laziness vs. depression

ygolo · 04-09-2008, 05:10 PM

How can you tell the difference between someone with dysthymia(or other mood disorder) and someone who is just truly lazy?

Evan · 04-09-2008, 05:12 PM

is there such a thing as someone who is just truly lazy?

it's always depression IMO.

Seanan · 04-09-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ygolo

How can you tell the difference between someone with dysthymia(or other mood disorder) and someone who is just truly lazy?

Having had a bout of clinical depression, I would say a noticable change in thinking. Depression thoughts are extremely negative, circular and hopeless.

Yes, one can be just plain lazy. If you throw on a game instead of taking care of business, you're procrastinating or lazy (different.) If depression is the problem, you wouldn't even be interested in playing a game.

Evan · 04-09-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanan

If you throw on a game instead of taking care of business, you're procrastinating or lazy (different.) If depression is the problem, you wouldn't even be interested in playing a game.

if you play a game instead of doing work, either the work isn't important (which wouldn't be laziness) OR it is important and you choose not to do it. if you aren't doing things that are important, you're sabotaging yourself. if you're sabotaging yourself, you're self-destructive.

if you have 2 options A and B, and A will make you happier in the long term than B, you should choose A. if you choose B, that's not laziness...that's depression.

Jennifer · 04-09-2008, 05:27 PM

Well, I think people sometimes use games to deal with depression. (others drink, some watch TV, others eat.) Many addictions are attempts at self-medication to avoid dealing with depression... or because the depression seems unresolvable.

Lazy: You're perfectly healthy and spirited, you just would rather do fun stuff than do your work. You just don't feel like doing your work.

Depressed: Even when you do your work and try your best, you feel like crap. You don't feel like doing much. And when you play games, you're often STILL feeling an undercurrent of boredom/depression/unhappiness.

Evan · 04-09-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennifer

Lazy: You're perfectly healthy and spirited, you just would rather do fun stuff than do your work. You just don't feel like doing your work.

if you get all of your work done on time, though, it doesn't matter. i wouldn't even call it lazy.

if you don't get it all done on time BECAUSE you do "fun stuff" rather than work, that means, at least subconsciously, that you CHOSE the course of action that would be worse for you. which isn't lazy, it's self destructive.

i don't believe in laziness.

Thursday · 04-09-2008, 05:33 PM

well........
now that we have defined it, or at least colored the outlines
how would you all suggest that one break the said spell of depression ?

Seanan · 04-09-2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvereX

well........
now that we have defined it, or at least colored the outlines
how would you all suggest that one break the said spell of depression ?

If its mild and you're not into the circular thinking or hopelessness, then cognitive readjustment works well. Whatever you are seeing in the negative, find the opposing positive thought. If you're too far into depression to find it, ask someone to help with that.

elfinchilde · 04-09-2008, 06:03 PM

in response to the OP:

because the lazy person would be happy; while the depressed person would be anergic.

they say depression is anger without the enthusiasm. There is negation there.

laziness, meanwhile, is just a general satisfaction with who and what you are right now, and no impetus to change anything.

edit: good post, seanan. Speaking as a depressive myself, it's about breaking the negative loop in your mind. either replace the thoughts, or force yourself to zone them out. It's mental control. Tough though, because it requires you to be conscious of which thoughts are depressing you, what your triggers are, and then to take active steps to replace them. it's like fighting what was genetically keyed into you. exhausting at times.

Ender · 04-09-2008, 06:27 PM

Lazyness = I can't be bothered.
Depression = Why bother?

Bother.. such a strange word when it's written. Seems almost wrong as a word some how.

04-09-2008, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
ygolo My termites win Join Date: Aug 2007 Type: intp Location: North of somewhere (so not the south pole) Posts: 3,675	laziness vs. depression How can you tell the difference between someone with dysthymia(or other mood disorder) and someone who is just truly lazy? __________________ sloan+ Rxua\|I\|; primary Inquisitive; R(82%)L(52%)U(62%)A(54%)I(86%) Enneagram-5; Socionics Type-ILI; Cog. Proc.:Ti>Ne>Fi?Ni>Te>Se?Si?Fe Accept the past. Live for the present. Look forward to the future. My Blog My External Blog Ramblings on YouTube My Audio Blog Learning QM 4 Begining Vlog of Learning QM Play AstroEmpires I linked some of your blogs; if you feel that is inappropriate, please let me know.

04-09-2008, 05:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jennifer crotunculous shnunk Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INtP Location: York, PA, USA Posts: 21,005	Well, I think people sometimes use games to deal with depression. (others drink, some watch TV, others eat.) Many addictions are attempts at self-medication to avoid dealing with depression... or because the depression seems unresolvable. Lazy: You're perfectly healthy and spirited, you just would rather do fun stuff than do your work. You just don't feel like doing your work. Depressed: Even when you do your work and try your best, you feel like crap. You don't feel like doing much. And when you play games, you're often STILL feeling an undercurrent of boredom/depression/unhappiness. __________________ Blog: Seasons of Mist

04-09-2008, 05:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Thursday Gaden Insui Join Date: Mar 2008 Type: INFP Location: Empath 22 Posts: 3,280	well........ now that we have defined it, or at least colored the outlines how would you all suggest that one break the said spell of depression ? __________________ A man's grave is by the roadside; He who asks questions, cannot avoid the answers African Proverb www.averydena.com

04-09-2008, 06:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
elfinchilde a white iris Join Date: Jan 2008 Type: type Posts: 1,814	in response to the OP: because the lazy person would be happy; while the depressed person would be anergic. they say depression is anger without the enthusiasm. There is negation there. laziness, meanwhile, is just a general satisfaction with who and what you are right now, and no impetus to change anything. edit: good post, seanan. Speaking as a depressive myself, it's about breaking the negative loop in your mind. either replace the thoughts, or force yourself to zone them out. It's mental control. Tough though, because it requires you to be conscious of which thoughts are depressing you, what your triggers are, and then to take active steps to replace them. it's like fighting what was genetically keyed into you. exhausting at times. __________________ You gave me hyacinths first a year ago; They called me the hyacinth girl. Yet when we came back, late, from the Hyacinth garden, Your arms full, and your hair wet, I could not Speak, and my eyes failed, I was neither Living nor dead, and I knew nothing, Looking into the heart of light, the silence. --T.S Eliot, The Wasteland

04-09-2008, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ender Large Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Type: INFP Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,618	Lazyness = I can't be bothered. Depression = Why bother? Bother.. such a strange word when it's written. Seems almost wrong as a word some how. __________________ Fe/Fi 36.9/37.7 Ne/Ni 34.9/25.8 Se/Si 25.7/19.5 Te/Ti 28.4/31.9 Type: 2w% sx/sp/so I don't want it, I just need it, to breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive. Never take life to seriously.. No one gets out alive in the end anyway.

04-09-2008, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Evan . Join Date: Nov 2007 Type: xNTP Location: Berkeley Posts: 3,531	is there such a thing as someone who is just truly lazy? it's always depression IMO.

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