Hoarding Disorder

[Neferti]

Hoarding disorder and loneliness: When possessions are poor substitutes for people

A decomposed, mummified body of a man was recently found by forensic cleaners in a Sydney apartment. The apartment's owner is thought to have suffered from hoarding disorder, and police believe the decomposed body had been there for more than 10 years.

We occasionally read stories involving people with hoarding disorder — people whose possessions pose a serious burden. Clutter might prevent them from sitting on their sofa, taking a shower, cooking a meal, or sleeping in their bed.

Despite the lack of space, they find it impossible to part with items they don't need. Why is it so hard for them to let go of their possessions?

Loving things

As children, we use possessions to comfort ourselves when our parents are unavailable. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have abandoned our security blankets and teddy bears. We might occasionally buy something unnecessary or hang on to a few items we no longer need.

In most cases, these few extra possessions don't pose a problem. We store them in the closet or display them proudly on a shelf. But our stuff never creeps beyond that point. We have a few treasured objects, but we don't rely on them to make us feel good — at least not on a regular basis.

It's a different story for the 1.2 million Australians who meet the DSM-5 criteria for hoarding disorder. These include:

* difficulty discarding items regardless of their actual value
* a perceived need to save the items and associated distress at the idea of losing them
* clutter that prevents using the home being used for its intended purpose

Hoarding disorder leads to a quality of life as poor as that of people with schizophrenia. Clutter increases the risks of injury, medical conditions, and death.

A quarter to a third of Australian residential fire-related deaths are associated with hoarding disorder.

For those with hoarding disorder, possessions remind them of the past and foreshadow a potential future. They can remember their child wearing that outfit or playing with that toy. They are certain that jug will be useful some day, despite having many other jugs they have never used. They are extremely attached to their possessions for one reason or another.

Just thinking about disposing of their items makes people with hoarding disorder feel highly anxious. Their anxiety is similar to what others may feel about giving a speech or finding a spider in their shoe. Believing they can't cope with the distress of losing their possessions, they hang on tightly. Doing so unfortunately strengthens their beliefs that their possessions are needed.

more here

[BigP]

Im a hoarder, And any gem that I choose to hang on too is never a poor substitute for anything,,

[Neferti]

Nope. I don't hoard anything. I know people who still have clothes from the 80s cluttering up their wardrobe. I throw out clothes that I haven't worn for a couple of Seasons!

Do you know anyone who keeps stuff from years ago? Not just clothes, all sorts of "stuff". Which reminds me, I really should clean out the Pantry and throw out all those "herbs and spices" I don't use and are way past their use by date. That isn't a matter or "hoarding" it is just pure and simple, laziness!

[BigP]

,""" I really should clean out the Pantry and throw out all those "herbs and spices" I don't use and are way past their use by date.""


Not hoarding , Just laziness lol

[Neferti]

Im a hoarder, And any gem that I choose to hang on too is never a poor substitute for anything,,

Well, good for you .... my dear old Mother (God love her) had receipts for furniture that my parents bought when first married and a shed full of "stuff". My sisters and I always said we would put a match to the "shed" rather than have to dispose of the stuff when she died. She "downsized" and that "shed" took many, many trips to the Tip ... I wasn't there but my Uncle did it. Phew. When she did die, she didn't have much "stuff" accumulated but the cupboard in her bathroom had enough Pears Soap and Toilet Paper to keep a Nursing Home in supplies for at least a month or three. At least some of her "hoarded" stuff involved Antiques which went to Auction when she died and helped me pay off a Mortgage.

[BigP]

Im a hoarder, And any gem that I choose to hang on too is never a poor substitute for anything,,

Well, good for you .... my dear old Mother (God love her) had receipts for furniture that my parents bought when first married and a shed full of "stuff". My sisters and I always said we would put a match to the "shed" rather than have to dispose of the stuff when she died. She "downsized" and that "shed" took many, many trips to the Tip ... I wasn't there but my Uncle did it. Phew. When she did die, she didn't have much "stuff" accumulated but the cupboard in her bathroom had enough Pears Soap and Toilet Paper to keep a Nursing Home in supplies for at least a month or three. At least some of her "hoarded" stuff involved Antiques which went to Auction when she died and helped me pay off a Mortgage.

I feel traumatised on behalf of your mother lol

[Neferti]

I feel traumatised on behalf of your mother lol

Why? She's dead. Do you have a shed full of "stuff" too?

[BigP]

I feel traumatised on behalf of your mother lol

Why? She's dead. Do you have a shed full of "stuff" too?

Yes lol

[Neferti]

I feel traumatised on behalf of your mother lol

Why? She's dead. Do you have a shed full of "stuff" too?

Yes lol

I have an American friend who has a HUGE shed full of "stuff"... cars, ATVs and so forth. He pays to keep all this "stuff" registered (cheap in the US) so that he can drive them ... then he is on "acreages" (75 I think) in the Wilds of Minnesota. Bemidji. Nice bloke.

[sprintcyclist]

Discarding unused things is good to do.

It is liberating.
Hard to do at first, but it gets easier and better.