Compulsive hoarding is not collecting. A person with a hoarding disorder is often unable to perceive their mess in the same way that outsiders do.
There is no logical reason for hoarding behaviour. It is almost certainly a sign of a mental illness or at the very least an indication that there is altered brain function.
Research into obsessive compulsive hoarding disorder is starting to reveal that there may be specific brain alterations in people who hoard. Interpretation of this evidence suggests that the parts of the brain that regulate the ability to focus attention for prolonged periods and make decisions is damaged or not fully functioning in the compulsive hoarder.
In the extreme an obsessive compulsive hoarding disorder can be defined as a psychiatric condition that compels a person to accumulate goods and disables them from getting rid of these same objects.
So how can you tell the difference between an enthusiastic collector, a clutterer, and a person with a hoarding disorder?
The answer lies in the reasons for the accumulation of stuff, the effect that the behaviour has on the person's life, and the amount of control that the individual has over the behaviour.
The Hoarder
The Clutterer
The Collector
Clearly there are differences between collecting, cluttering, and compulsive hoarding that show the differences in the pride and pathology that can be both the cause and effect of accumulating stuff.
The organized environment has many effects on human health and well being. At www.organization-makes-sense.com Beverly OMalley invites you to learn more about how to create more peaceful spaces in your own organized home.