If your phone is always filled with messages and images, experts warn it could be harming your mental health

Is your desktop constantly cluttered, or does your phone frequently warn you about running out of storage? If you’re holding onto files and images just in case you might need them later, it could be more than just a bad habit—it might be a sign of something affecting your mental health. According to a recent CNN report, this tendency to resist deleting digital clutter could actually be a form of a disorder, and it may have significant impacts on mental health.

In the digital age, many of us struggle with an overload of notifications, saved files, and endless digital clutter. But this constant accumulation of data can actually take a toll on our mental health and well-being, according to experts.

Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, explains that this overload often leads to stress and anxiety, as CNN notes.?

She says that unlike our ancestors, who never had to manage such clutter, today's world is dominated by digital distractions—emails, photos, and a constant barrage of open tabs—that can overwhelm our minds.?

This mental strain is similar to the chaos experienced in a physically cluttered environment, where it becomes difficult to focus and clear your mind.

For some, this issue goes beyond general clutter, morphing into a more serious condition called digital hoarding.?

Dr. Emanuel Maidenberg, a clinical professor at UCLA, suggests that when people persistently accumulate digital content—even when they no longer need it—due to anxiety or the fear of losing it, it can become problematic.?

This is not just a bad habit but a mental health issue tied to compulsive behaviors.

Digital hoarding becomes a disorder when it interferes with day-to-day life, causing distress or impairing normal functioning.?

Hoarding is often linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition characterised by compulsive behaviors and the inability to discard items due to emotional attachment or fear of future need. This connection highlights how hoarding behavior can stem from deeper psychological challenges.

Recognising and addressing this issue early can help reduce the stress associated with digital overload and restore some mental clarity.

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