Hoarding Disorder: See How It Can Be Different From Collection

Hoarding can become pathological We usually buy things when we need them. Sometimes we pick up things that we might not need but they give us pleasure. All this behaviour is natural and healthy. However, if somebody collects and stores things to the extent that it might interfere with their everyday lives, then it might be something to worry about a little. Hoarding isn’t always pathological for instance some hoarded oxygen cylinders in fear of shortage during the second wave of COVID-19. In some cases, it becomes pathological when somebody collects things in a highly chaotic manner, resulting in an unmanageable amount of clutter in their living space.Deprived childhood There could be many reasons behind this behaviour such as a deprived childhood, having a family history of hoarding, having grown up in a cluttered home or sometimes it could be a symptom of other mental health conditions like depression, dementia or obsessive-compulsive disorder.Different from collection Hoarding is different from the collection. A person who collects things such as newspapers or currency might be doing it for some purpose and the process is well ordered, and organized and items are accessible. Hoarding on the other hand is very disorganized. One might block door exits or the house could be cluttered to the extent that the objects picked are not accessible.Difficulty in discarding People who might be having a hoarding disorder might collect unspecific things which might have no monetary value such as carrier bags and others. They might find it difficult to organize the items or put them under categories. They might exhibit overwhelming emotions when it comes to discarding these items.Unhygienic living spaces Hoarding disorder can make life difficult. It can affect people by leading to unhygienic living spaces that are cluttered all the time, breeding grounds for insects and infections. The condition will also affect the social life of people affected by it as people might avoid such cluttered, not maintained spaces. They might also fall or trip which can make the experience unpleasant.