Trappings of fame have caused several celebrities to build a fortress around them. It’s reached the point where it has become a status symbol to live in a massive house and to go nowhere without armed guards.

This phenomenon dates back decades, if not longer. Queens and kings, monarchs and princes sequestered themselves in massive castles. Today’s presidents keep a constant entourage of security around them, some presidents not daring to venture outside, not even on their house porch, absent a guard.

Signs your house has become mentally toxic

From the outside, these happenings can appear as hallmark events that signal you made it, that you’re a big success. Yet, humans need to connect with one another to remain emotionally and mentally healthy. In fact, studies have shown that when people connect in-person and communicate more, play together and share concerns, it can lead to improved health.

But, how do you know that your house has become mentally toxic? Check out these signs:

• You only go outside to commute to work
• Your friends have started to tell you that the only time they see you is when they visit you at your house
• Your dog or cat is starting to nudge you, pushing you toward the front or back door and not just because they have torelieve themselves
• When new dust forms on your living room tables, you spot exactly where the dust is almost immediately
• An eerie or uncomfortable feeling comes over you when you do venture outside on non-work days
• Sleeping in all day sounds like a perfect thing to do to you. In fact, you’re starting to sleep in all day at least two to three times a month
• In the last year, you’ve packed on 15 to 30pounds, and all because you’ve taken to spending most of your days and nights inside your house
• Excuses are what you give your family and friends whenever they invite you to go with them to a fun place away from home
• Most of your spare money goes to add on another room or to buy a new gadget for – you got it, your house

Love your house without turning it into your prison

A house should provide protection from natural elements. It should offer a sense of security from weather storms, intruders and strangers passing in the night. Your sweetest memories could well be created in your house, family and friends circling your kitchen or dining room table as you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas or the ringing in of a new year.

But, a house should not become such a fortress that it isolates you and prevents you from meeting new people and enjoying rewarding experiences. As tempting as it might be, you also probably don’t want your house to become so comfortable that you view it as a hideout. Yes. You want a home that meets your dwelling needs. You want a place that’s beautifully designed, a perfect match for your personality.What you don’t want is for your house to entice you into a rut and cause you to become bored with life.