Inattention vs Depression Fatigue: How to Tell the Difference

Both ADHD and depression can cause you to feel sluggish, scattered, or mentally drained. But they come from different roots, and need different solutions.

ADHD Fatigue: A Temporary Fog

People with ADHD often experience mental exhaustion after long periods of focus or overstimulation. This “executive function fatigue” might look like:

• Zoning out mid-task
  
  
• Sudden dips in energy
  
  
• Avoiding tasks that require intense focus, planning, or decision-making
  
  

The key? This fatigue often improves with rest or change of stimulation. A nap, short break, or switching to a preferred task may restore some focus or energy.

Depression Fatigue: A Deeper Weight

Depression-related fatigue doesn’t lift easily. It can be present even after a full night’s sleep and feels more like:

• Chronic tiredness or low energy
  
  
• No interest in usual activities
  
  
• Feeling heavy or emotionally numb
  
  

Unlike ADHD, depression fatigue is not tied to external stimulation. It also tends to be accompanied by hopelessness, sadness, or low self-worth.

Listen to Your Patterns

If you regularly bounce back with stimulation or rest, ADHD might be the main driver. But if your energy stays low for weeks, and joy disappears, depression could be a larger factor.

Want to go deeper into the signs of ADHD-related depression? Read Flow Neuroscience’s full breakdown.