Every aspect of your life — the place you live, the people you live with, your friends and acquaintances, the things you do or don't do, the things you own, your work, even things like pets, music, and color affect how you feel. If you are concerned about your mental health or the quality of your life, you can do many things and make changes in your life that will help you to feel much better.
The space where you live — your home — can affect how you feel. Perhaps you need to make some changes in your living space or living arrangement or find a different place to call home. The following questions may help you decide if you need to make some changes in living space.
- Do you look forward to going home and do you feel comfortable in your home?
- If not, why not? For instance, you may not like your living space because it is cluttered and messy. Or it may be too noisy. What could you change about your home that would make you want to go there and feel comfortable there?
- Do you feel safe and secure when you are at home?
- If not, why not? What could you do that would make you feel safe and secure when you are at home (for example, get new locks, move to a safer neighborhood)?
- You deserve private space in your own home for your own things, a place where you can go and know you will not be disturbed. Do you have private space in your home that others respect?
- If not, why not? What could you do to have private space in your home that is respected by others (for example, collaborate with the people you live to arrange private space for everyone, divide off a section of a room with furniture and make it your space)?
- The people you live with should treat you well and help you feel better. You should be supportive of each other. If you live with others, do they treat you well and help you to feel better?
- If not, why not? What could you do so the people you live with treat you well and help you feel better (for example, discuss it with them, telling them how you want and need to be treated, move out, ask others to move)?
- You may need access to health care providers and other services that are necessary for your recovery and wellness. Is your home easily accessible to these services?
- If not, why not? What could you do to make it easier for you to access needed services (for example, move, check out public transportation options, learn to drive, get a car, carpool with others)?
- Some people prefer to live in the city or in a neighborhood, while others are not comfortable unless they are living in a rural area. In what kind of area would you prefer to live?
- If you don't live in such an area now, how could you make it happen?
- Some homes require lots of upkeep while others practically take care of themselves. If your home requires lots of upkeep, it may be difficult for you to keep up when you are having a hard time. The stress of not taking care of things that need attention can cause or worsen difficult symptoms.
- Is your home easy to take care of? If not, why not? What could you do to resolve this problem (for example, move, hire someone to do some of the upkeep, ask for help from family members or friends, trade tasks with others)?