We hold onto things because they provide us with a sense of comfort or familiarity. For some people, clutter can also serve as a way to distract from emotional pain or trauma.
We can have sentimental attachments to things, or we may believe our things have hidden monetary value, but the main reason we hang on to things is fear. However misguided, we can fear the loss of security, status, comfort, and love when we throw things out.
Ownership of possessions can lead to emotional attachment. This can be due to sentimental value, memories, or perceived utility of the item. Possessions can impact one's sense of identity and well-being. They can symbolize personal history or self-expression.
One key reason people form attachments to their possessions is the sense of security and comfort these items provide. Just as an infant seeks comfort from a parent's embrace, adults turn to familiar objects to soothe themselves during times of stress or uncertainty.
With hoarding disorder, items are usually saved because: You believe these items are unique or that you'll need them at some point in the future. You feel emotionally connected to items that remind you of happier times or represent beloved people or pets. You feel safe and comforted when surrounded by things.
Some researchers believe hoarding can relate to childhood experiences of losing things, not owning things, or people not caring for you. This might include experiences like: Money worries or living in poverty in childhood. Having your belongings taken or thrown away by someone.
One of the primary reasons we hold onto clutter is sentimental attachment. Objects can hold memories and emotions, and getting rid of them can feel like we're getting rid of a part of ourselves. Fear is another reason we hold onto clutter, fear of letting go, fear of the unknown, and fear of loss.
These people may fear letting go of things because they rely on them for a sense of security and stability. Material things may fill emotional voids that arise from their attachment insecurities. Like the "security blanket," material things soothe and protect.
But if all you care about is the stuff you have and the stuff you want to buy, you are materialistic. Anyone who is obsessively focused on money, or cares deeply about owning luxury goods can be described as materialistic. Material is a synonym for matter: anything that exists.
Many individuals associate material things with elements like happiness, comfort, relief from problems, success, social status, and pleasure, consequently holding the conviction that pursuing these possessions will lead to a happier and more satisfying life.
Preoccupied and fearful attachments are characterized by a fear of loss and abandonment. Possession and accumulation of objects in hoarding could help insecure people to deal with these fears. Therefore, insecure attachment appears to be a vulnerability factor in the development of hoarding behaviors.
The increase in sentimental thoughts may be through the use of objects to recall and reminisce about pleasant memories [11••]. The process of using objects to recall pleasant memories may be part of a self-reinforcing cycle that leads to further increased levels of attachment to objects.
The psychology behind clutter is complex, and there are many reasons why we might hold onto possessions that we don't need. Whether it's a fear of letting go, a desire for control, or an attachment to the past, our emotional connection to our belongings can make it difficult to declutter and simplify our lives.
The Psychology of Keepsakes
According to psychological studies, humans have a natural tendency to form emotional attachments to objects that remind them of significant events, places, or people. This phenomenon is known as the “endowment effect,” where individuals value items simply because they own them.
Having a lot of things can sometimes give us a sense of security. This is often especially true if we grew up without everything we needed and have a scarcity mindset. We don't want to go back to living in want and so we may hold onto things because we're afraid we won't be able to replace them if we need them again.
Our possessions reflect our personality, interests, and aspirations, and they can be used to signal who we are and what we stand for. For example, someone who values environmental sustainability may choose to own a hybrid car or purchase products made from recycled materials.
However, object permanence is not a recognized medical condition or symptom in ADHD. A person with ADHD cannot be diagnosed with object permanance issues.
Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety
This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.
For example, if your clutter consists of other people's stuff, you might have issues with boundaries; if your clutter is largely memorabilia from your past, you may have trouble letting go of the past and moving forward; and if you constantly find yourself relying on the phrase “better to have it and not need it than ...
Messy house syndrome presents in older adults, usually 60 and over. People with messy house syndrome cannot maintain a healthy household. They hoard large amounts of useless objects within their homes. Often, their homes are so cluttered that they are inhabitable and unsafe.
It is often unrecognized by outside observers and the hoarder. Indicators include difficulty parting with redundant items, excessive shopping for items already in the home or not needed, accessible stairs, doors, and windows, no noticeable odors in the home, little to no visible…
The overall prevalence of hoarding disorder is approximately 2.6%, with higher rates for people over 60 years old and people with other psychiatric diagnoses, especially anxiety and depression. The prevalence and features of hoarding appear to be similar across countries and cultures.