what do you call it when someone is obessed by having possessions, and unable to get rid of anything,?

Question

I know someone who has all kinds of stuff stored away in boxes some for over 30 years, and can not even remember what is in them but is fiscally unable to get rid of any of it. what is some like this called and what would cause someone to be like that,

Answer 1

It is a feature of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (different from OCD); it's also called "Anal-Retentive."

They are also obsessed with lists, doing things over and over because its "not done right" and never actually getting anything done, and they are usually very stubborn and tight with their money.

Your friend could just be a "pack rat" though, and not fit the full criteria of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.

Answer 2

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - it has many forms, "collecting / hoarding" things that others would consider unnecessary to have (newspapers, clothes, books, furniture) around, is one of them.

I've known lots of people like this. One built a beautiful house on the lake and then over the years it became so cluttered no guests would come in the door. Another was living in a hotel room and had boxes and suitcases piled to the ceiling wall-to-wall, bathroom too. The fire department finally took it all and kicked her out. The third would collect absolutely anything, nuts, bolts, wood, cardboard, tins, glass, stones, shoes, tires - he was actually in the news about it, for being the local 'nutter' all the residents hated.

Answer 3

You call it hoarding.
You cannot do anything about it.
I am not sure why people do it. My boyfriend is a hoarder to the point it has affected our relationship. He is a very generous person. He loves to do nice things for me, but he has boxes and boxes of food, cereal, canned good stored everywhere. 3 freezers full of food. Storage shelves stacked with food. He is unmarried and his children are grown.
He never lived in poverty. As a matter of fact, his mother is a hoarder too. You cannot even walk thru her house. I have dated him for 5 yrs and have only been in her kitchen because you cannot walk anywhere else.
I think its psychological. He can see his mother is a hoarder, but he cannot see that he is one too. Its really frustrating.

Answer 4

Pack Rat

Answer 5

A collector maybe? waiting for another 50years 2 go by so that all this stuff can turn into gold, well at least some of the stuff. I know of people that have real old, old things I mean antiques and they can get lots of cash 4 it if they wanted 2. For intance my mom has this pair of black panthers made of clay and I know that they are at least 35yrs old.

Answer 6

Yes they are hoarders . My landlady is like that and its distressing for her to throw ANYTHING out. She has bales of plastic milk containers, papers any thing. Her family emptied her house into a large bin. When they left she paid me to bring it all back in.It maybe that they are frugal or maybe theyre born like this.

Answer 7

Obsessive-compulsive disorder resulting from her feelings of lack of self worth, and which she compensates for with possessions.

Answer 8

Hoarding. Not sure if there is a definite explanation; it may be part and parcel of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Answer 9

hoarding. They don't want to let go, and it makes them feel safe and comfortable with the stuff. They had a show about it on oprah.

Answer 10

My bad. They are compulsive hoarders.

http://www.helpstartshere.org/mind_and_spirit/obsessions_and_compulsions/real_life_stories/obsessions_and_compulsions_real_life_story.html