Decluttering is good, right? Yes, unless you’re one of those people who take it a little too far. Obsessive-compulsive decluttering is a real and studied subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Let’s talk more about obsessive-compulsive decluttering, what it is, and how to get help.
A person who suffers from obsessive-compulsive decluttering {or obsessive-compulsive spartanism} is apt to feel like they are drowning in “stuff”, even when they aren’t. Looking at all the things inside their living space tends to make them feel anxiety. That anxiety compels them to continually throw out or give their belongings away. If you know someone who lives a very spartan existence, yet is always buying new things and then throwing them out, that person could very well be experiencing obsessive-compulsive decluttering. In a nutshell, it prevents the person who has it from keeping many of their possessions.
Someone who lives with obsessive-compulsive decluttering urges is someone with a living space that is probably stripped down to the bare minimum. This is simply because they’ve probably thrown all extras away. It isn’t just a matter of throwing out month-old magazines, donating old clothes or keeping on top of paperwork. The fact that they spent good money on table lamps or artwork doesn’t matter once they begin to feel the anxiety of too much stuff intruding on their psyche.
Someone who simply enjoys a tidy home doesn’t have to worry about it–that’s completely normal. If you like to declutter and give stuff away because it makes you feel better, that’s one thing. If you feel constantly compelled to throw stuff away, to the point that it negatively impacts your life, that’s another. What can be done to keep the decluttering to a normal level so you can relax in your space?
Find a reputable therapist near you who specializes in treating obsessive-compulsive disorders. He or she can help you to determine the reasons for your compulsive need to declutter. Once you figure out the why, it is much easier to figure out how to manage it effectively.
For more on obsessive decluttering, see Psych Central.
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