ADHD and Motivation Issues

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsADHD and MotivationWhy It’s Not LazinessImportance of TreatmentHow to Improve

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

ADHD and Motivation

Why It’s Not Laziness

Importance of Treatment

How to Improve

Close

Immobility, sluggishness, or “ADHD paralysis” that can occur in people with ADHD are often reflective ofexecutive function impairments.Understanding these impairments is important to correcting common misperceptions that exist and involves learning how ADHD can affect motivation, as well as how this can often be wrongly interpreted.

Living With ADHD: Strategies for Well-Being

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How ADHD Impacts Motivation

Executive function deficits in ADHDcan affect a person’s ability to begin, organize, and sustain effort on a task or project. They may want to get started but are unable to make forward progress in any manner, which can impact their motivational levels.

Understanding Mental Fatigue in ADHD

ADHD Paralysis

While people with ADHD are often good at making quick decisions, they may struggle when working on tasks that requireorganizing information.They sometimes feel bogged down with large amounts of data, which can be overwhelming and result in ADHD paralysis.

This paralysis can make it seem impossible to figure out how and where to begin. And even if they are able to begin a task, a person with ADHD may have difficulty staying alert and persisting in this effort. They may know what they need to do to get things completed but, as hard as they try, they just can’t.

ADHD paralysiscan lead to poor time management, trouble prioritizing tasks, lack of clarity and focus, and rapid mood or emotional changes.

ADHD Paralysis: How to Overcome It

Boredom and Motivation

Boredom can create issues for children and adults with ADHD.Maintaining focus on a boring taskmay seem out of the question as their attention wanders to more interesting activities and thoughts.

After repeated frustrations, the child or adult with ADHD can begin to feel less motivated.They might find it difficult to get excited and hopeful about something, only to crash down again and again.

RecapBecause ADHD causes difficulties with starting, organizing, and sticking with tasks, people with this condition often end up feeling bored or frustrated. Eventually, these patterns begin to affect motivation levels as well.

Recap

Because ADHD causes difficulties with starting, organizing, and sticking with tasks, people with this condition often end up feeling bored or frustrated. Eventually, these patterns begin to affect motivation levels as well.

Link Between ADHD and Boredom

Do I Have ADHD or Am I Lazy?

If you have trouble concentrating or finding the energy to get things done, you might wonder if it could be due to ADHD or something else. You may even begin to question if laziness plays a factor in how you feel. If this is a concern for you, a good next step is to talk to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional.

While ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood—often between the ages of 4 and 7, depending on condition severity—it isn’t always.Getting diagnosed with ADHD in adulthooddoes occur, even if it is outside of the norm.

ADHD Symptoms Are Often Misunderstood

Because people who have ADHD can struggle with staying focused and completing tasks, others often incorrectly label the behavior as laziness.Unfortunately, people with this condition sometimes internalize these labels, particularly if they have not been accurately diagnosed.

Other Factors That Affect Motivation

If you don’t have ADHD and are experiencing alack of motivation, there may be other factors that are making it difficult for you to be focused and productive:

If you are having a difficult time staying motivated, it may be worth talking to a doctor or therapist for further evaluation and advice.

Importance of ADHD Treatment

It’s important to actively engage intreatment for ADHDif you’re having motivation issues or other ADHD symptoms. Connect with a medical professional who is experienced in treating ADHD, and openly and regularly communicate with them about your symptoms.

ADHD treatment depends a great deal on your symptoms and individual needs. In many cases, it may include medications and behavioral interventions:

How to Improve Motivation When You Have ADHD

Finding ways to manage symptoms of ADHD can help you feel more motivated and productive. The next time you are finding it difficult to get started or stay on task, try some of these ideas:

Interventions focused on improving executive functioning can also be helpful for improving motivation and productivity. Reward charts, daily planners, and daily checklists are all strategies that can help children and adults with ADHD better plan, organize, and carry out tasks.

Summary

ADHD can have an impact on your motivation, making it more difficult to initiate and maintain tasks. If you have ADHD apathy, it can be helpful to find strategies that will help you get started and sustain focus on a task that is overwhelming or that you find boring.

If you’re worried that your lack of motivation might be related to ADHD, consider talking to a professional. They can help determine what factors might be affecting your motivation levels, whether it’s ADHD or something else, and suggest solutions to feel more motivated once again.

