It is estimated that 2-5% of the world’s population are considered compulsive hoarders. Meaning they face chronic difficulty in parting with, or throwing away possessions and personal items. These items may or not have any monetary value, but this inability to say goodbye can become a serious health and social risk.
Whilst this is the most serious kind of compulsive hoarding, every day individuals like you and I often find ourselves somewhere on the hoarding spectrum. Whether it be the accumulation of clothes we know we’ll never wear (or fit into) again, keeping ticket stubs, train tickets or take-away menus that are years old; sometimes we just don’t want to, or know how to let go.
Australians are generally pretty big producers of rubbish, with waste generation in Australia is growing at around 4.5% per year. Furthermore, Australians will generate 81,072,593 tonnes of waste by 2020. So…if that’s what we’re throwing out, how much are we hoarding?
To that effect, have you ever got a letter from your council telling you there’s a council clean-up and with gusto you become inspired to give your house the spring-clean it deserves…you proudly pile your discarded items on the front kerb waiting for collection, when you spy someone else has thrown away a perfectly good chair, or tv, or kids swing set. The next thing you know, you’ve replaced your waste…with someone else’s! The cause is often that pesky voice inside that says this newly acquired waste should be hoarded away for that so called ‘rainy day’ we promise ourselves will definitely come!
This seems to be the catch-cry of hoarders all around the world…I can’t get rid of it because I’ll need it one day! But the sad fact is, often, we should never purchased it in the first place.
Have you ever wondered for that matter whether you are in fact a hoarder? Here are some signs that you might just be holding onto things that you shouldn’t…
- You’re unhappy about throwing just about anything away
- You like to keep items even though they are broken, used or have no real sentimental value
- Parts of your home are so cluttered that you’re unable to use them
Whilst compulsive hoarding can be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder and have very serious implications, for most of us it is more or less a condition of compulsive cluttering; whether due to busy lives, lack of organisation or lack of space there are ways to turn your hoarding around.
The simplest of which is to become a more discerning purchaser, ask yourself do you really need something and if not, don’t buy it. Become more organised by employing better and well-thought out systems for your home that fit into your busy lifestyle and lastly, don’t procrastinate! When you know it’s time for a clean-out, don’t delay!
And remember, Veolia is always on hand with the bin that could end your hoarding days forever…
If you do however believe you need professional help with your hoarding habits, you can contact the below agencies for assistance and counselling.
- www.lifeline.org.au
- au.reachout.com
- www.beyondblue.com.au