We all have treasured possessions-a favorite pair of shoes, a
much-beloved chair, an ever-expanding record collection. But sometimes,
this emotional attachment to our belongings can spiral out of control
and culminate into a condition called compulsive hoarding. From
hobbyists and collectors to pack rats and compulsive shoppers-it is
close to impossible for hoarders to relinquish their precious objects,
even if it means that stuff takes over their lives and their homes.
According to psychologist Dr. Robin Zasio, our fascination with hoarding
stems from the fact that most of us fall somewhere on the hoarding
continuum. Even though it may not regularly interfere with our everyday
lives, to some degree or another, many of us hoard.
The Hoarder in You provides practical advice for decluttering and
organizing, including how to tame the emotional pull of acquiring
additional things, make order out of chaos by getting a handle on
clutter, and create an organizational system that reduces stress and
anxiety. Dr. Zasio also shares some of the most serious cases of
hoarding that she's encountered, and explains how we can learn from
these extreme examples-no matter where we are on the hoarding continuum.
