How do I know if I'm depressed or just lazy or unmotivated?

if you find yourself constantly avoiding going out with other people, having trouble getting up in the morning, and feeling constantly sad and putting yourself down or procrastinating

depression you usually want to do it. you have a desire to do it deep down but you can't make yourself do it.

To question your motives for laziness is also to aknowledge that you know you are acting with little motivation. Lazy people are content with being lazy and more then likely don't wonder why they are lazy. If you are questioning the possibility of having more motivation but are emotionally unable to move forward from your lazy state then depression is more then likely present.

Depression has its own symptoms, if you find yourself always being negative and tired. If you have low self esteem and give yourself harsh self criticism, that usually marks depression of some sorts. Just know that whatever it is, whether it be general laziness or actually depression...it will get better. So don'y worry and I hope you find someone that can help you! :)

If when you fall asleep and have more dreams of anything that you remember parts of then it's depression. When you are depressed you have more dreams and many other signs like that

If it's depression, you'll find a general disinterest in everything - including things you enjoy. You might also feel sad, worthless, or like everything is pointless. If you're just lazy, it will probably only apply to things you aren't really interested in doing.

Do you want to get up and do things, but can't because you just can't find it within yourself to move? I think that's a pretty major difference. The desire to do things, but being too depressed to do them. I think lazy people generally hate having to do things, whereas depressed people want to, but can't, and end up hating on themselves.

Depressed when one sleeps all day, doesn't take care of ones hygiene or responsibilities, loses touch with friends. Laziness when you can go party, do everything else but take care of your responsibilities.

The word lazy carries quite a lot of negative social stigma nowadays. Perhaps first we should question why laziness is perceived so negatively? Ought not relaxing - a mentally and physically restorative process - be a way of life? It is scientifically proven and a topic that is no stranger to philosophical research that slowing down, letting go and allowing oneself to rest as often as needed is in fact an excellent modality that promotes positive elevations of mental and physical health. Taking science a step further - the Brain Reward Cascade; it's a real thing! The neurotransmitter Dopamine (DA), a chemical messenger primarily affecting the brain and nervous systems, plays a very significant role in encouraging behaviour that has a delayed onset of gratification, which is the function of the Brain Reward Cascade. Low dopamine activity, whether influenced by genetics, nutrition, environment, or attitude, will inevitably result in a significant reduction in pleasure associations with tasks requiring sustained effort or optimism. Depression is understood pathologically, nuerologically, microbiologically. There is no sense in inferring guilt, shame or self-judgement from taking some time out while you are imbalanced and unwell. Just remember that you should really spend that time evaluating what your core values really are and developing actionable steps to implementing suitable changes into your life. It IS possible; it just requires changing your outlook and sacrificing aspects of your life that hold no true significance when it really boils down to it.