Question

Today, there are many reality shows about hoarders. This condition is often misunderstood and difficult to break. What does hoarding mean to you? Do you know anyone who you would consider to be a hoarder? Have you ever had a strong attachment to an item (wedding ring, childhood toy, etc.). If yes, share your experience and if you were able to break the attachment.

Answer 1

Hoarding for me is a general tendency to accumulate and store items. However, hoarding can become a disorder when an individual faces persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. People with hoarding disorder excessively save items that others may view as worthless. They have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions, leading to clutter that disrupts their ability to use their living or work spaces.

I personally never faced hoarding tendencies and neither have I come across anyone who hoards excessively. Because my father was in a transferable job, I have grown up continuously shifting houses and discarding unnecessary items. However, I had a strong emotional attachment to my childhood blanket. Recently, I had to get rid of it because it started to tear and I had to move homes. Although I felt very upset letting it go at that point in time, I now barely even think about it.