Most of us are familiar with the term “hoarding”, but what exactly is it?
Hoarding is not equivalent to collecting, as collectors carefully choose the items they keep and take pride in them. Hoarding happens when you amass things other people would typically discard and are ashamed of them. Hoarders usually have difficulty parting with trivial items because of extreme attachment or sentimental value and would feel anxious when they are thrown away. The belief that something might be needed in the future also compels some people to hoard stuff that doesn’t serve any purpose as of the moment.
Hoarding can cause serious problems when not given proper solutions. It can lead to:
- Loss of living space inside the house
- Health and fire hazards
- Family and financial problems
- A sense of isolation
Clinically, serious hoarding is classified as a mental disorder related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If you feel that you have a real hoarding problem and are crippled by it mentally and psychologically, seek a specialist. On the other hand, if you think that you’ve accumulated so much stuff in your place and do not feel an intense loss about throwing them away, or you just think about the work you have to do to de-clutter, you can get rid of the unnecessary things by following these tips:
- Assess the object’s usefulness. Every time you feel tempted to bring something into your home, think carefully if you have a great need for that object. You may feel you have some use for it as of the moment, but it might just end up shelved and gathering dust.
- Isolate! Place objects with no pressing need inside a box, and when a month passes and you forget about them, you might as well discard them. This helps if you can’t decide if you want to keep something or not.
- Donate and recycle. If there are items in your closet that you no longer use, such as an old dress or a pair of jeans, donate them. Recycle old newspapers, magazines, and junk mail. If you have old items you want as keepsakes, such as your drawings in grade school or report cards in high school, choose one to three items and discard the rest. Toys you have long outgrown can go into a donation box or a yard sale; keep the special ones and let the others find new owners.
Hoarding can be addictive, but it can be prevented by following the right steps. Every time you are tempted to hold on to something, recall this article! If you need help with other household problems, such as water damage, fire damage, and mold, ServiceMaster of Savannah is an expert in water and fire damage restoration as well as mold remediation in Savannah, Georgia. We are always ready to help you! Call us 24/7 at 912-244-6966.
