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Compulsive decluttering
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<h2 id="signs-and-symptoms">Signs and symptoms</h2> <p>Symptoms of compulsive decluttering include repetitive discarding of materials and consistent reorganizing of one's immediate surroundings. Some people with the disorder may question whether or not they have enough of particular items, and may never feel relaxed even if everything is in their desired "order." In some circumstances, a symptom is for the person to constantly feel as though they need to delete texts, emails, browser history, even photos from their electronic devices.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="effects">Effects</h2> <p>The effects of compulsive decluttering on one who has it can be significant. Because this disorder involves throwing away anything that causes discomfort, there may be a significant financial or social burden.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> This disorder causes people to think they are better off getting rid of what they currently have, because it is in the way, and buying a replacement if and when they need one.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> For example, if a pen is sitting on a desk, and it makes the desk look disorganised, somebody with compulsive decluttering disorder would most likely throw it away in an effort to declutter the desk, and when they need a pen to write with, then they would buy a new one.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>When this process begins to repeat, it is a sign that they have compulsive decluttering disorder. The financial burden comes from the repetitive repurchasing of the things that people would otherwise own for a long time, and normally would not need to repurchase. Depending on the severity of the disorder, the items that are being replaced can get to be much more expensive. People may begin to get rid of and repurchase phones, furniture, and even jewelry. It may also include adverse social effects. People with obsessive decluttering may deliberately or unintentionally discard items that are meaningful to others, like family heirlooms or photographs. The effects that this disorder has are very similar to those defined by <a href="/facts/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder/bIhDh4dz">OCD</a>, even though these effects may be portrayed in significantly different ways. </p> <h2 id="treatments">Treatments</h2> <p>While there are no specific treatments for compulsive decluttering as of 2018, attempts at treatment are included in the different ways <a href="/facts/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder/bIhDh4dz">OCD</a> is treated. </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Garrett, Leslie. "The Mental Illness That Makes People Throw Away Their Possessions". The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/09/ocd-obsessive-compulsive-decluttering-hoarding/401591/" target="_blank">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/09/ocd-obsessive-compulsive-decluttering-hoarding/401591/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Yaqub, Reshma Mernon. “Confessions of a Compulsive Declutterer.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Mar. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/living/confessions-compulsive-declutterer/index.html. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Garrett, Leslie. "The Mental Illness That Makes People Throw Away Their Possessions". The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/09/ocd-obsessive-compulsive-decluttering-hoarding/401591/" target="_blank">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/09/ocd-obsessive-compulsive-decluttering-hoarding/401591/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Yaqub, Reshma Mernon. “Confessions of a Compulsive Declutterer.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Mar. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/living/confessions-compulsive-declutterer/index.html. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>KHONNewsHawaii. "Too Much Decluttering? Disorder Can Affect Many, Including Seniors". YouTube, KHONNews, 3 Sept. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Hoarding vs Clutter Phobia, which one is really OCD". A Life Lived Ridiculously (blog). <a href="http://www.ridiculouslife.net/2/post/2011/10/hoarding-vs-clutter-phobia-which-one-is-really-ocd.html" target="_blank">http://www.ridiculouslife.net/2/post/2011/10/hoarding-vs-clutter-phobia-which-one-is-really-ocd.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Sonorryan, Jemima. “Obsessive-Compulsive Spartanism: When Mental Illness Hijacks Your Decluttering Efforts.” Medium, Augmenting Humanity, 8 Sept. 2017, medium.com/@jemima.s/obsessive-compulsive-spartanism-when-mental-illness-hijacks-your-decluttering-efforts-1e0abadef1f8. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Carlo, and Molly Wickham. "Obsessive Compulsive Decluttering". Anxiety Boss, 22 Apr. 2018, anxietyboss.com/obsessive-compulsive-decluttering/. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>KHONNewsHawaii. "Too Much Decluttering? Disorder Can Affect Many, Including Seniors". YouTube, KHONNews, 3 Sept. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>KHONNewsHawaii. "Too Much Decluttering? Disorder Can Affect Many, Including Seniors". YouTube, KHONNews, 3 Sept. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>