Signs and symptoms of hoarding

erhaps because of the popular A&E documentary series “Hoarders,” more and more people have grown aware of the problem of hoarding in recent years. Though nearly everyone can point to at least one person in their life who never seems to throw anything away, when such behavior becomes compulsive, chances are the person perpetrating the behavior is a hoarder.

While it can be difficult to determine if you or someone you know has crossed the line from pack rat to hoarder, there are certain indicators that can help make that determination.

• The love of acquisition. According to Randy Frost, Ph.D., Israel Professor of psychology at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., hoarders genuinely love to acquire things, regardless of how valuable, or invaluable, the acquisition may be. All objects are treasured, be it free items or items that had to be purchased. What’s more, the items kept often appear inconsequential to outside observers, such as old magazines or newspapers that mention nothing about the hoarder or anyone they know..." More