Monday, March 29, 2010

Hoarding: When clutter becomes a crisis

By Arlene Miles

How many times have you heard the following sentence?

"I'm such a pack rat I can't throw anything away."

Maybe you've heard a friend say, "Why do I hoard all of this stuff instead of getting rid of it?" Possibly you've even said this yourself.

But in the grand scheme of things, are you a hoarder?

Relax, probably not. Even though your home may be messier than you like, and you've saved that box of papers from high school that serves no useful purpose, true hoarding is something completely different.

"Everyone knows someone who hoards," said Jane Carroo, professional organizer and owner of Clutter Coach Co. in Palatine. "Most hoarders are of the garden variety, but they range all the way up to those who have barricaded entrances and exits and the home is dangerous to live in."..." More