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Roselló B, Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Mira Á, Martinez-Raga J, Miranda A.Empirical examination of executive functioning, ADHD associated behaviors, and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD, remittent ADHD, and without ADHD.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:134. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02542-yMorsink S, Van der Oord S, Antrop I, Danckaerts M, Scheres A.Studying motivation in ADHD: The role of internal motives and the relevance of self determination theory.J Atten Disord. 2022;26(8):1139-1158. doi:10.1177/10870547211050948Kofler MJ, Sarver DE, Harmon SL, et al.Working memory and organizational skills problems in ADHD.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;59(1):57-67. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12773Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis is real: Here are 8 ways to overcome it.Oram R, Rogers M, DuPaul G.Explaining the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and amotivation in the undergraduate population: The role of basic psychological need frustration.Canadian J School Psychol. 2019;35(2):139-153. doi:10.1177/0829573519880063National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics: Facts about ADHD.Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Giedd JN.The enigma of neuroimaging in ADHD.Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(7):503-504. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19050540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What is ADHD?Grahek I, Shenhav A, Musslick S, Krebs RM, Koster E.Motivation and cognitive control in depression.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;102:371-381. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011McGough JJ.Treatment controversies in adult ADHD.AJP.2016;173(10):960-966. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15091207Daley D, van der Oord S, Ferrin M, et al.Behavioral interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across multiple outcome domains.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;53(4):835-847.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.05.013

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Roselló B, Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Mira Á, Martinez-Raga J, Miranda A.Empirical examination of executive functioning, ADHD associated behaviors, and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD, remittent ADHD, and without ADHD.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:134. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02542-yMorsink S, Van der Oord S, Antrop I, Danckaerts M, Scheres A.Studying motivation in ADHD: The role of internal motives and the relevance of self determination theory.J Atten Disord. 2022;26(8):1139-1158. doi:10.1177/10870547211050948Kofler MJ, Sarver DE, Harmon SL, et al.Working memory and organizational skills problems in ADHD.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;59(1):57-67. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12773Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis is real: Here are 8 ways to overcome it.Oram R, Rogers M, DuPaul G.Explaining the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and amotivation in the undergraduate population: The role of basic psychological need frustration.Canadian J School Psychol. 2019;35(2):139-153. doi:10.1177/0829573519880063National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics: Facts about ADHD.Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Giedd JN.The enigma of neuroimaging in ADHD.Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(7):503-504. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19050540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What is ADHD?Grahek I, Shenhav A, Musslick S, Krebs RM, Koster E.Motivation and cognitive control in depression.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;102:371-381. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011McGough JJ.Treatment controversies in adult ADHD.AJP.2016;173(10):960-966. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15091207Daley D, van der Oord S, Ferrin M, et al.Behavioral interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across multiple outcome domains.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;53(4):835-847.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.05.013

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Roselló B, Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Mira Á, Martinez-Raga J, Miranda A.Empirical examination of executive functioning, ADHD associated behaviors, and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD, remittent ADHD, and without ADHD.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:134. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02542-yMorsink S, Van der Oord S, Antrop I, Danckaerts M, Scheres A.Studying motivation in ADHD: The role of internal motives and the relevance of self determination theory.J Atten Disord. 2022;26(8):1139-1158. doi:10.1177/10870547211050948Kofler MJ, Sarver DE, Harmon SL, et al.Working memory and organizational skills problems in ADHD.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;59(1):57-67. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12773Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis is real: Here are 8 ways to overcome it.Oram R, Rogers M, DuPaul G.Explaining the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and amotivation in the undergraduate population: The role of basic psychological need frustration.Canadian J School Psychol. 2019;35(2):139-153. doi:10.1177/0829573519880063National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics: Facts about ADHD.Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Giedd JN.The enigma of neuroimaging in ADHD.Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(7):503-504. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19050540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What is ADHD?Grahek I, Shenhav A, Musslick S, Krebs RM, Koster E.Motivation and cognitive control in depression.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;102:371-381. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011McGough JJ.Treatment controversies in adult ADHD.AJP.2016;173(10):960-966. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15091207Daley D, van der Oord S, Ferrin M, et al.Behavioral interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across multiple outcome domains.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;53(4):835-847.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.05.013

National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Roselló B, Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Mira Á, Martinez-Raga J, Miranda A.Empirical examination of executive functioning, ADHD associated behaviors, and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD, remittent ADHD, and without ADHD.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:134. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02542-y

Morsink S, Van der Oord S, Antrop I, Danckaerts M, Scheres A.Studying motivation in ADHD: The role of internal motives and the relevance of self determination theory.J Atten Disord. 2022;26(8):1139-1158. doi:10.1177/10870547211050948

Kofler MJ, Sarver DE, Harmon SL, et al.Working memory and organizational skills problems in ADHD.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;59(1):57-67. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12773

Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis is real: Here are 8 ways to overcome it.

Oram R, Rogers M, DuPaul G.Explaining the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and amotivation in the undergraduate population: The role of basic psychological need frustration.Canadian J School Psychol. 2019;35(2):139-153. doi:10.1177/0829573519880063

National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics: Facts about ADHD.

Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596

Giedd JN.The enigma of neuroimaging in ADHD.Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(7):503-504. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19050540

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What is ADHD?

Grahek I, Shenhav A, Musslick S, Krebs RM, Koster E.Motivation and cognitive control in depression.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;102:371-381. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011

McGough JJ.Treatment controversies in adult ADHD.AJP.2016;173(10):960-966. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15091207

Daley D, van der Oord S, Ferrin M, et al.Behavioral interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across multiple outcome domains.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;53(4):835-847.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.05.013

Kendra Cherry, MSEd

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