Hoarding

Compulsive hoarding, which may affect up to 2 million people in the United States,

There appear to be 3 core features of compulsive hoarding:

1.) The inability to discard objects due to severe anxiety related to discarding what most might regard as inconsequential objects.

2.) Excessive clutter on floors, tables, sofas and beds making the space inhabitable.

3.) Significant degree of indecisiveness, disorganization, and procrastination.

Accompanying the above are typically the fears of losing something valuable, of not having items you might need and objects having sentimental value that are irreplaceable.

With Hoarding: Behaviors range from a person' having a cluttered environment to having far too much stuff for the available space. Often renting storage units to hold the overflow.

With Checking: Behaviors include checking to see if a window or door is locked, the oven is turned off and may end up needing to repeat the step many times before being able to move on to something else.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder): manifest in a wide variety of ways and end up significantly interfering with one's daily life.

Recent studies 2011, suggest that Hoarding behaviors may actually become classified as a separate disorder.

Concerned or suspect that you, a family member, a friend or neighbor may be struggling with issues of hoarding?

1. If your friend or neighbor routinely avoids having you come inside their home, if you avoid having visitors. ( A way to avoid embarrassment )

2. Your friend always wants to meet somewhere else (Your place, a restaurant, mall or movie theater, etc.)

3. Anxiety or worry may be an ongoing theme in your conversations or interactions

4. You observe many animals in and around the place of work or residence

5. Compulsive shopping

Of course, there may be other reasons for these patterns to exist, just something to consider. Most people have something they want or need to work on, a trained therapist is there to help not pass judgment.

The "collector" has a few treasured items that are regularly tended to, dusted and proudly displayed.

On the other hand, clutter may include collectable items but have grown out of control in numbers, are not regularly maintained, tended to, proudly displayed and often find their way into boxes, storage units, behind or under other items. Often they in the way or so far buried it has long been forgotten. Objects may be strewn about or wedged into drawers; neatly stacked or stuffed into bags/ boxes or backrooms.

The brain chemistry of a compulsive shopper is different.



Take Note If:

You ever feel guilty, ashamed, embarrassed or hide your purchases/ leave in trunk of car until it's safe to bring in the house?
Your shopping habits have created conflicts between you and someone close to you.
Your items haven't been worn or still have the tags on them
You lie or fabricate about how much you spend?
You often juggle accounts/ credits cards/ payments just to manage your spending habits?

When a compulsive shopper is feeling "out of sorts, typically they shop for a " pick-me-up." They go out and buy, to get a high, or get a "rush" just like a drug or alcohol addict and believe that if they shop they will feel better. However, compulsive shopping and spending generally makes a person feel worse

Compulsive shopping is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions. And while Shopping Addiction is not a recognized mental health or medical disorder, many mental health professionals believe it should be.

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

* My closet has unopened shopping bags in it.
* Others might consider me a "shopaholic."
* Much of my life centers around buying things.
* I buy things I don't need.
* I buy things I did not plan to buy.
* I consider myself an impulse purchaser.