How is compulsive hoarding different from being a “pack rat”?
“In large part, the difference is one of degree. In general, people with compulsive hoarding have more clutter, acquire more items than they need, can use, or can afford, have more difficulty organizing their possessions and discarding items, and experience considerably more interference and distress from the state of their homes. Typically, individuals with compulsive hoarding avoid inviting friends and family members to the home due to shame or embarrassment about their clutter. Oftentimes, they lose important things, such as money and bills, among unimportant things, such as old newspapers and empty containers. When these individuals attempt to discard items of little value or use, they often experience strong feelings of anxiety, guilt, or anger. Individuals with compulsive hoarding may describe their possessions as having ‘taken over.’ Family members and friends may be very concerned about the state of the home and about such behaviors as excessive acquiring of purchased and free
