Hoarding is a serious issue that goes far beyond being disorganized. It\u2019s estimated that between 2 and 5 percent of the U.S. population exhibits some hoarding behavior<\/a>, though some figures vary (one estimate puts the number of people with a full-blown hoarding disorder in the United States at 4 million<\/a>, but it could be as high as 15 million<\/a>). But the question has always remained, especially to those of us who have struggled to keep up with the tide of stuff in our homes: What\u2019s the difference between being a \u201cpack rat\u201d and being a full-on hoarder<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAll of us can have more possessions than we really need and wrestle to keep our stuff organized, yet for those with a hoarding issue, it\u2019s to an extreme, where it interferes with their life and ability to use their space effectively,\u201d says Dr. Annette Perot<\/a>, a licensed psychologist who specializes in anxiety issues and hoarding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While many of us think of the extreme cases, such as the ones featured on shows like A&E\u2019s \u201cHoarders,\u201d there are a few everyday signs that you, or someone you know, might have hoarding tendencies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 1. They keep acquiring things, but don\u2019t have a use for the items and\/or a reason to display them.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This goes beyond bringing in a random vintage find that you intend to use as a holiday decoration, for example. But for those who have hoarding tendencies, acquisition is an emotional experience. \u201c[…] Many of us buy things because it feels good, even though that feeling is only temporary,\u201d says Dr. Perot. \u201cSo, for people with hoarding issues, buying or saving items can be done in order to create more positive feelings.\u201d It\u2019s also a habit that can\u2019t be stopped easily. Hartford Hospital\u2019s Anxiety Disorders Center<\/a> notes that those with compulsive hoarding have feelings of distress<\/a> when they see something they want, and can\u2019t feel better until the object is in their possession.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 2. Their collection has taken over.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s a difference between \u201ccollecting\u201d and hoarding. Randy O. Frost, a professor of psychology at Smith College<\/a> and author of \u201cStuff: Compulsive Hoarding and The Meaning Of Things<\/a>,\u201d says that the difference is in how the collection is stored and organized<\/a>. \u201cFor the person whose collecting has become hoarding, possessions become unorganized piles of clutter that are so large that they prevent rooms from being used for normal activities,\u201d Frost says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3. Their chairs are too cluttered to be used, or there\u2019s one room that cannot be used as intended.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Though extremely uninhabitable homes often come to mind when we think of hoarding, a more common example are chairs and pathways that are piled with so much stuff that they cannot be used. Some also designate at least one specific room or space in their home to the accumulation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 4. They had strong attachments to objects at a young age.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Though most of us had collections when we were young, a Scientific American article<\/a> says that children might \u201creveal a proclivity to hoarding in their emotions<\/a>.\u201d Attachments can manifest in a few ways. Dr. Perot names a few examples: \u201cSomeone might feel guilty about discarding an old toy for fear that he is hurting the toy\u2019s feelings. Or, someone might have difficulty getting rid of her daughter\u2019s baby clothes because she feels like she is getting rid of her daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 5. It\u2019s a huge challenge to get rid of unwanted items.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The difficulty of finally weeding through your closet is universal. The difference is when you can\u2019t seem to get rid of anything (even if it\u2019s in your way) because you might \u201cneed it someday.\u201d \u201cPeople who have hoarding issues are very creative and can see limitless possibilities for the use of an item as simple as a bottle cap,\u201d Dr. Perot says. \u201cYet more time ends up being spent saving items than in actually creatively using what is saved.\u201d She also says that individuals with hoarding tendencies have a hard time letting go of items, since possessions are perceived as a part of their identity. \u201cImagine being told to part with a dear friend or part of your identity … That\u2019s how it can feel to someone with hoarding issues.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 6. There\u2019s so much stuff, they don\u2019t want to have visitors over.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Those with hoarding tendencies tend to keep accumulations a secret. Often, it\u2019s because they\u2019re concerned about someone touching the collected objects<\/a>. Many admit that clutter causes feelings of \u201cshame\u201d<\/a> and don\u2019t want others to witness the accumulations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If someone you know needs help, Dr. Perot advises that respect is key. \u201cIt\u2019s important to remember that each of us has the right to govern our own lives and make changes if and when we\u2019re ready,\u201d she says. And though it\u2019s tempting, she recommends not \u201chelping\u201d the individual by throwing things away without their permission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To read more about hoarding and the effects on family, visit Children Of Hoarders<\/a>. And to learn more about hoarding, check out the interview with professor Randy O. Frost and hoarding expert Dr. Gail Steketee on NPR\u2019s \u201cFresh Air.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Less-serious roommate situations still need to be dealt with a gentle hand. Here\u2019s what you should never say to someone you live with.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"hoarding](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.huffpost.com\/gen\/1336809\/thumbs\/n-HOARDING-SIGNS-large640.jpg?w=750\")
\nFlickr photo by Tara R<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"old](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.huffpost.com\/gen\/1336816\/thumbs\/n-OLD-TOY-large640.jpg?w=750\")
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As a downsizer, organizer, estate seller I’ve\u00a0been working in the People and Their Stuff Business, intensely for 18 years. Here’s a great article from HP. If you’re on the fringe, take a step back and go see a doctor for a OCD prescription. Not kidding. I’ve worked with so many people who are incapable ofContinue reading “Pack Rat or Hoarder? 6 Signs That Tell The Difference”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":97040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":4,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[65662,49391,91859,1410087,554077301,7094,179003,43427,1508,293,1],"tags":[1555789,466012,2923,124,375633,566317587],"class_list":["post-1907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-borrowed-words","category-collectibles","category-downsizing","category-estate-sale","category-packrat-and-hoarder","category-sales","category-senior-citizens","category-seniors","category-shopping","category-stuff","category-uncategorized","tag-hoarder","tag-hoarding","tag-junk","tag-life","tag-packrat","tag-stuff","post_format-post-format-gallery","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t