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My loved one sleeps all day and has no motivation. Is that the illness?

The short answer

Long sleep and low motivation can come from the illness itself, from medication, or from depression. They are often mistaken for laziness.

Once the care team knows what's driving it, there are often ways to help.

Last reviewed: Oct 23, 2026

What is the key fact?

In a 2010 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry of 1,452 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with antipsychotics, 57.6% had at least one negative symptom.

What are you carrying?

You may be watching the day slip by and wondering what this means for your loved one's future. Many families feel that way.

What the research shows

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes negative symptoms of schizophrenia as including loss of motivation, loss of interest or enjoyment in daily activities, and withdrawal from social life. NIMH also notes these symptoms are sometimes mistaken for depression.

Depression can look similar. NIMH lists loss of interest, fatigue, and oversleeping among its symptoms.

Medication can play a part too. MedlinePlus notes, for example, that the antipsychotic olanzapine may make people drowsy. See what side effects to watch for.

What happens next?

  1. Keep a two-week log. Note bedtime, wake time, naps, medication times, and activities. This helps the care team spot patterns, like sleepiness that follows a dose.
  2. Share what you notice with the prescriber. Ask whether sleepiness could be a side effect and whether a change in dose or timing might help. Federal privacy rules do not stop providers from listening to family members.
  3. Ask about depression. Ask the care team whether depression could be part of the picture, since it can be treated on its own.
  4. Ask about help for negative symptoms. Ask whether therapy, skills groups, or supported employment programs are available. These focus on rebuilding daily routines a step at a time.
  5. Watch for hopelessness. If low energy comes with talk of hopelessness or being a burden, see suicide warning signs and what to do.

What helped other families

From the community. Family members who've been through this shared what helped them. These are their experiences, not professional advice.

  • One parent noticed their child grew very sleepy a few hours after each morning dose. They planned to bring the timing question to the psychiatrist.
  • Another parent said finding the right medication took trial and error. Telling the psychiatrist exactly how each change affected their loved one helped.

Which programs are near you?

Programs where you live: Illinois | Wisconsin | DC | Maryland | Virginia | California.

One next step, if it helps: If you're trying to tell what's the illness, what's the medication, and what's something else, try The Session. It is one hour with Salleha, our founder, plus one follow-up, for $249.

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This is general information, not legal or medical advice.

FAQ

Q: What are negative symptoms?

According to NIMH, negative symptoms of schizophrenia include loss of motivation, loss of interest or enjoyment in daily activities, and withdrawal from social life. They are part of the illness.

Q: Can medication make someone sleep all day?

Some psychiatric medications can cause drowsiness. The prescriber may be able to help by adjusting the dose or the time of day it is taken.

Q: How can I tell negative symptoms from depression?

They can look alike, and NIMH notes negative symptoms are sometimes mistaken for depression. A care team can sort this out, and a log of sleep, mood, and activities helps.

Sources

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