'Rooms of Depression' and 'Piles of Doom': Why Cleaning Up the Mess Can Seem Impossible - NAMI Columbia County, NY (2023)

FAQs

Why clearing the clutter can seem impossible? ›

The culprit is extreme fatigue, said N. Brad Schmidt, a distinguished research professor of psychology at Florida State University. People are “oftentimes just so mentally and physically exhausted that they don't feel like they have the energy to take care of themselves or their surroundings,” Dr. Schmidt said.

Often, when depressed, you might see everything as overwhelming. Cleaning your room can feel like a daunting and impossible task. Feeling overwhelmed is a symptom of depression, which can make any activity feel like it is “too much.”

A messy room can create stress and other negative emotions, leading to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Research shows that living in a chaotic environment affects our emotions, behavior, relationships, and even our eating habits.

The doom in 'doom pile' is actually an acronym. It stands for “Didn't Organize, Only Moved” – an experience many people with ADHD can apparently relate to when they try to organize their spaces, whether physical or virtual.

In some instances, the state of your room might be linked to a psychiatric condition. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder, for example, may become so preoccupied with keeping things germ-free or symmetrical that they spend excessive amounts of time sterilizing or organizing their living space.

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.

Sometimes, living with anxiety, depression, or stress brings on clutter. If you're overwhelmed by sadness or other negative emotions, you might not have the energy to clean and organize. Or, you might use shopping or accumulating things to manage your feelings.

Mental Health

Researchers have found that a cluttered home contributes to stress, anxiety, and poor concentration. When a person's home is dirty, they may begin to feel overwhelmed, out of control, and anxious. Having a clean, accessible home can also make daily routines much easier.

Psychology says that messiness can indeed be a sign that a person is having trouble. Just like someone who is suffering from OCD and has to control everything, being a messy person might show that they are dealing with depression or some other mental illness.

What is messy house syndrome? ›

Abstract. The messy house syndrome (Diogenes syndrome) is present when, owing to a disordering of the personality structure, a person is unable to keep order, for example, in the household or his finances. Such persons are also referred to as "messies".

People with depression can often find themselves living in messy spaces. This is because feelings of hopelessness, low energy, and lack of motivation can make it hard to keep on top of everyday tasks, such as tidying.

This is why many people with ADHD will compensate by using visual cues. They make lists or put the things they need somewhere where they can see them so they won't forget. Hence, tending to keep things in piles on tables and chairs rather than inside drawers and closets.

A Doom Box is a special container that helps people keep track of their things. It's beneficial for people with ADHD who have trouble staying organized. You put things you don't want to lose or forget about, like your keys or school supplies, in the Doom Box, so you know where they are when you need them.

You may find your messiness is a result of your depression, lack of self-love, low energy, feelings of stress, or anxiety. Messiness can also be a sign of an underlying problem such as ADHD or bipolar disorder.

Why do I feel overwhelmed when my house is messy? ›

A cluttered, untidy environment actually generates more of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain. So, if your home and living spaces are clutter-free, tidy and clean then you can assume you'll generate less cortisol and reap the rewards mentally.

Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.

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.

People who have suffered an emotional trauma or a brain injury often find housecleaning an insurmountable task. Attention deficit disorder, depression, chronic pain and grief can prevent people from getting organized or lead to a buildup of clutter.

Compulsive decluttering is a type of disorder that is classified within a broad name, obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. Compulsive decluttering is the act of throwing items, or clutter, away, or getting rid of them in an attempt to "clean up" what one with the disorder may think is cluttered.

Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren't necessary or important. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.

It's completely normal to have a messy house. If it isn't impacting your sleep, stress, or focus, and isn't unsanitary, then there is no need to panic. You don't need to pressure yourself into cleaning for hours on end, trying to make your home seem completely organized all the time.

Always feeling the need to declutter can be linked to stress and anxiety, where having lots of things in your space increases your anxious feelings. To try and relieve your feelings of stress, you can develop the urge to constantly declutter your space. Decluttering can temporarily relieve anxiety.

