There are people in this world who like to collect certain things or items to collect. We call them collectors. These people usually have an interest in objects that have historical value and have a unique side, such as old money, old cars, paintings, or stamps. Not even a few have a special room or place to store their collections. Collectors are usually members of the community of fellow lovers of unique objects, from which they often get info related to their hobby.

Slightly similar to collectors, people with hoarding disorder also have a hobby of collecting items. The difference is, the items that are collected are not specific in certain types, aka all of them can be collected. Even items that are no longer useful, damaged, or moldy are still stored! Some time ago, there was a Twitter user who told a story that one of his roommates had a hobby of hoarding things until they turned into a pile of garbage. Unfortunately, the thread on Twitter has been deleted. However, hoarding disorder itself is quite interesting to discuss. Because some of us may not think that people with this disorder are real. How come?

Hoarding disorder occurs when someone has the desire to hoard their belongings even though they are damaged and no longer used

If there are people around you who like to collect things until they become piles of garbage and fill their rooms or homes, they could be categorized as hoarding disorder. This disorder makes the sufferer feel affectionate and reluctant to throw away the object he has, even though the object is damaged and unfit for use. They often pile up all kinds of objects, from food, clothes, plastic bottles, cardboard, to electronic devices such as fans or rice cookers. Not infrequently the objects that are stored get moldy, damaged, and make the environment in which they live becomes unhealthy. The sad thing is, they feel fine when they have to sleep and move in the middle of that pile of garbage!

At least, there are three reasons that make people decide to keep their things even though they are not used anymore

As noted in Psychology Today, there are three emotional connections between hoarders and the things they collect:

1. They think these items can be a reminder of someone or certain memories in the past. They will feel sorry if it has to be thrown away.

2. They believe that the items collected have value or a sense of beauty, so it is difficult for them to throw them away.

3. They don't want to throw things away on the assumption that they can be recycled or repaired.

Unfortunately, for number 3 they often don't have time to recycle while the items that are piled up are increasing. Even though the room in the room or house is getting narrower due to these items.

In 2013, hoarding disorder was classified as a serious mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association has officially listed hoarding disorder or compulsive hoarding in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a serious mental disorder. The sufferer must receive certain treatment to recover. Because this habit is very detrimental, people with hoarding disorders can get sick from the piles of garbage around them. This disorder can also worsen relationships with other people. If he lives with his family or friends, this habit of piling up trash can make those people uncomfortable.

There are a number of factors that are believed to encourage hoarding disorder, some of which include a traumatic experience, or being passed down from a family that is also a hoarder.

Actually, the exact cause of this hoarding behavior is not known for certain. However, when viewed from a number of cases that have occurred, usually people with hoarding disorder have had traumatic experiences in the past, such as being abandoned by a loved one or having experienced an accident. There are also those who are influenced by the same habits of his family members who are also hoarders, making him grow up in a messy environment. In addition, it is often associated with a gloomy childhood or the decision not to marry and live alone. Hoarding seems to be the only way for sufferers to feel safe and comfortable.

For those of us who see, this habit of hoarding is certainly very disturbing. But many sufferers are not aware that it is a disorder and needs to be cured. So if there are people around you who show signs as described above, it never hurts to remind them and help them recover.