Updated December 6, 2022
Hoarding is today recognized as a disorder rather than simply an issue of being disorganized or having too much 'stuff' with no where to put it. According to the Mayo Clinic hoarding is a common symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Despite the fact hoarding can potentially be harmful to your mental and physical health, it's good to know that it's a very treatable problem. The first step is recognizing there's a problem in the first place. That can be tricky when seen through the eyes of a hoarder.
Keeping your home clean and tidy is great for your psyche. A cluttered home can actually cause you to stress out more often, and it even lead to physical injuries. In fact, the CDC states that falls are the leading cause of injury and death in the home amongst seniors. Keep that in mind the next time you're in the house and trip over stacks of junk-filled boxes or step on the porcelain Precious Moments figurine that'd been missing for months (ouch!).
If your 'collecting' is bordering on out-of-control, use the infographic created by MyMove.com titled Are You a Hoarder to take a more light-hearted approach to diagnosing the problem.
