If you’ve ever lost your keys and had to frantically search for them in the house right before a big meeting or date, you know how stressful it can be. The panic that sets in is almost unbearable.

That being said, where do you keep your keys most of the time? If you’re like most people, you probably place them somewhere logical—like on a hook by the front door or in a drawer by the entrance.

However, if you’ve lost your keys multiple times, this makes sense. You know exactly where they are but still can’t find them at any given moment.

This might seem like the kind of obvious frustration that only happens once or twice throughout an entire lifetime. However, let us explain why this happens so commonly and why it is actually not as simple as it seems at first glance.

#The Dangers of Having a Shifting Mental Map

#Why You Can’t Find Your Keys

#What This Means For You

#Bottom line.

If you’ve ever lost your keys and had to frantically search for them in the house right before a big meeting or date, you know how stressful it can be. The panic that sets in is almost unbearable. That being said, where do you keep your keys most of the time? If you’re like most people, you probably place them somewhere logical—like on a hook by the front door or in a drawer by the entrance. However, if you’ve lost your keys multiple times, this makes sense. You know exactly where they are but still can’t find them at any given moment. This might seem like the kind of obvious frustration that only happens once or twice throughout an entire lifetime. However, let us explain why this happens so commonly and why it is actually not as simple as it seems at first glance.

The Dangers of Having a Shifting Mental Map

When you have a house full of furniture and decorations, you create a mental map of where everything is. This is because we have to regulate our surroundings to maximize efficiency and keep our lives organized. However, what happens when you move and your mental map shifts? This is why a lot of people feel as if they’ve lost their keys even though they know they’re in the house somewhere; they’re just not sure where. This is all due to the fact that your brain has gotten used to having everything in one place—and now it has to readjust to a new environment.

Why You Can’t Find Your Keys

We’ve already talked about why you can’t find your keys even though you know where they are. However, why do you even walk around your house looking for them? You know they’re in there somewhere! When you’re stressed out and have a looming deadline or appointment, your brain has a tendency to scramble your thoughts. It does not have time for logic or reason—it only has time to panic. This is when you start to lose focus, become disoriented, and forget where things are. That’s because stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine can easily disrupt your memory, attention span, and problem-solving ability.

What This Means For You

First and foremost, if you have a tendency to lose your keys, then you may want to consider keeping them in a more prominent place. You don’t want to be left scrambling at the last minute to look for them and then wind up running out of time during your commute to work or date. It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone loses their keys. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that this is a very common problem. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that about 24% of Americans experience some kind of anxiety disorder. While everyone experiences a different level of anxiety, there’s a high chance that you know someone who has dealt with a loss of keys at one point or another.

Bottom line

When dealing with anxiety, it’s important to recognize that you may start losing your keys more often. This is not necessarily something to be embarrassed about—rather, it’s a good opportunity to recognize your problem and start doing something about it. Having a better understanding of why you lose your keys can help you find a solution to this problem and keep your life running smoothly.