A collector will say that some objects are more important or valuable than others. To a hoarder, every object is good for something. Everything is important, even if it’s useless or broken.
Collectors are delighted to show off and talk about what they have. Their collection is a source of pride. Hoarders are ashamed and embarrassed to let anyone see all their stuff. Their collection is a source of shame.
When the floor is no longer visible, and the furniture is buried under stuff, that’s clearly hoarding. But small indiscriminate piles throughout the house as in the picture above are classified as hoarding, too.
A collector, even one who is very attached to his/her stuff, will reach a point when they realize it’s time to start paring down. To them, clearing the clutter feels good, even if it’s hard. For a hoarder, letting go of anything increases anxiety. The more they’re encouraged to let go, the more they want to hold on.
You don’t have to be a hoarder to feel that your stuff is taking over your life. If you’re ready to downsize and you’d like help we can help you! As Senior Move Managers, we’re experts in helping long-time collectors declutter in an efficient and compassionate way.
If you or someone you care about has a hoarding problem you can find help at https://hoarding.iocdf.org where you can a wide variety of professionals and resources to help you.