Mental Health And The Home

Your home is a castle, the safest place in the whole wide world. It’s a sanctuary where you go to relax and de-stress and take time out from a hectic schedule. It’s the place where the mind gets to switch off and take a break. At least, that’s the logic. Contrary to popular opinion, however, the impact a home has on mental health isn’t always positive. In fact, it can be downright negative and is often the tipping point for illnesses such as depression, bipolar and schizophrenia. Yep, this is no joke. To make sure your humble abode isn’t harmful, here are the things to watch out for.


No Natural Light
Walk into a dark room and the first thing that will spring to mind is the lack of light. Also, it’s pretty amazing how places like this make you feel straight off the bat. We’ve all thought things along the lines of “this is a prison cell,” or something to that degree. Darkness can be soul-destroying and encourage emotions that are linked to mental health issues. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to fix the problem. Switching curtains for blinds is effective, as is creating window dressings with the help of makemyblinds.co.uk. Merely removing blockages from the window areas can bathe the house in UV rays.

Stir Craziness
Have you ever been at home for too long and felt anxious? There is no reason to explain it other than the mind needs a change of scenery. Sometimes, walking into town and rummaging around the supermarket shelves is enough to refresh. This is because the brain and the body go crazy when they are stuck in one place for too long. Both need a break, particularly if working from home is a regular occurrence. Exercising can act as the guardian angel you’ve been waiting for because it requires leaving the house. Plus, it helps to release chemicals that boost a person’s mood.

Diet
The first thing people do when they feel down is to raid the fridge. Ah, screw it, is the usual mentality because life is too much and you need a release. By all means, a person has to find a way to relieve the tension, but eating is a slippery path. Junk food is addictive and the impact it has on the brain and the body is very unhealthy. Think of it as a vicious cycle that never ends. You are tired and need a hit, and the fridge is full of tasty treats. To try and resist the urge, the refrigerator needs packing with healthy options such as raw vegetables and fruits.

Insomnia
Unless you’re listening to Faithless, it’s never good to suffer from insomnia. The body needs to recover, as does the brain, and they do it through the process of sleep. Sadly, apartmenttherapy.com has many reasons why this is happening and they’re quite benign. At least, that’s how they look. Stick to the basics by blacking out the room during the night and removing electronic equipment. Plus, wash the sheets regularly to avoid allergies.

You were aware how your home was impacting your mental health?

*Collaborative post*