What cleanliness says about your mental health

What cleanliness says about your mental healthWhat cleanliness says about your mental healthOne of the things Ive always admired about myself is that sometimes my behavior, when overly stressed or anxious, can feel beneficial. A few minutes to whisk the vacuum across the living room floor, and its like I meditated give me a sponge and a grimy bathroom, and Ill give you shine and calm.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraLooking at a spotless and tidy home, whatevers bothering me feels temporarily paused. Cleanliness translates tolower stress and anxiety for me- and a flawless home for my family growing up, my roommates in college, and my husband now - how lucky are they?Cleanliness As a CompulsionAccording to aUniversity of Connecticut study, while they might be lucky, I should be cautious about this behavior. In 2015 researcher Martin Lang had 62 students from Masaryk University i n the Czech Republic as the subjects of an experiment on this subject. When the students arrived, they were all fitted with a heart-tarif monitor and an accelerometer on each wrist. They were then split into two groups and asked to sit around a table with a small metal statue on top of it.Half the students were informed that they would have to give a short talk about the object to an art expert. The other half were asked to study the object and think about a list of questions but were told they wouldnt have to do any public speaking. Lang chose public speaking as the differentiator becausemany people have a fear of it.All participants were asked to polish the metal statue with a cloth until they thought it was cleaned thoroughly. Then researchers told participants who were supposed to give a speech that they wouldnt have to do it anymore. Analyzing their cleaning behavior, Lang noticed anxious people focused on smaller areas of the object and cleaned them more meticulously. He concl uded that in times of high stress and anxiety,people default to repetitive behaviors(such as cleaning) because it gives them a sense of control during a chaotic period.This behavior has its benefits. Your mind is telling you to take precautions and control your environment, youre doingsomethingtrying to mitigate surprises that could cause you emotional harm. You feel safer and freer in your space. And, of course, the benefit of a clean space. The issue is when it turns into compulsive perfectionism.By trying to control everything within your home,you can start to lose control of your life.When Does Some Cleaning Become Too Much Cleaning?Theres nothing wrong with being a neat freak, and its OK if cleaning feels calming - we all have ways to decrease our anxiety. Its an issue when it starts interfering with your life. For example, if you dont socialize because you havent completed your cleaning rituals, its affecting your physical health, feels obsessive, or is making you late for ot her obligations - it may represent an issue.However, its important to note that these are only a sample of adverse behaviors that could result in obsessive cleaning, and they dont necessarily mean a diagnosis of another mental disorder just as OCD.Has Your Tidiness Gone Too Far?If youre unsure as to whether your cleaning habits are constructive or not, the best thing to do is totalk about it with an expert. On your own, it can be hard to recognize symptoms or rituals. A therapist can help you reduce your anxiety symptoms and recommend practices to help you gain the control youre seeking.And while you dont have to put the Swiffer away forever, you can make other lifestyle changes that will make a difference when youre not talking with an expert. Below are a few ideas to try.Get your heart rate upJust like your cleaning schedule, develop an exercise schedule that will ensure youre physically active 3-5 days a week. While exercise is by no means a substitute for psychotherapy, medicat ion, or psychiatric care, it can diffuse excess anxious energy.Do what you can to sleep wellMake sure youre getting enough sleep and feel rested. Not sleeping can exacerbate any mental condition..Eat healthily and avoid alcoholHealthy eating, focusing on a Mediterranean diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish, which may be linked to reduced anxiety. This could be because complex carbohydrates are metabolized more slowly than processed ones, therefore helping maintain a more even blood sugar level, which in return creates a calmer feeling. A balanced diet is also good for brain health.If the sign of a spotless home eases your stress, that isnt a bad thing. After all, clutter can be distracting. But be mindful to make sure your habit of tackling chores isnt serving as a crutch. Life is full of surprises, and while grabbing the Windex can you give a sense of control, it wont keep the unpredictable from happening. It can be hard to diagnose your own habits or behaviors, howev er, so dont be afraid to ask family or friends what they think, ora professionaltherapist for help.This article first appeared on Talkspace.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people