When Does Your Anxiety Become A Problem?

Many homeowners face challenges while maintaining their property: finances, security, … and clutter. While one may think household cleanliness is unimportant; I ask you to consider for a moment….Is there a big difference between simply being unorganized and being a hoarder?

I’m sure you’ve seen A&E’s “Hoarders,” TLC’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive” and even Style Network’s “Clean House.” Well these reality shows are different from most. How? They are REAL!  They expose the real life anxiety disorders millions suffer from daily.

The hoarding condition is identified as one obsessive compulsive disorder.  Experts at everydayhealth.com say that a little bit of anxiety is normal and healthy for anyone. So when is your anxiety problematic?  OCD is a disorder of the brain that causes anxiety and compulsions. Jeff Szymanski from the (ocfoundation.org) suggests that problematic symptoms of OCD causes one to go out of their way to fulfill the anxiety and compulsions.  He also estimates that  1 in 100 people have OCD.

Experts Charles Elliott and Laura Smith from (psychology4people.com) both believe that if the OCD is preventing you from living the life that you desire to live, then you need to get help.  In the case of hoarders, many have lost their families because of their obsessions, compulsions, and anxieties.

While there is no OCD gene, some people’s disorder is caused by a traumatic event or fear.  In some hoarding cases a loved one passed away and the “hoarder” didn’t want to throw away memories.  Other cases of OCD are triggered by phobias of certain items or situations.

So what do you think? Do you have OCD? Is that clutter or are you HOARDING?  Is your OCD tearing you from a full life and loving family?

For more information on this topic, please read the full article.