I recently decreased one of my antidepressants for about two weeks but when I noticed that my mood had dropped I went back to my doctor and got it adjusted to a higher level. What’s interesting, though,  is that before I realized that I was feeling more depressed I noticed that my apartment had become way messier than usual. I’m not a neat freak but I like to have things cleaned up enough so that my cat can walk on the carpet and I don’t trip on the way to the kitchen.

It’s amazing how much depression can affect all aspects of our lives without us even realizing it. I always thought I was just lazy and somehow didn’t inherit the gene that my parents have for keeping their house looking magazine-worthy, but my lack of energy due to worsening depression became reflected in my surroundings. In addition to lack of energy, I think my self esteem suffered as well and I felt like I wasn’t worth taking care of and neither were my belongings. When I feel depressed I get overwhelmed a lot easier and don’t have the patience to carry some things through, like putting away all my craft stuff.

It’s amazing how all of these symptoms of my depression- lack of energy, poor self-esteem, easy overwhelm and lack of patience - combined together could produce one concrete problem of having a messier apartment. And now I have a bit of a red flag to watch for as I try to keep track of my mood.

Even if you don’t have a mental illness, there are things you can watch for as signs that you need to reevaluate what’s going on in your life. For example, one obvious correlation is when your grades slip you need to start making more time to study and complete homework. But what about things that aren’t so measurable? Try making a list of things you really enjoy doing the next time you’re having a fairly good day. Maybe it’s surfing online or reading or catching a favourite tv show. Maybe you play on some sports teams or usually hang out with friends on Friday nights. Any break in routine could be a sign that you’re too stressed out or are trying to juggle too much.

That said, you don’t need to worry if you miss one practice or stay in one night instead of going to the movies. But if you notice you’ve been doing that a lot lately, it might be a good idea to ask yourself why that is. The answer might be that you’re dealing with too much or that you’ve simply outgrown things you used to love. Losing your homework often or noticing you’ve been biting your nails more might give you a clue to how your stress levels are increasing. If you’re stuck, ask one of your good friends or a parent about what they notice about you when you’re happy. Sometimes taking a step back to reevaluate your life can prevent more problems in the future or better yet, can give you the encouragement you need to be sure you’re headed where you want to go in life. Then you can kick back and give yourself a pat on the back for being in the driver’s seat of your own life. It feels good!

By Erin