You must have heard about Hoarding Disorder wherein a hoarder keeps filling up their home with worthless stuff with no intention of ever getting rid of it. It usually happens with those who have a hard time parting with stuff and still indulge in impulsive buying to add further to the already mounting pile of clutter. For some, it’s a just a phase while for others, it’s a habit that refuses to leave. Whatever the case, it’s important to be aware of what you keep in your home and get rid of anything that isn’t contributing anything to your life.
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While decluttering is necessary for a hygienic and healthy home, what if it ends up becoming an obsession?
You could’ve cleared all the flat surfaces, ruthlessly decluttered all your clothes, gotten rid of any unused old toys and given that shiny new touch to your home. But you still find yourself standing there wondering what else there is to declutter. You open the drawers to look for objects to get rid of. You sift through the toy chest to find more items to donate or pass on even when you know that there’s none. This is exactly what they call ‘Compulsive decluttering’ – an inability to handle mess even when there’s none.
Although it might just be an obsession that is prompting you to get rid of stuff, compulsive decluttering can become problematic if you don’t recognize it on time. If untreated, it can induce you to get rid of stuff that is useful and can make you suffer financial loss in the long run.
If you think that you’re someone who is obsessed with decluttering, make sure you know how much is too much. Here are a few signs and symptoms of compulsive decluttering that can help you understand if you’re suffering from it:
1. You Are Repetitively Organizing Your Immediate Surroundings
You’ve organized everything in your living room where you spend most part of your day. An hour later, you feel a strange sense of discomfort for sitting around clutter and you start reorganizing again. This goes on because you’re never satisfied with your decluttering efforts. If you can relate to this situation, you’re most probably a victim of compulsive decluttering.
2. You Are Continually Discarding Items From A Particular Category
You’ve ruthlessly decluttered your entire closet and gotten rid of clothing items that you don’t like. You’re happy to have given yourself a closet full of clothes that make you feel good, but you open your closet the next week and feel unsatisfied with your collection of clothes. You get rid of some more pieces of clothing and feel some temporary relief until the next weekend arrives making you want to declutter the closet again. Repetitive decluttering of items from a particular category – books, clothes, utensils, toys, stationery, or any other item – can be a sign that you’re compulsively getting rid of things that might actually be useful.
3. You Feel Uncomfortable Even If Everything Is In Order
You’ve donated many of the kids’ toys and given away old books to someone in need, but you still cannot let go of the discomfort that comes with living in a cluttered home. You feel guilty looking at the remaining stuff. You feel like you still own too much.
You find yourself wondering if the feeling of discomfort will go away if you get rid of some more stuff. You look at an item of daily use and think if it’s possible to get rid of it. Experiencing discomfort around clean and decluttered surroundings is a major sign that you’re suffering from compulsive decluttering.
4. You’re Constantly Buying Substitutes For Items That Were Recently Thrown Away
Do you compulsively throw away books, clothes and kitchen appliances and later rush to the store to buy substitutes for them? Do you find yourself going through financial problems because of buying too much stuff that is similar to the one you’ve discarded? If yes, it’s a sign of compulsive decluttering which is yet another form of OCD.
5. You Feel Scared By The Tiniest Bit Of Clutter
It’s good to want to keep your home decluttered. But what if even the littlest amount of clutter makes you panic in fear? Or if you start feeling anxious every time an item in your home is lying out of place? If you feel the extreme emotions of fear and anxiety around clutter, it’s a sign that you need to seek psychological help before clutter starts controlling your mental health.
6. You Constantly Delete Items From Your Phone
Going through your phone every month or so to declutter it is something that is important to keep it free of junk. But if you’re constantly deleting texts, emails, photos, files and your browsing history, it may be a sign that you’re doing it compulsively.
7. You Feel Guilty For Owning Too Much
It’s good to feel the joy of giving every now and then by donating your stuff. But when the stuff in your house starts making you feel guilty for having too much despite the fact that you’re living a fairly humble life, it may be a sign of compulsive decluttering. You may even feel prompted to get rid of useful items from your home or items that are needed less frequently. This is a major sign of compulsive decluttering that you must not ignore.
So there you have it! Now that you’re aware of the signs and symptoms of compulsive decluttering, it would be easier for you to decide if you’re suffering from it.
While compulsive decluttering can give you that temporarily relief of living in an empty and clutter-free space, it can end up being detrimental for your mental health and finances. So if you’ve established the fact that you’re indeed a compulsive declutterer, seek psychological assistance at the soonest or contact someone who has been through it and is in a position to help.
If you’re a compulsive declutterer or have been one or known one, feel free to share your story in the comments below. You can also write me at hello@theaestheticabode.com.