Compulsive Hoarders:declutter Life

While odds are, you are not a compulsive hoarder, there are many out there. For these individuals, clutter is taken to the most extreme form where it is pretty much taking over the entire house. Some people live with clutter that is so bad that they do not even have a clear area on their couch to sit or room on the bed to sleep.

Not only is this dangerous from a health standpoint, it also becomes a fire hazard in many cases.

At one time, science wasn't sure what to make of these individuals. Why? Why was it so necessary for these particular people to hold on to all this stuff for so long (potentially placing their own health and welfare in danger).

Now, with the advances in technology, the capability is available to actually study their brain waves. This allows us to have some more understanding and compassion, for others and also ourselves, as we struggle with the issue of clutter.

It also illustrates the fact that clutter, in some respects, has nothing to do with storage space and everything to do with attitude.

A recent study was conducted, using some of the newest brain scan technology available, on individuals who compulsively collect clutter. These hoarders, whose brains were attached electronically to the scanner, viewed a variety of possessions. They were instructed to make decisions whether to keep the item or throw it out.

The items were then shredded in front of the individuals, so they knew the decision they made was final. When the hoarder made the decision to save or toss the item, increased activity appeared in a portion of the person's brain.

The activity appeared in the orbitofrontal cortex. This is a part of the brain involved in, not surprisingly, decision-making and planning. The scan did not just show regular increased activity though, it displayed an unusual degree of function.

That particular portion of the brain appeared to be stressed to the max. The activity was then compared with those who didn't suffer from this hoarding problem. Making similar decisions caused no extra brain activity and certainly no stress.

Why am I telling you all of this, even though you are not a hoarder? Well, it is to give you a better understanding of your situation, but also to help you to learn from these individuals and this research.

The spectrum running from cleanliness to messiness, includes those people who are always disorganized (at least at home) and those who may also be suffering emotionally, physically or even socially.

Cognitive behavioral therapy appears to help many hoarders. Within six months of beginning such a program, there is usually an amazing decline in the clutter in the person's living space.