Fellow "hoarders", are any of you sick of being told that you're ill?

Question

I am!

I don't hoard junk. I collect lots of things that truly do interest me, and things that I enjoy in one way or another, as do many other so-called "hoarders". I love wind chimes, for example, and have a bunch of them. I also love books about various subjects (all of which I read). And I adore "nick nacks" that light up, make noises, and do other things. I'm a movie "nut".... I have many DVDs and VHS tapes, and I look forward to watching as many of them as I can when I have free time. I still have lots of childhood toys, photos, clothing, and so forth, and I'm overjoyed each time I dump it all out and reminisce as I look through all my "treasures".

How can this be an illness? Why do people refer to it as such? As I said, I don't hoard junk. How can the things I have mean that I'm ill if I'm happy and if my home is clean and organized?

No, no, no.... I really do have a clean and organized home. There is plenty of space, as I am constantly re-organizing. I always dust, sweep, and blah blah blah.... Hell, I'm often cleaning while on line (since I have a hand-held computer-- clean a little, type a little... LOL).

Answer 1

You're not a hoarder, you're a collector. There is a difference. I have a friend who is truly a hoarder. Will not throw away a piece of wire, metal, pipe, you name it...just in case it might be used ten years from now. I refer to it as a keeper, as someone who might have lived through the depression where everything counted because most people didn't have much, so you had to make do, so you reused everything. In this day and age, it tends to be unbelievable clutter and most people don't want a cluttered life. So, you see, you are a collector!

Answer 2

If you really do have a use for all of these things as you say, then maybe you aren't really a "hoarder". I think the ones that are "ill" are more likely to hold onto useless items such as old prescription bottles and papers. Hoarders also tend to live in piles of junk. If you collect items and store them neatly, I don't see any problem with it.

Answer 3

yes I'm a world class hoarder.I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.I don't want 2 b a hoarder . I'm ILL and INSANE what do u treat first.My hoared treasures are good things also, but now we're into towers of good things. I past organized so fast I did'nt see it . My family throws it out with a lecture on how much better I will feel. The doc gives me pills and tells me ,how much better I will feel. It's a diffeniate no go, so far. HAA meetings free and a mentor, as soon as we can find a recovering hoarder.keep on hoardinggggggggg.

Answer 4

I'm a book collector myself. I see nothing wrong with it. Your collecting is not on the level of the people we see in the papers who are called hoarders. You may want to think about the person or persons calling you ill, and decide if possibly they're working out a little hostility trying to make you feel bad over nothing. Passive aggressive folk work that way quite a bit. I know, I'm married to one.

Answer 5

You suggest that your house is clean and tidy, however I have serious doubts about this. You may percieve this as such, yet be blind to the obvious anarchy that exists. If your house is clean and organized as you contend, then you do not hoard items. However, by your description, it appears that you do indeed hoard and therefore you are ill.
Keep in mind that a person who is ill may not be conscious of the realities around them, and simply percieve them in an abnormal pathological way. It may be worthwhile to consider if you have OCD, especially with your compulsion to collect useless artifacts. Consult a therapist for a more thorough objective perspective.

Answer 6

Everyone is a hoarder to some degree.

Answer 7

i'm sick of the dust and the boxes.