Is Your Messy House Making You Feel More Anxious? Here's How Your Home Can Affect Your Mental Heath

Most folks long to reach home after a long day to kick back and relax. However, not everyone may agree with that sentiment. Especially if the usual state of your house is somewhere between cluttered and chaotic, the feeling of anticipation to reach there is probably something you do not experience. While the sight of an overflowing sink of dirty dishes, empty dog food bowls, piles of unwashed laundry and fur on every surface may not affect everyone, it can have detrimental effects on some.

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A study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin has found a link between the state of homes and individual moods. Findings suggest that women who lived in cluttered homes experienced higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, as well as higher likelihood of depressive symptoms. In comparison, women who lived in decluttered homes had decreased depressive mood throughout the day. The study found that men were largely unaffected throughout.

The link between house clutter and anxiety being determined makes one thing very clear; the physical state of a home can affect ones emotional mood to a great extent. A messy space can signal lack of control to the human brain and can make one feel discomfort, guilt and shame. Clutter can affect one's productivity and creativity as well. This, in turn, can spike feelings of anxiety and depression, which can send one's mental health on a downturn.

It may be easier to say than do but decluttering the space is a mostly simple way to nip the issue at its bud. A clean home gives the mind a sense of control over the space an individual resides in. One won't have to feel overwhelmed over the worry of dirty surfaces and dusty floors. In turn, it frees up the mental capacity to make decisions, think clearly and work productively at home.

Source: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

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