Originally posted by elaine
Hoarding is a mental disorder. I think it's caused by insecurity or fear.
You going through and throwing things away won't help her. She needs to decide to make a change for herself and to figure out the real reason for her hoarding behavior. Until then she will continue the way she is.
Spot on! It's like a drug addict in a way, they can't be forced to get help, they need to realize they need it and seek it out themselves... although in this situation it may be possible to talk her into going to talk to a psychologist/psychiatrist even if she doesn't want to go, and maybe after hearing from a professional what she has is a condition which can be helped with psycho-therapy sessions, she may want to get involved with it - knowing she probably doesn't want to live her whole life hoarding all these items. It's actually a form of OCD, correct me if I'm wrong... I have OCD, which is mostly more physical now since my spiritual awakening has completely changed my thought process (which was my main issue with OCD), which in turn has made my anxiety completely disappear which was hurting me SO much for about half of my life (if not all of it). I love it, I've never felt this amazing EVER even with my medications, this is something that I have experienced and I know for a fact as long as I keep doubt away (which is my main goal now) I will continue to feel this way forever.
Good luck to your friend, I hope she can get help and find peace within herself (although in her mind she may think what she does is completely fine, but I don't know her so I can't say for definite, she may feel very overwhelmed with it all, I just don't know).