Clutter in the living room might suggest blockages in your social life, as well as your relationship with yourself, while a cluttered bedroom might relate to issues surrounding your sexual self, fears of intimacy or gender roles.

What is a depression nest? ›

This is a messy and disorganized room or home as a result of experiencing depression. It is an outward display of a depressed mental state.

Diogenes syndrome (DS) is a behavioral disorder of the elderly. Symptoms include living in extreme squalor, a neglected physical state, and unhygienic conditions. This is accompanied by a self-imposed isolation, the refusal of external help, and a tendency to accumulate unusual objects.

People with schizoid personality disorder often are reclusive, organizing their lives to avoid contact with other people. Many never marry or may continue to live with their parents as adults.

What Is Diogenes Syndrome? Diogenes syndrome is a behavioral-health condition characterized by poor personal hygiene, hoarding, and unkempt living conditions. It is most common in older men and women, which is why it is also called senile squalor syndrome.

People with ADHD have a difficult time with many of the executive functioning skills most of us unconsciously use every day. These invisible skills are what enable us to plan, prioritize, manage our time, and get things done. A person without ADHD might look at a messy room and think, “Okay.

If you feel bad for not getting on the Marie Kondo bandwagon, don't. Having a messy home can actually be a sign of intelligence and creativity. According to research people who live in an untidy environment tend to be more open minded and clever.

For many individuals, ADHD impairments are made worse by their struggles with excessive anxiety, persistent depression, compulsive behaviors, difficulties with mood regulation, learning disorders, or other psychiatric disorders that may be transient, recurrent, or persistently disruptive of their ability to perform the ...

Untreated ADHD in adults can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This is because ADHD symptoms can lead to focus, concentration, and impulsivity problems. When these problems are not managed effectively, they can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and low self-esteem.

Some people with ADHD truly have difficulties in keeping a clutter-free space. However, it's not intentional. Symptoms of ADHD, like forgetfulness, getting easily distracted, and sometimes being disorganized can lead to struggle with clutter.

How deep can a piling go? ›

A mini pile generally has a diameter of between 100 and 600mm but can extend to depths of over 50m. They can be used in most types of soil and are often used for underpinning or strengthening existing structures.

Piling prepares the ground to carry heavy loads, such as a new home, office complex, road or another piece of infrastructure. Piles usually are long poles that are made of timber, steel or concrete.

Some ADHD experts believe that a cluttered desk, closet, or house reflects a disorganized mind; others take it as a sign of genius. A lot of adults with ADHD, including me, agree with the latter opinion. Either view can be true, depending on the individual and the degree of his disorganization.

Anxiety can make it hard to identify that you also have ADHD since the symptoms may overlap. ADHD can also mask the symptoms of anxiety. It's important to identify both conditions to get the best treatment.

Effects of masking your ADHD

The stress of masking untreated or undiagnosed ADHD might contribute to anxiety and depression, similar to the way 2021 research demonstrates this connection in autistic people. People might not believe you need some help if you're too good at masking.

According to Psychology Today, clutter causes stress in part because of its excessive visual stimuli. It also signals to our brains that our work is never done and creates guilt, anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren't necessary or important. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.

How do you declutter if you are a hoarder? ›

If you've ever looked around your cluttered home — or your messy desk — and felt anxious, you're not alone. Science supports a link between feeling overwhelmed and having an overwhelming number of things in your environment.

Compulsive decluttering is a type of disorder that is classified within a broad name, obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. Compulsive decluttering is the act of throwing items, or clutter, away, or getting rid of them in an attempt to "clean up" what one with the disorder may think is cluttered.

Clutter can be a physical manifestation of mental health issues, Walsh tells WebMD. Those overwhelmed with "memory" clutter may have an undue preoccupation with things in the past and become depressed. Those who can't toss out items because they worry they will need them may be too anxious, he says.