I read an article in the New York Times about “Depression Rooms” and “Doom Piles”
Abbe Lucia coined the term “depression room”.
The term “depression room” is relatively new.
Mental health experts recognize the link between messiness and mental health - it is real
I often find that my clients have experience some type of trauma or mental health issue and that is what led to their messiness.
Feelings of overwhelm loss, anxiety, or fatigue set off a spiraling, out of control chaos which leads to messiness and then no energy or desire to clear the clutter.
They are physically and mentally exhausted and not able to clean the house or engage in the decluttering process.
“A messy home can also contribute to feelings of overwhelm, stress an shame, making you feel worse than you already do. And while decluttering will not cure your depression, it can give you a mood boost.”
The NYT article goes on to say:
OPTIME YOUR ENERGY & YOUR SPACE
-Focus on function, not aesthetics
-Cocus on having a livable space, not a spotless one
-Things can be unsightly, but not unsanitary
-Make your home work better for you
“People who ar Neurodivergent, with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, or other executive functioning issues, also often struggle with excess clutter.”
Like “depression rooms”, the term “doom piles” has become popular to describe the random stuff that builds up, and you don’t know what to do with it
Many people feel like the clutter is endless and they are constantly cleaning and the clutter is still there
Find places for your items to live and put those things back in place after each use
Keep things at bay - spend a few minutes each morning and evening to put things away
REMEMBER: IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SOME CLUTER IN YOUR HOME