An addiction to possessions

Hoarding is a realm of addiction that is not explored very often, but has come to light with all of the TV shows out there now on the topic. From what I have learned, many people hoard possessions after suffering a tragic loss. It can be as bad, if not worse, than substance abuse because many times these people live in filth and an unhealthy environment. Have any of you ever known a hoarder?

Yes, I've absolutely known hoarders. The neighbours who lived next door to my old house were hoarders. They did also tend to be quite messy, dirty and not very hygienic as you suggested is often the case. What I find strange is that it's only a small house and four people live there - the mother and father and their two sons, who are also both adults. They all work at the same place and they all pay the mortgage on the house between them. With four people I can't imagine there would be too much room there as it is and yet they just keep on hoarding stuff!

You are right that hoarding is an addiction that is less discussed. I become more aware of it because of those shows and documentaries that are being shown on local channels here. I do not know someone personally who suffer from this kind of addiction.

I think that anything you can't stop doing, no matter what that is, can be classed as an addiction. Obviously some are more harmful than others though and I think that's the main point.

If its not doing you or anybody else and harm, and you can even say you enjoy doing it, its not just a habit but a hobby, then there nothing wrong to being addicted to it.

Hoarding can be just as dangerous as drug and alcohol addiction because of the health and safety issues that tend to go along with it. Rodents and bugs love filth and so they can infest your house quickly, especially if they can hide among your belongings. There is also the food issues in the kitchen and other rooms of the house because many hoarders do not throw away their garbage. I have never personally known a hoarder, bit I could not even imagine how bad their homes must smell.

My parents are this way inclined. Not as bad as what you see on the Hoarders TV show, but they have unnecessary junk everywhere, and buy stuff that doesn't really have a purpose except creating more clutter. Their house is always a mess, and I think really the hoarding is because both my folks are dealing with their own depression/anxiety issues.

It made me into quite a minimalist though, I was always embarrassed of our house being a mess as a kid. These days I don't like to have a ton of possessions, mainly just what's essential and that's it!

My mom has a room devoted to clutter, so it does not spill out into the rest of the house, but she has a tendency to buy things she does not need either. I think that this is because she was quite poor as a child and now has the means to get things that she wants. She only buys things in cash, so it does not put on a financial burden either. I buy a few things I don't need, but I donate a lot, so it all evens out in the end

I have known a few people who would keep things, that they think could come in hand as they would have a full garage or room with junk mostly and also it was taking too much room. It can be a addiction, and it can be dangerous as sometimes people may go through a tragedy and also think it is a good way to live and hoarding things is not really bad. I hope these sort of people try and come out of it, and lead a positive life that can change them in a good way and also do more in their life as well.

One of the issues that many hoarders face is the feeling of loss. Perhaps they lost a loved one or got a divorce and that is when the hoarding starts. Possessions do not go away unless you purge them. The act of buying or aquiring new items is also something that makes you feel good. At some point though, that new item loses its flair and you have to buy something else in order to get the temporary high back.

I know a few people who may be classified as hoarders. I believe that there is the need to fill some void. So one person I know collects bottles, she says its a hobby, but there is no display to the items, there's no particular color or shape or size to the bottles. It just builds up clutter and invites the rodents. She also tends to live very frugally, and although she can afford to buy things, she prefers to shop at thrift stores and collect items, that she keeps "just in case someone needs something"

It's usually a pretty deep issue as to why. If this is going on usually it actually will be an indication of other parts of their life having problems. It is part of their individual well being. More than likely there is some sort of childhood neglect at the root of it. They were neglected and probably their mother neglected their home as well.

Reading this reminds me of my MIL. She was 'adopted' by her aunt. Her mom is really lazy and did not take care of her. She used to work to pay for her studies. Now, living in her house, there are a lot of stuff in here. Even old bottles of perfumes or lotions are kept way beyond their expiration dates. Books from gradeschool of her children are still here. The house is very dirty when you look closely. They only clean the surface, not under the bed or the sofa.

Hoarding is real! I have a family member that simply drives me nuts with this. I mean she has no more available space in her home to put anything but fills the need to add more stuff. I've learned that people like this often try to fill voids in their life with things as some do this with food.

The hoarders that I have seen on tv are the extreme types, and I have never encountered anyone that is on that level. I do love to buy a lot of things that I don't need, and it feels good emotionally, so I think that's how they feel as well. But they hold on to junk and useless things as well which makes me think that they get emotinally attached to anything that they get to own.

Yes, I've been a hoarder in the past. Fortunately that's a phase of my life that I managed to overcome. The good news is that I didn't take an active initiative to stop hoarding. I just ran out of space and decided to stop buying more stuff I didn't really need. I may even be selling some of my stuff soon and pursue a minimal lifestyle.

I sometimes find it hard to throw my old stuff away, as I get pretty attached to some of it - even if I barely use it. I had never had my room (or house) full of useless things though. Yes, I understand, sometimes it may be hard to throw away something that has your memories bound to it, but for God's sake, that doesn't mean to keep anything only because it is old!

Maybe that's just the key, eh? Hoarders need to have no more room left to stop hoarding lol. I do give away my stuff to when I realise that my closet is full already. But if it's not, I keep on buying clothes and bags. It really is a hard mentality to overcome. I guess living a minimal lifestyle is the best way to go. I may start pondering on that too.

People had different mentality when it comes to buying or hoarding things. But thanks that I am the kind of person who spend wisely and I see to it that I will buy only the basic necessities or important things we need in our everyday life. Nowadays we should value the money we had earned coming from our hard work. We should always remember that...Just live with the means of our income...

Sadly, I think I might have a mild hoarding problem. I always like to have my space and things, and I always keep everything related to me in such a way that no one can get it. I get really possesive with my stuff, I don't think it's a good thing.