Does clutter cause anxiety?

Author: Meta Little  |  Last update: Sunday, August 3, 2025

In recent years, psychologist research has begun to find that living and working in cluttered spaces causes stress and anxiety and can harm both our mental health and our productivity.

Why does clutter give me anxiety?

“The mess keeps beckoning to you, causing frustration and unease to kick in every time you see it,” he says. Clutter can trigger guilty feelings. Every time you look at a pile of mail or boxes to recycle, you may silently berate yourself for not being more organized. Clutter dampers creativity and productivity.

What are the mental effects of clutter?

Clutter and a messy environment are shown to directly worsen or cause depression, anxiety, depleted cognitive resources, and other mental health issues by increasing stress and anxiety levels.

Can something in your house cause anxiety?

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.

Does cleaning your house help with anxiety?

The physical activity of cleaning combined with the result of a cleaner home helps reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Cleaning can also reduce fatigue as having clean sheets and making the bed has been proven to give you a better night's sleep. Which in turn is linked to a more positive mood.

When Clutter and Decluttering Cause Anxiety and What We Can Do About It

What to do when your house gives you anxiety?

Declutter to beat anxiety

If finding time to clean up and organize your space is a challenge, get help. You don't have to do it alone. Get your family or colleagues involved, and you'll see how much your overall well-being may improve. Less stress, anxiety, and anger.

Why does my messy house stress me out?

Clutter and mess can create more stress and anxiety, but by cleaning, organizing, and reducing the clutter, people are able to take control of their environment and create a more relaxing environment that helps them focus better on the more pressing issues in their lives.

What is clutter a symptom of?

"Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression or obsessive compulsive disorder," Hurtado says. "If this is the case, the behavior needs to change versus the logistics of the home, like space or layout."

Does sitting around make anxiety worse?

On one hand, people who are anxious or depressed may stay inside and spend much of their day sitting — which might, in turn, worsen their mental health symptoms. But it's also plausible that too much inactivity could feed anxiety in the first place, according to Manevitz.

What are things that trigger anxiety?

These social and environmental factors can include childhood trauma, social isolation, negative life events, stress relating to work or education, physical or mental health problems, and social and societal pressures. Gender can also play a part. Women are almost twice as likely to experience anxiety as men.

What is the root cause of clutter?

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.

What is messy house syndrome?

Messy house syndrome presents in older adults, usually 60 and over. People with messy house syndrome cannot maintain a healthy household. They hoard large amounts of useless objects within their homes. Often, their homes are so cluttered that they are inhabitable and unsafe.

What does ADHD clutter look like?

Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety

This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.

Is clutter the same as hoarding?

Compulsive hoarding is different from having a cluttered home or collecting, because the items are not displayed, used or have any value.

Why does my room give me anxiety?

Our surroundings play an important role in shaping our mental health. Lack of sunlight, decor, or excessive clutter in your room can affect your mental health poorly. A study in 2020 found a correlation between messy rooms and depression.

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

Top 5 Habits That Can Make Your Anxiety Worse
  • Constantly Checking Social Media.
  • Overloading Your Schedule.
  • Neglecting Physical Health.
  • Avoiding Problems Instead of Addressing Them.
  • Overthinking and Catastrophizing.

What personality types are prone to anxiety?

Overall, anxiety traits are correlated with neuroticism and introversion but have a greater association with neuroticism.

What clutter is telling you?

“Kerri Richardson's new book, What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You helps you clear the clutter in your life by figuring out why it's in your life to begin with. It not only helps you eliminate physical clutter, but emotional and mental blockages, too, creating space for your soul to be energized!

What are the three types of clutter?

There are a few different categories of clutter, according to Hemphill:
  • Physical.
  • Digital.
  • Emotional.
  • Spiritual.

What does a level 1 hoarder look like?

It is often unrecognized by outside observers and the hoarder. Indicators include difficulty parting with redundant items, excessive shopping for items already in the home or not needed, accessible stairs, doors, and windows, no noticeable odors in the home, little to no visible…

What does clutter do to your brain and body?

Since your brain is naturally predisposed to favor order over chaos, constant visual disorganization tires the brain, impairs working memory, and makes it harder and harder to regain focus. Clutter also releases cortisol and is correlated with stress and anxiety (which also impede learning).

Why do I get overwhelmed by clutter?

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.

Why do I feel unsettled in my house?

Reasons: Clutter: A cluttered home can lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress, making it difficult to relax and unwind. Lack of Natural Light: Insufficient exposure to natural light can disrupt your circadian rhythm and negatively affect your mood.

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