Compulsive HoardingPeople fall into the trap of compulsive hoarding as they find it more and more difficult to let go of unneeded stuff and obsessively collect certain items. When we wrap our emotions around possessions, we can't fathom putting ourselves through the pain of separation. It is reported that at least 1% of people are affected by a hoarding compulsion. An example of compulsive hoarding is Bibliomania. People with Bibliomania, an obsessive compulsive disorder, collect books which have no use to them. They often purchase multiple copies of the same book or just obtain far too many for them to use or enjoy. Digital hoarding is something that, I'm confident, is very prevalent. This is where people collect more computer files than they will possibly keep up with or use. Compulsive hoarding can be likened to what I call being a pack rat. But, some say that compulsive hoarding is more extreme than that. I guess it depends on how bad of a pack rat you are. :) To a degree, I understand the feelings and mindset associated with compulsive hoarding. You think that every single thing you keep, you will use later and be glad you kept it - regardless of whether or not it is in the foreseeable future. A compulsive hoarder may even, in my opinion, believe that they would eventually get over not having all the clutter, but it's the initial separation and decision-making that shuts them down to making progress. The emotionally and psychologically painful job of decluttering seems insurmountable and where do you begin!? Some things I have a tendency to collect are newspaper for starting fires in the fireplace and crafts, magazines for crafts, and other bits and pieces of things, mainly for crafts or any other project that I might find that bit or piece suitable for. The difference is, I have a point where I am able to let go of things after a certain point (stop retaining new items that cross my path). Sometimes I do find myself keeping things, that I eventually throw away, that only have partial use, if any. Like my daughter's Dr. Seuss book that she decided to draw in one day, but I thought she could still look at a while longer. Well, she already knows her ABC's and who needs a book with scribbles on half the pages? The book went in the trash today! Minimalism: The Contrast to Hoarding I've gotten to the point where I love voluntary simplicity and minimalism. I look around my home and just see most everything as "stuff" that I would be better off and "lighter" without. I feel overwhelmed at times when I look around. Those feelings are stronger right after I've done something stressful or tedious, and there are still some rooms that need to be picked up. However, I have a healthy conviction to do what needs to be done in a considerable amount of time. Being repulsed by something doesn't necessarily drive a person to change it. They have a problem that needs to be solved. Perhaps this question can be posed. How can I be the efficient, frugal, witty, and ingenious person I am determined to be in a more organized, cleanly, and less wasteful way than to hoard? My house is not over-cluttered, but as much as I want to declutter more, it still hurts to think about getting rid of things in large quantities. And, I find myself putting off decluttering in small ways because I tend to do "all or nothing". Still, I know that I will do whatever I have to do. I like to prepare for things far in advance, so sometimes this angst (should I tackle this task now or later?) stems from knowing that I have more time. Therefore, I have an allowance for letting certain tasks linger. Which toys should I keep for my daughter and which should I not keep when she plays with everything? We often live in delusion by these types of obstacles because people will use what's there to be used. Therefore, we keep them because we see a "need" for them. Go to Simple Living from Compulsive Hoarding
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