Is your home cluttered? Is this a normal problem, or is it a hoarding disorder?

Is there a pile of papers on your desk? Are there clothes scattered all over the room? Sometimes when you see things like this, you might think, "Oh, I have that hoarding disorder too?" But don't worry. Most of the time, it's not as serious as we think. However, there's a big difference between just having a little clutter in your home and hoarding, which is a condition that really needs medical attention. Let's talk about that today.

So what is this condition called 'Hoarding'?

Simply put, Hoarding Disorder is a mental illness. What happens in this is that a large amount of things that have no value and are useless are collected. Also, when you think about getting rid of or throwing away even a little of these collected things, you feel a lot of mental pain and anxiety. Just think, some people may have about 40 spoons of the same type. Even things like old newspaper clippings, empty yogurt cups, and used tea bags are very valuable to them. Because of this, they do not feel like getting rid of these things. When this condition becomes serious, they lose the ability to live in the house.

• Maybe even the bathroom has become a place to store things.
• There is no place to sit in a chair in the living room.
• There is no place to cook in the kitchen.
• To walk inside the house, there is only a small path that can barely be walked between two piles of stuff.

This condition also has a big impact on family life. When a husband or wife keeps bringing unnecessary things into the house, the other person can't handle it and has big problems. Since 2013, this hoarding disorder has been recognized as a separate mental illness. It is estimated that between 2% and 5% of the world's population has this condition. Some studies show that this condition may be a form of the mental illness called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD . It may also be related to conditions such as ADHD (attention deficit disorder) and dementia (memory loss disease).

So what is the general disorder called 'clutter'?

It is normal for most of us to have some things scattered here and there in our homes, and there is a little mess. But we can move around safely inside that house. If a friend or relative comes to our house, we can tidy it up a bit. Rooms are used for their own purposes. For example, the bathroom is used for bathing, not as a place to store papers. Some people like to collect various things. But those things have some value or personal significance. For example, collecting stamps, collecting old coins, and things that decorate the house for the holidays. Looking at these things brings joy and pride, not shame or sadness like in the case of hoarding.

Can we easily understand the difference between these two?

How do you recognize that this could be a problem?

If your hoarding is affecting your daily life, it's a sign of danger. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you pay for the same things over and over again because you can't find them at home?
• Are you having trouble inviting guests over because of the clutter in your home? Or are you having financial problems because of it?
• Are you not paying your bills on time because you can't find them at home?
• Is it hard to cook on time because of the mess in the kitchen?
• Does anyone in your family constantly complain about your accumulation of stuff? Does it cause family fights?
• Are your only steps inside your house, barely able to crawl through piles of stuff?
• When you look at this pile of stuff, do you think, "I can't control this"? Or do you feel sad and disappointed with yourself ?

If your answer to these questions is "yes", it means that your confusion is starting to become a problem for you and others.

Here are some tips to control this situation:

1. Be mindful of your habits

Where do you put a letter when you bring it home? If you understand exactly how your stuff accumulates, you can get an idea of ​​how to stop it. For example, why not put the junk mail in the trash as soon as you get it out of the mailbox?

2. Identify the problem precisely

Many people say, "I cleared the table, but it's all back again." When you talk like this, you're avoiding the problem. "They" aren't the problem, your habits are. So, understand that "it's because of my habits that the table is messed up again."

3. Set clear boundaries.

It's not clear to think, "I'm going to cut down on my shopping." Instead, have a clear goal, like, "I'm going to limit my clutter to these two rooms."

4. Accept that staying organized is a lifelong challenge.

This is like losing weight. After you lose 20 kilos, you need help maintaining that weight. You may gain another 2-3 kilos. Then you have to work hard to keep it off by another 5-10 kilos. The process is the same.

5. Get professional help

If you're having trouble managing this situation on your own, don't be shy about asking for help.

• Medical Advice: If you think you may have Hoarding Disorder , the best thing to do is to see your doctor. He or she can examine you properly and determine if it is due to another condition, such as depression or ADHD . They can also refer you to highly effective treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT ) .

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