Hoarding is becoming a more prevalent problem.  There are basically two types of hoarders.  The first type believes that there may be a shortage of various items at some point in the future or have a fear of throwing things away that may be needed in the future.  At times, this can include hazardous and unsanitary items.  The second type involves attaching sentimental beliefs to various items causing the individual to hoard them item and avoid throwing items away.  The behavior of hoarding is believed to be in the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Behaviors of hoarding/cluttering may include but are not limited to:

·       Save possessions thinking you will use them later

·       Believing most items have a sentimental value so you must hold on to them

·       Having more stuff in your house than you can handle

·       Feeling embarrassed to have guests in your home

·       Difficulty putting items back in their proper place

·       Home is unmanageable and no longer functions as a home

·       Feeling guilt and shame to share this problem with another person

·       Having a weakness for bargain items, freebies, or yard sales

·       Is your bed, garage, and various rooms so full of stuff in the house that they are unusable

·       Feeling the clutter is so much that you can’t even begin to deal with it

·       Home is now a safety hazard and a fire hazard

·       Unable to find important paperwork or documentation necessary for your life and/or business

·       Difficulty making decisions

·       Renting storage space because your house is too full

·       Being easily sidetracked

·       Habit of doing things for others but neglecting yourself

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