Are You a Secret Hoarder?
We all have a box of sentimental items that we cannot bear to throw away. After all, it is only natural to associate memories with mementoes from the experience. With this said, around 30% of the British population are a secret hoarder and do not even know it. From birthday cards to books that have been read ten times over, we can’t seem to throw anything away. Of course, there is a fine line between a minor difficulty to part with treasured items and the psychiatry condition known as compulsive hoarding. Read on as we look into some of the signs that it is time to seek help…
Stockpiling
The difference between hoarding and being a messy person is that the former often involves stockpiling. In fact, a hoarder will have boxes upon boxes of items that they store away out of sight out of shame because they feel like they will be judged for their problem whereas a messy person tends to have clutter scattered around the home that they will eventually clean.
Anxiety
Normally, people are able to detach themselves from mundane items like old magazines however a hoarder will feel incredibly anxious at the thought of clearing out the clutter in their home. As a result, they leave it to build up to the point when it begins to take over rooms within the house. This can cause a hoarder to feel isolated as they will avoid having guests due to the severity of the issue. On the other hand, a messy person will be able to clean up clutter and part with items relatively easily without much anxiety.
If your home has become overrun by boxes of items that you cannot bear to part with, you could be suffering with a hoarding disorder. After all, the compulsion to store items often interferes with regular day to day living and it is important to take control before the problem gets too advanced. To find out more information about dealing with hoarding or excessive clutter, speak to your GP. Do you have any advice for a hoarder whose home has been overtaken by clutter? Get in contact with a member of The Home and Gardens team today!