This reminded me of a time I swung by a friend's house to drop off something they'd left at mine and they invited me in for a cup of tea. Their home was pretty hectic, and they were wearing a sexy maid outfit, a fact that I remarked upon as they were clearing a space for me to sit.
Apparently the maid outfit was a gift from an ex, and one day when trying to psych themselves up to tidy, they decided to try wearing it (with the logic that they'd feel extra silly if they didn't any tidying up). It ended up being astonishingly successful, and a strategy they turned to when they found themselves at risk of falling into a harmful spiral regarding mental health and mess. My facial reaction upon being told this caused them to feel like I was judging them, and I replied that no, I was actually pondering whether it might be worth me trying