Refusing to keep their room neat is often a way for teens to claim their space and declare independence from their parents. However, teens with messy rooms, particularly if the messiness is extreme, may be struggling with a mental health disorder, such as anxiety or ADHD.
This can be due to lack of motivation, lack of impulse control, poor planning, etc. The other big one here is hoarding or people who grew up with a hoarder, which makes cleaning impractical at best and uncleanliness as the default.
Some people simply do not place a high priority on having everything clean, organized, and in its place. In this case, messiness is simply a normal state of affairs. If the house is cluttered and it's just fine with you, then it's probably more a sign of your personality and preferences.
Indeed, according to psychological research, sloppiness might be an indicator of emotional distress. Like someone with OCD who feels they need to micromanage every aspect of their life, someone who is chronically disorganized may suffer from depression or another mental health condition.
However, a messy room can be a sign of an underlying mental health problem. Although most kids need reminders or help to keep their space clean, having a messy room can be a sign of mental health problems. Additionally, clutter and messiness can affect their mental health.
Children with ADHD tend to have messy rooms because they struggle with executive functioning skills, which enable us to plan, prioritize, manage time, and get things done. Cleaning up may seem simple but kids with ADHD have trouble deciding what to do first, estimating how long things take, and staying focused.
The air quality in your bedroom is a major factor in how well you sleep. Poor ventilation, dust, and moisture can lead to mould build-up, which can cause allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues—disrupting your sleep and affecting your overall health.
"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."
You get physically sick
Bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, molds, pests, and other dangerous and gross organisms thrive in dirty, stale environments. A home that doesn't get the cleaning attention it needs will eventually become a hotbed of disease.
Respiratory illnesses can be exacerbated by excessive dirt and mess. Dust mites, mold, and other allergens can thrive in a cluttered environment, making breathing difficult for people with asthma or allergies. In severe cases, exposure to these triggers can lead to an asthma attack or the development of an allergy.
Excessive messiness isn't always just a result of laziness. It may be a sign of mental health struggles making it harder for you to focus on certain tasks. Your messiness could also be linked to your personality traits, or various underlying conditions. Unfortunately, messiness can also lead to a range of other issues.
This is when your adolescent's depression causes them to either lack the energy or the willpower to clean up after themselves, causing them to live in a messy and disorganized environment – even if they want to make a change.
Chronic non-cleaners are living in an unpleasant, smelly and unhealthy environment, but don't seem overly upset by this, which is in itself, a sign of a serious problem. Many of these individuals have a mental disorder which allows them to create mess and then live in it without concern.
Cleaning can be emotionally unbearable for some, especially when dealing with an extremely messy or cluttered space, for example, a hoarder situation. In this case, it's easy to feel lost because they don't know where to start, which can be emotionally draining and cause them to avoid cleaning altogether.
A messy space could indicate creativity or someone who is too busy but a messy space could also indicate further issues like anxiety or ADHD. Clutter and mess can consciously or unconsciously affect you mentally,' warns Jamie Hord, CEO, and founder of Horderly Professional Organizing.
For example, if your clutter consists of other people's stuff, you might have issues with boundaries; if your clutter is largely memorabilia from your past, you may have trouble letting go of the past and moving forward; and if you constantly find yourself relying on the phrase “better to have it and not need it than ...
Disorganized behavior in schizophrenia negatively impacts goal-directed behavior. A person with disorganized schizophrenia is likely to have difficulty beginning a specific task (ex: cooking a meal) or difficulty finishing a task. Independent functioning is exceptionally difficult due to this gross disorganization.
Disorganized people could likewise show characteristics such as laziness, absence of focus, and challenges in decision-making. Psychologically, disorganized people may experience disappointment, tension, stress, and anxiety, as well as instability, because they stop working to stay organized.
When you breathe in the air full of dust and bacteria, you are risking your health, especially if you already suffer from allergies, asthma, or upper respiratory concerns. Even if you don't experience these problems, clean air is still important and linked with improved sleep and overall better health.
A messy room can be a sign of creativity and freedom—or it can indicate an underlying mental health disorder. Symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, hopelessness, or difficulty concentrating, can lead to teen messiness.
Dust buildup can cause serious health problems, according to Johns Hopkins Hospital lung expert Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, including serious lung infections and in rare cases, even death. “A good inhalation of dust could be life threatening depending on someone's asthma exacerbation,” Galiatsatos said.
Some kids may like having a messy bedroom. (“I know where everything is!”) For others, it might be a stage, like a tween showing independence. Or a teen being overwhelmed by new responsibility. And some kids have ongoing trouble with organization and need more help to keep their space neat.
ADHD is unlikely to get worse with age. However, the increasing responsibilities and challenges of adulthood may make it seem that way. For example, juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities may amplify existing difficulties with focus or organization.