I save everything, WHY? (serious answers from qualified people, Please)?

Question

I cannot throw anything away that looks like an animal or person, or if it has moving parts. Sometimes I even find it hard to throw away a totally inanimate objest if I have had it for a long time. ie.a toaster, even if it doesn't work I feel obligated to repair it because in my mind it has somekind of "life" in it. Let me know . I would like to know if this is way out there, and I should seek proffesssional help.

Answer 1

You have some sort of compulsive disorder, do seek professional help before this gets out of hand.

This may also be know as hoarding.

Please view the following links for more information.

http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/index_hoarding.html

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?encquery=eb7c3910698aa705&invocationType=keyword_rollover&ie=UTF-8

Answer 2

It sounds like hoarding. But only you know the real reason. I have a friend that buys and stores everything. For example, he has a major "paperweight collection", "matchbox cars", "books", "colored glass things", "old radios" old tv's", I mean anything and everything. He saves these things in his house, you can barely walk in to his place. Everything is stacked from floor to ceiling in labeled boxes. The only way to move around is by walking through little paths. He double locks his doors and the windows are blacked out- so no one can see and be tempted to steal his "valuables". A few times, he actually "patted" me down when I left, to make sure I didn't swipe anything. His condition is so severe, off the charts. For certain his condition is hoarding. His justification is that one day, he'll post everything on eBay and sell them for a huge profit. He visits thrift shops on a daily basis and "collects" more things- useless dust collectors. Now, he has in addition to his home as a storage facility- he rents small and large warehouses at a major cost- to store these worthless artifacts. I've know him for many, many years, and his "collection grows each and every day. He will pick things up from the side of the street and bring it home. I have a feeling that these "collectables" are a substitute for relationships with people. They are his friends, his companions, lovers, etc. It is a peculiar disorder, OCD- is the one thing that comes to mind. I'm sure that there are many other phycological terms that could be used to categorize these conditions.

Answer 3

I am the same way you are... I save everything because I don't think I'm being fair to stuff by throwing it away. Everything has a sentimental value.

I've improved a lot, though... Just force yourself to throw away things you haven't used before and thing you know you'll never use again. The worst thing you can do is ask someone to "help" you clean out because then you'll get frustrated every time they want to toss something.

Lastly, you don't have to throw out everything-- be sure to keep the things you really value. But the hardest part is forcing yourself to figure out what is really important in your life and what you can live without.

Good luck.

Answer 4

That, my friend, is a form of OD/OCD, Obsessive Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disoder. I have it to. I cant eat gummy bears if they're smiling, have to chew equal amounts on both sides of my mouth, eat M'n'M's in twos and by color, feel empathic towards inanimate objects, etc. You arent alone, there are many people who have pact-rat-like tendencies. This maybe from an earlier experience, maybe you're subconsiously dealing with the loss of an old pet, favorite toy, something along those lines. Or you may also, like me, just not want to "kill", per say, inanimate objects because you feel they have "life" and technically you are "murdering" them. Thats perfectly fine. Thats why I cant eat gummy bears. You may want to personally research this topic, try googling (yes, its a verb) OCD. You might want to think back to when, where, and why you started keeping things like this and what effect is had on you so far. You might even want to see a doctor or therapist to diagnose, help, and cure you.

I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 5

You don't have to get professional help, I USED TO THINK THE SAME THING when I was younger! I just sorta got over it, when I started thinking, c'mon what are the real possibilities of it being alive! It doesn't say ow when you drop it, and for your case, do you know how to repair a toaster? If so then keep it, it'll save u money than buying a new one. If not, just toss it. Nothing gonna happen, you'll eventually forget about it.

Answer 6

maybe there was a time that u used to live in poverty or u felt that u r deprived of essentials.. may be there is no direct reason ..
everyone has his own little "craziness" .. if it doesn't bother u too much then u shouldn't do anything about it ..
still if u feel that it's getting worst there are very safe medications that helps OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) such as SSRI (serotonin selective re uptake inhibitor) .. which are used against depression too and are almost without side effects

Answer 7

Its a rat-pack system. You have an unconscious need to be surrounded by things thinking it will satisfy you but it only piles up and you end up having more garbage than useable stuff. Take the simple life - less is more. Its not a cause for you to seek professional help but it might help to see one soon just to nip it at the bud instead of waiting for it to become a full-blown problem.

Answer 8

Some people call it hoarding and it is actually a mental condition, kinda sorta like obessive complusive behaviour.

If you want it to stop you have to find out the root cause. Best to speak to a professional.

Good Luck.

Answer 9

HeII your OK your just a packrat!! But i am a packrat to. Ive got old light bills from the 70's water bills from the 70's And this one here is a dandy Ive got a gas receipt from where i went on a trip back in 73. gas was 41 since a gallon then..So it's ok don't worry about it...From a REAL Nutcase!!"""NUT'S"""..PS ...did i win...did i win....did i win????

Answer 10

dearest steelhwyman

i was just like you until the last month in every single word .........
and you know what ? i dealed with it i mean not really completely
but i am doing it .
and my sister was the idea .
one night and after i have just slept she took most of the unworking things that i unnaturally keep and she just throw them away i woke up the next morning and i just began to scream and shout and hit ............... her friends tried to stop me as me and my sister live alone and they only told me that those things are dead but i just cried and went away and i didn't talk to my sister for a week .
and now i just go every night to the garden at the back of our house and i sadly bury them after all i can still visit them and
i painfully talk to them .
at least they are still with me and beside me at least they are left
unharmed finally i mean who will ever know about them any more . i know very well that i am not solving any thing but why can't we just imagine it ?
after all they are still with me may be not so close enough but they are closer than where they would have been now if i didn't do that
believe me I'm only trying to protect them ..............the only love
i have ever knew .......................................................good luck .