Do You Have a Compulsive Hoarding Problem?
Dr. David Tolin says you may have a compulsive hoarding problem if you meet all three of these criteria:
1. You regularly hang onto a large number of possessions that most other people would not consider to be very useful or valuable. For example, many people with compulsive hoarding problems hang on to things like: - Junk mail
- Old catalogs and newspapers
- Things that might be useful for making crafts (although you don't actually get around to using them for that purpose)
- Things you think you might want to give to others as gifts (although you never actually give them)
- Clothes you think you might want to wear someday (but you don't actually wear them)
- Broken things that you think you might want to fix someday (but you never actually get around to fixing them)
- "Freebies" you pick up
- Beds they cannot sleep in
- Kitchens they cannot cook in
- Tables they cannot use for dining
- Chairs or sofas they cannot sit on
- Cannot have friends or family over to their homes because they are so embarrassed by the clutter
- Cannot let repair or maintenance professionals into their homes because they don't want them to see the clutter, so things don't get fixed
- Keep the shades drawn so no one can see inside
- Get into a lot of arguments with family members about the clutter
- Are at risk of fire, falling, infestation or eviction
- Feel depressed or anxious much of the time because of the clutter
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