How do you cure a pack rat?

Question

my mom has lots of s**t, like old papers and newspapers twice as old as i'am and bags full of other crap at her house. I've tried to throw crap away it just comes back to same point it was before. she has tons of papers from the 70's and 80's before i was born and there all useless nothing of any importance is on them, how do you cure a pack rat

Answer 1

I know someone whose house was condemned - unfit for human occupancy and listed as a fire hazzard because of too much paper and crap! It may come to that- I think she needs professional help. NO ONE needs to keep all of that crap.

Answer 2

Look up hoarders and OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Most people are very difficult to treat and most don't want help or think they have a problem. They hoard for various reasons. Just try to help her clean up stuff. Many times it can also be due to the fact they have problems making decisions on what they "might need some day." Very frustrating. Other collect things for emotional reasons (security). One thing is that pictures can be taken of items (projects) and they can keep a photo album of their previous belongings instead of saving every item. Shopping addictions are involved in some cases as well. A therapist can help if she has health insurance.

Answer 3

She may have other obsessive behaviors. First, you need to be there to assist her. She probably has no idea where to start. Have her make 3 piles when you begin in a small area. Save (1) Donate (2) Use (3). Remove the donate pile immediately. Now, what you save is kept for one month. The use items is put out but if you buy something you have to remove something. At the end of 1-3 months anything you didn't miss in the save pile leaves in the next donate shipment. See, alot of her weight fluctuation clothes are out of style and she won't wear them again. She can also reward herself at a consignment shop too with her sales. It takes time, don't forget. Look how long it took for you to get in the shape you are in now at the house.

Answer 4

I married into a family of pack rats. I tried cleaning out my husbands stuff, but he just gets more. Twenty five years later,he still can remember all the useless stuff I threw away. When my in laws died and we had to clean out all their 'treasures', I was overwhelmed. We still have a storage building of all the stuff my husband could not bear to part with. He never goes to check on it...he just want to 'have' it. Think Jeff Foxworthy does a joke about people who come back from the dump with more than they left with.

If your moms stuff is not causing any kind of hazard, let her have her stuff. Does she expect you to clean for her? Love her just the way she is. If you can figure out a way to change people then you will be a very rich person indeed.

There is a song by Delbert McClinton called, "Too Much Stuff". Do give it a listen.

Answer 5

Someone who hordes useless things to that extent has deep seated emotional problems. The only hope you have of seeing any change is to get her to a counsellor.

Answer 6

Paxil. She'll need to see a psychiatrist to get the prescription.

Edit: sorry, it's a treatment, not a cure. She'd have to take it every day for the rest of her life. (Also, it's addictive. The doctor will tell you it's not... but he'd be lying.)

Answer 7

yup they are right there is no cure...
maybe rat poinson?? jp jp
talk to em i guess

Answer 8

u cant, and u shouldent she has alought more sence than u do
or probly will ever have.