It might have begun as a simple collection, then you had to have every kind the company ever made. Perhaps it became your lot to clean out a deceased loved one’s home and you just can’t bear to part with some items for sentimental reasons, even if you don’t really have room for them in your home.
Do these issues make you a compulsive hoarder? Not necessarily, but you may find yourself on a slippery slope if you’re not careful. In fact, the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF) states that 1 in 20 Americans are secret hoarders.
People with the disorder ‘acquire [so much], they can’t use things as they are intended’, explained Robin Zasio, Psy.D., LCSW, who counsels people on the A&E documentary series Hoarders.
Professional organizer Geralin Thomas also appears on Hoarders. She says to hoarders, You’re attaching symbolism and meaning to these things. When you still have your son’s smocked baby clothes and he’s now 6’4”, you just need permission to let things go.
The question becomes how does one know the difference between sentimentality and dysfunction? Here are six telltale signs:
- Hoarders have difficulty or are unable to get rid of furniture, clothing, toys or other items. Zaslo says the hoarder are scared because they begin worrying, What if I give this up and can’t get it back? What if I need this? What if I can’t tolerate the anxiety?
- Large amounts of clutter in the office or at home make it difficult to use furniture or appliances, or move around easily. Hoarders can’t get to their kitchen counters or beds because of overflowing piles of stuff. Some will even begin sleeping in recliners because the bed is covered with something.
- Hoarders consistently lose important items like money, school permission slips or medical forms. Papers don’t get signed and back to where they belong. Coupons and rebates expire. There’s no grocery list. The children don’t get their vaccinations because the doctor’s appointments are not made.
- They feel overwhelmed by possessions that have “taken over” the home or workspace. They may have 12 bottles of ketchup (all of which may be expired) and no mayonnaise. They “drop” things wherever they are instead of putting them back where they belong.
- Hoarders excuse their purchases by saying they’re buying things because they’re a bargain or to stock up. There’s a huge difference between getting a good deal at a 2-for-1 sale and hoarding things you don’t need. Buying 4 items for $10 instead of 1 for $3 is only a deal if you are going to use whatever the items are; however, in too many cases, hoarders use the 1 item and hoard the other 3.
- They avoid inviting family or friends home due to shame or embarrassment. Hoarders don’t believe they will ever get their belongings under control but are very much aware of their problems and thus don’t want to let others into their homes.
If these 6 signs are a bit too close for comfort, you may want to consider seeking treatment from a licensed therapist. At the very least, go to the IOCDF’s hoarding website and fill out the online questionnaire. In treatment, hoarders are taught techniques to manage their impulses.
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