Mistaking depression for laziness can be a harmful assumption

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The distinction between laziness and a mental health issue that leaves someone struggling to function can be lost on many people, says Ontario disability insurance lawyer Courtney Mulqueen.

“It has been argued that laziness is a myth. It is certainly often misunderstood,” says Mulqueen, principal lawyer of Mulqueen Disability Law Professional Corporation. “Laziness relates to someone’s behaviour. They have the ability to do something but choose not to. Mistaking signs of depression as malingering can be a harmful assumption.

“There is no doubt that people can be lazy. But what may appear to some to be malingering could actually be depression or some other type of mental illness,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “There are people who struggle with motivation due to mental illness. Rather than criticize them as malingerers, we must demonstrate a willingness to consider other possible causes to understand that lack of motivation.”

Licensed clinical social worker Laura D. Miller tells Psychology Today that “laziness is an overused criticism – a character judgment­­, really ­– that does nothing to help us understand why someone doesn’t exert the effort to do what they want to do or are expected to do.”

She says people who think of themselves as lazy should try to consider the behaviour as the symptom of a problem, rather than the problem itself. 

A range of issues

Miller lists a range of issues behind a lack of motivation, including a fear of failure or success or a fear of setting high expectations that need to be met in the future. Laziness can be a form of passive-aggressiveness. It can also be a sign of depression, she says.

“The more you understand about your motivation, the more you will be able to get out of your own way,” Miller tells Psychology Today. “Most of all, try to stop criticizing yourself as ‘lazy.’ People who see themselves as lazy often feel trapped in their behaviour. Addressing the underlying issues can be incredibly liberating.”

Mulqueen says how laziness is defined is subjective but some characteristics associated with it are identical to symptoms of depression and other types of mental health conditions.

“A highly motivated person may consider someone who takes a mental health day to binge-watch TV to be a slacker. However, there is nothing wrong with taking time off to re-energize. Think of it as self-care,” she says. “That is different from someone suffering from chronic fatigue or depression who finds it difficult to get through the day and may even need to stop working altogether. But that can be misidentified as being lazy.” 

People may equate depression with laziness due to symptoms such as low energy, Medical News Today (MNT) states. 

“However, they differ in how they manifest and how and whether doctors can treat them,” the magazine explains. “A person with depression may appear as though they are acting lazy, but their symptoms are a result of a serious mood disorder, which can vary in severity.”

MNT reports that “people anecdotally report that laziness is a state of inactivity due to unwillingness to perform certain tasks” and typically results from a temporary mental state, personal choice or a personality trait.

Some signs common to depression

Laziness may have some signs common to depression, but that does not mean someone who is depressed is lazy, Mulqueen says.

She points to the National Institute of Mental Health, which states that someone who has “been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms, most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks,” is depressed:

• persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood;
• feelings of hopelessness or pessimism;
• feelings of irritability, frustration or restlessness;
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness;
• loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities;
• fatigue, lack of energy or feeling slowed down;
• difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions;
• difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning or oversleeping;
• changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes;
• physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not go away with treatment; and
• thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts.

Mulqueen says most of her clients show signs of depression and some have trouble coming to terms with it.

‘Mentally and physically exhausted’

“They are usually mentally and physically exhausted,” she says. “However, some Type-A personalities tell me they feel guilty because they feel like they are being lazy. There can be this perception that if you are not working to your maximum at all times, then you must be a malingerer.”

Because the signs of depression can be mistaken for laziness, insurance companies may have a jaundiced view of the veracity of a long-term disability (LTD) claim, Mulqueen says.

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“There can be a misconception that these people want to kick up their feet and not return to work. That they are lazy, they are unmotivated,” she explains. “But a lack of energy or fatigue caused by depression can be the reason why they can’t get their forms in on time, or why they can’t get out to see the doctor.  It is one more thing on their list and they are often overwhelmed to the point of being paralysed to do anything, even if it is something that would help them.”

Mulqueen also notes that being a productive worker is highly valued in many cultures.

“The result can be a person who struggles with even the idea of making a long-term disability claim because they feel shame and guilt for not being able to work,” she says. “They may be physically or mentally unable to do their job, but they don’t want to be viewed as being lazy.”

Failing to recognize your limitations and seeking help can exacerbate a mental health issue, Mulqueen says.

Did not want to be perceived as lazy

“I recently represented a high-level strategic technology analyst. His employer kept giving him more and more work and he was not saying no because he didn’t want to be perceived as lazy,” she says. “In the end, it caused him to burn out and forced him to stop working to recover.”

Mulqueen says people and insurance companies need to take a step back and carefully consider if what they perceive is someone being lazy or if that person is suffering from a serious mental health condition.

“Psychologically, it can be difficult for people to get their heads around the fact that someone is not malingering, that they were actually unwell and that is the reason they are struggling,” she says.

“It is also not unusual for someone who is suffering to wonder if they are simply being lazy.

“However, putting on a brave face can be a mistake,” says Mulqueen. “Recognizing that laziness is different from depression can lead to someone getting the diagnosis they need and the help they deserve.”