Why does my room make me Depressed ?
Do you often feel depressed when you are in your room? Does the thought of going to your room at the end of the day make you feel lonely or sad? Our bedroom is the space where we spend most of our time, when inside our home. The inability to feel relaxed or positive within our space can be distressing.
The Connection Between Our Surroundings & Mental Health
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.
A 2016 study also found a correlation between clutter and depression among people who experienced hoarding.
It is important to understand the factors that might be contributing towards the feelings of depression within your room and explore ways to rejuvenate your space for improved mental health.
Why You Feel Depressed Inside Your Room
While it can be distressing to be unable to feel positive within your space identifying the causes in your environment is the first step in the right direction. One or multiple of the factors listed below could be the reason behind these feelings:
- Cluttered or Unorganised Space- Entering a messy room at the end of a long day is often a reminder of all the overdue chores. If you are feeling tired or stressed a messy or unorganised room might add to the feeling of inadequacy, making you feel sad about the lack of motivation you are experiencing to complete routine tasks.
- Lack of Natural Light- Dark spaces, with no sunlight or access to natural daylight, negatively affect your circadian rhythm and might lead to feelings of glumness. This could also make it difficult to get up in the day or fall asleep at night.
- Ventilation or Temperature inside the room- Extreme heat or cold or lack of proper ventilation in the room can cause irritability and discomfort, affecting your mood on a daily basis.
- Noise Pollution- All of us need peace and comfort in our room, constant noise from outside or within your home could lead to frustration and feelings of distress.
- Lack of Privacy- Your bedroom should be a safe space offering you ample privacy to relax. Lack of privacy or intrusion can lead to feelings of stress.
Steps You Can Take To Brighten Your Room
Taking steps to increase positivity inside your room can help you feel more in control of your emotions. You can take the following steps to improve the environment inside your room.
- Organise and Declutter- Getting rid of things that don’t belong in your personal space can feel uplifting and bring joy. If organising your room at once feels overwhelming divide it into sections, and target one nook or corner at a time. You can also ask your friends or family members for help and turn this into a fun activity. When you remove unnecessary objects, and memorabilia from your room you also create more space and openness for new experiences to become a part of your life.
- Add Natural Light- Adding more daylight, and natural light inside your room will help you better align with your circadian rhythm and feel more energetic throughout the day.
- Increase Ventilation and Air Quality- Good ventilation and improved air quality can help you feel healthier inside your room. You can also consider adding air purifiers, humidifiers, or indoor plants that improve the air quality inside the room.
- Minimize Noise Pollution- In order to create a relaxing atmosphere inside your room minimise the sources of noise pollution. You can explore soundproofing methods or use rugs, curtains and other objects that can reduce the impact of noise from your surroundings.
- Prioritise your Mental Health- If feelings of depression continue for a prolonged time, despite your efforts to improve your surroundings, it is advisable to reach out to a mental health expert for an initial evaluation. A mental health expert like Ohio Psychiatric Services can help you identify the stressors affecting your mental health. In case of an underlying mental health condition like anxiety or depression, the experts at our Ohio and Lancaster centres can also create a customised plan of treatment using non-invasive procedures like TMS and Esketamine in addition to counselling and psychotherapy to help you live a healthier life and feel positive in your space.