Clutter is linked to chronic stress, anxiety and depression: women who live in cluttered homes were found to have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone,
A 2016 study found a strong connection between clutter and depression among people who experience hoarding. But how does clutter contribute to depression, how does depression lead to clutter, and can messiness perpetuate depressive episodes? ## Why do some people with depression have messy spaces? Depression can make it hard to concentrate, take care of yourself, and get things done. [...] UCLA researchers have also found a link between household clutter and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Excess cortisol is linked with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. ## Can cleaning your space help your mood? If depression and untidiness are connected, can tidying up things make you feel better? [...] Studies suggest that feeling surrounded by chaos can affect mental health. A 2016 study says that clutter harms overall well-being. Research from 2020 found high levels of household disorganization in families led to poor cognitive, behavioral, and communication outcomes among adults and children. And a 2017 study found that an accumulation of clutter due to procrastination can lead to a large decrease in levels of life satisfaction.
Prior research showed that women who described their homes as cluttered were more likely to be depressed than those who found their homes to be restful and restorative. The women with less organized living spaces also had higher levels of cortisol, the hormone that produces feelings of stress, tension, and anxiety. [...] However, for some people this can be a catch-22. “A messy house can be a bit of a self-fulfilling problem for people struggling with depression. The symptoms make it challenging to care for your space, but an unkempt home can prompt depression symptoms,” says Mairanz. [...] Another prior study yielded similar findings. Researchers who conducted a survey of American and Canadian adults found that clutter had a negative impact on their psychological well-being.
A neat, tidy house feels inviting, both for the people who live there as well as guests. A cluttered home may feel the opposite. But shutting people out can take a toll on relationships and make you feel sad and lonely. That could be one reason a hoarding disorder tends to overlap with depression and anxiety disorders. 7 / 12 ## Slips and Falls [...] When everything is in order, you know exactly where you put your glasses and keys so you can grab them and go on with your day. That saves time and a whole lot of hassle. In one study, women who saw their homes as cluttered had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day, while those who described their abode as a well-organized, restful space had lower levels. 3 / 12 ## It Doesn’t Get Easier [...] ## Up All Night People who have a hoarding disorder also seem more likely to have insomnia. The link between the two isn’t totally clear, but sleep is important for clear thinking and decision-making. If you're sleep-deprived, you might be more likely to make questionable decisions, including ones that involve getting more stuff you really don't need. Share Print IMAGES PROVIDED BY: 1) AG-ChapelHill / Getty Images 2) rachel-nickerso / unsplash 3) Rawpixel / Getty Images
Living in a cluttered environment can add to your stress and anxiety, which are already heightened when you're dealing with depression.
Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, for instance, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered. A chronically cluttered home environment can lead to a constant low-grade fight or flight response, taxing our resources designed for survival. [...] Tidy house, happy life? Participants in Marie Kondo’s Netflix show Tidying Up report that her decluttering method changes their lives for the better. Indeed, her first book was called The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Research does indeed show cluttered home environments negatively influence the perception of our homes, and ultimately our satisfaction of life. The study authors note the strong effect is because we define ‘home’ not just as a place to live, but as: [...] And surprisingly, it doesn’t go away when we finally get to bed. People who sleep in cluttered rooms are more likely to have sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and being disturbed during the night. Clutter-hero.jpg People have been found to produce more stress hormones when they are surrounded by clutter. Could clutter really make us overweight? Multiple studies have found a link between clutter and poor eating choices.
A messy home can also contribute to feelings of overwhelm, stressand shame, making you feel worse than you already do. And while decluttering will not cure your depression, it can give you a mood boost. If you are struggling and it feels impossible to keep your surroundings tidy, here are a few tips on how to clean strategically to optimize your energy and your space. ## Focus on function, not aesthetics [...] NYS Crisis Line 1-844-863-9314 # ‘Depression Rooms’ and ‘Doom Piles’: Why Clearing the Clutter Can Feel Impossible ‘Depression Rooms’ and ‘Doom Piles’: Why Clearing the Clutter Can Feel Impossible ## The link between messiness and mental health is real. These low-lift tips for keeping a clean-enough home will help. NYTimes, By Dana G. Smith [...] The term “depression room” is relatively new, popularized by videos on TikTok and YouTube that have accrued hundreds of millions of views. But experts have long recognized the link between messiness and mental health. The clutter that can accumulate when people are experiencing a mental health crisis is neither a form of hoarding, nor the result of laziness. The culprit is extreme fatigue, said N. Brad Schmidt, a distinguished research professor of psychology at Florida State University.
Research has shown cluttered homes can chip away at your mood and self-esteem, contributing to feelings of shame or inadequacy about not being “on top of things.” You might wonder if something is wrong with you because you can’t seem to get organized, which can hurt your confidence and create a negative self-image. This emotional exhaustion can further decrease your motivation to tidy up, reinforcing the clutter/stress cycle we discussed earlier. [...] If you’re constantly multitasking or exhausted, you might not have the energy or focus to clean up regularly. Mental health challenges, like depression, can also cause a lack of motivation to organize, leading to messy spaces. In short, a cluttered mind can create a cluttered environment. [...] Studies have found people living in cluttered homes are more likely to experience insomnia and poor sleep quality. Stress and mental stimulation from clutter can keep the brain alert and uneasy, even at night. It’s hard for your mind to power down when it’s bombarded by signs of chaos or by racing thoughts about things you haven't done yet.