovsky. Laziness and Depression: Why Some People Get Them Mixed Up. PsychCentral. Retrieved on 3rd April 2022. https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression-and-laziness

Alexander Draghici. Am I Depressed or Lazy? 10 Ways to Know the Difference. Happier Human. Retrieved on 3rd April 2022. https://www.happierhuman.com/depressed-lazy/