Hoarding: Are you in danger?

Hoarding seems harmless enough. So you keep a few things you don’t really need every now and then, what’s the big deal?

While it might not seem like a major issue, hoarding can severely affect one’s lifestyle. Believe it or not, people have been smothered by all their junk. Because they have so much stuff, hoarders pack it in every nook and cranny – this may lead their house to crumble. Fires have also been the cause of death of a hoarder or two because their junk was flammable and blocked hallways and exits.

Hoarding is the excessive collection of items and the inability to discard them. It is a type of anxiety disorder that falls under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While saving stuff is normal, it’s something beyond the control of hoarders. They don’t like what they’re doing, but there’s nothing they can do to stop it.

What seems like junk to most people is valued treasure for hoarders. It’s this difference that makes it hard for hoarders to throw things away. Not only do they accumulate more and more things, they also have a hard time organizing them. Eventually, their things pile here and there until they have mountains of clutter.

People who hoard don’t see it as a problem, so if you think you’re a hoarder. It’s time to face reality and answer these questions:

Is your house drowning under piles of clutter?
Do you find it nearly impossible to throw away things even though you haven't used them in years?
Has anyone said you need to clear out some of the clutter?
Do you never invite people over because there is too much 'stuff' everywhere?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Hoarding Disorder (OCHD), but don’t call a therapist just yet! Hoarders are incapable of organizing their clutter and throwing things away. You just might have no time to clean your stuff. Check out EYP’s article on simple ways to organize your house.