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Up Down. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Do you provide any unpaid care and support to a family member, relative, partner, friend or neighbour? Yes No. Many people will refer to themselves as collectors, or pack rats, but seldom few will openly admit to being a hoarder.
So, what exactly is the difference? Finding out is key to identifying a problem. Although some collectors might be holding onto something special for its potential future value, money is usually not the motivation. Collectors usually build their treasure troves due to an emotional connection to a particular object or idea.
Some people collect stamps or coins, while others may collect specific comic books or specialized toys. There is a feeling of reward and satisfaction when adding new items to a collection, and for some the thrill is in the search for the perfect find. The compulsion to collect forms in early childhood when we attach ourselves to comfort items, and when kept in check this can be a healthy and enjoyable hobby. However, in extreme forms collecting can become an addiction.
Some people struggle to throw things away, and can become incredibly distressed by doing so. This is usually a sign of disposophobia, one of the symptoms of hoarding disorder. Hoarders have a psychological addiction to collecting and saving items — even at the cost of their own health. People who suffer from hoarding disorder tend to experience a much more intense sense of responsibility for the items they collect, escalating their psychological ownership to an unhealthy extreme.
The joy of collecting can spiral into an unhealthy compulsion as the result of trauma. Being somewhat disorganized or having a bit of clutter does not necessarily make a collector a hoarder, but someone can be pushed over the edge if other mental health issues start to take hold. The death of a loved one and other tragic, life changing events may have the potential to turn a collector into a full blown hoarder, especially if other illnesses like OCD or PTSD are present.
While some collectors might need a little bit of help clearing some clutter from time to time, hoarders will often be living in full blown squalor. There will be more than a little disorganization here or there, the disarray will impact the entire home.
Access to the home. Collectors will generally have a designated area to store and display their things. Hoarders, on the other hand, can block off entire rooms of their house with the size of their collection, causing them to be anywhere from unsafe to completely unusable. The extreme distress that hoarders feel when discarding their things goes way beyond the begrudging feelings of a collector who has to downsize.
Decision making. Hoarders often will not have the mental toolkit for problem-solving, and they will usually be unable to make important decisions regarding their belongings. A true hoarder will struggle to make healthy decisions for their belongings. There is a psychological benefit to collecting.
People often feel a sense of pride or accomplishment towards a nicely displayed, intentionally curated collection. Hoarders, on the other hand, tend to feel strongly ashamed and isolate themselves from others so their collections can never be seen. May also occur in living spaces, but does not prevent them from being used as intended. Items may cause mild distress, but generally do not have broad or lasting impact on finances, work, social life, etc.
The thought of getting rid of items or not acquiring any more does not cause distress. Collecting Items center around a specific theme, e. Items are acquired through planned searches. Items are mainly purchased and are limited in number. Items do not take over living spaces. Items usually have a positive or pleasurable impact. Collecting usually does not cause financial distress, nor impairment in work, social life, etc. Squalor No intentional saving of items. No intentional saving or acquiring of items.
Build-up is instead due to neglect or inability to remove them. Home is generally in a state of disrepair, may look unclean or unkempt. State of home has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of all inhabitants, and may have a broader impact on surrounding homes. In This Section What is Hoarding? Is it Hoarding, Clutter, Collecting, or Squalor?
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