Almost all of us have a pile of unread magazines stored somewhere, clothes in the closet that we think we might wear again someday or don't even fit but will one day fit in again, a spot in our house where mail and other items tend to accumulate for future sorting that doesn’t happen as quickly as we intend.
According to the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Foundation, “Simply collecting or owning lots of things does not qualify as hoarding.” The association points out, “Collectors typically keep their possessions well-organized and each item differs from others. An important purpose of collecting is to display these items to others who appreciate them.”
But hoarding goes beyond collecting. Some signs of hoarding include:
- Bringing more and more items home, even when there is no space
- Saving junk mail, package materials and obsolete, useless items
- Compulsive shopping, sometimes purchasing several of the same item
- Items unopened in their original packaging
- Difficulty choosing which items to keep and which to discard
- Lack of organization that makes it impossible to reach or locate items a person really needs.
The home may be so full of possessions that the person is unable to reach the bedroom, kitchen or bathroom. The home becomes dangerous and unsanitary, and the person may be unable to bathe, perform other personal care tasks, or prepare nutritious meals.
Relationships suffer when the person is embarrassed to have visitors, or has conflict with friends and family about the condition of their home. This can lead to further social isolation, and a cycle where the person perceives possessions as “friends” that provide comfort and security. Extreme hoarding may even lead to eviction and homelessness.
