Ep. 278 | Hoarders

Joshua and Ryan talk about hoarding-the clinical definition, the statistics, the causes, the symptoms, the common types, the risks, the recovery. Watch “Maximal” episodes of The Minimalists Private Podcast exclusively at / theminimalists
Questions answered in this episode:
00:00 What is the clinical definition of “hoarding”?
03:05 What is “spartanism”?
05:13 What are the common types of hoarding?
09:00 What is the difference between hoarding and collecting?
10:32 What is the “sunk-cost fallacy”?
21:26 What are the symptoms of hoarding?
23:00 What are the causes of hoarding?
27:21 How is hoarding diagnosed?
29:11 Do children hoard?
31:08 When do obsessions become unhealthy?
31:34 What are the five levels of hoarding?
42:47 Are there affluent hoarders?
44:46 How does one become a hoarder?
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Detailed show notes: theminimalists.com/podcast
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[@janegillen8871]

I am the daughter of a hoarder. I believe that the generation that grew up in the depression era were truly affected by this "mental illness". My dad rarely bought items - we had the basics necessities-but he never threw items out. He would pick up things from others trash. He would fix it. He knew how to fix everything because he never got enjoyment from spending money. He enjoyed repairing things. He told me that all the stuff was his inventory. Mostly just in case he needs it! Why buy it again! Since he never bought new , most items were very old and quite dated. When the time came, I had to clean out the house to sell it. Three huge dumpsters later, and some people taking tools and some usable items, I was quite exhausted. I saved very little from my family's belonging, since most of it was "junk". There was no way I could scrutinize every item for resale or donating. After that experience, I started to go through my home - I'm very organized, but I liked to shop- but I never want my children to go through my home and have to decide what to keep, donate, or throw out. I wish i was introduced to minimalism earlier in my life. Thanks for addressing these issues. Love the videos!

[@pweir2005]

i am so glad that there is a place that does not have ads thank you.

[@user-my9ok1nz1j]

But they totally have an ad segment in this. Sure they can say it isn't ads, but that doesn't make it so

[@lindaalaureano]

They are.... The Ad Men .

[@debraarbuthnott3380]

Really enjoyed this episode - I am a recovering hoarder. I have lived with depression and bipolar since I was 8 years old. I was constantly told as a child nothing I did was good enough - and even when I earned straight A's I would be told "so I should" My self esteem was non-existent. I suffered emotional and mental abuse right through until I was 36 yo. from two different sources. I hoarded to protect myself, it became my barrier. I did not have pests or rubbish, with a lot of work on myself I have been able to let the bulk of the excess go. Its mainly the hobbies that I enjoy that I keep, but not all, I have had a major declutter of those as well. I have the type of depression that is a life long disorder, but that's okay, I understand that, and I accept it. I can see it would be easy to fall into the purchasing and hoarding habit again, I work on this every day, it is getting easier to control the urges.

[@ritarevell7195]

I congratulate you on your victories. It’s awesome to hear from you. It gives me some hope that I can overcome my cluttering too.

[@GypsyWolf7]

Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations btw. It couldn't have been easy. Best wishes on your continuing journey. ❤

[@debraarbuthnott3380]

@@GypsyWolf7 thank you, you're right it has been tough. It is a journey of working back through the layers of hurt and trauma to move forward. It has been well worth the effort, I am more at peace than I have ever been. It has left me with the tools and the strength to deal with the new medical issues

[@debraarbuthnott3380]

@@ritarevell7195 you can do it, it takes time, so small steps, small victories add up to big wins. Keep at it, you can do it!!!

[@seamonkeyl9061]

Wow, I am so proud of you. My mum has CPTSD and is a hoarder and I accept that she might not change. I just keep on loving her.

[@emolover4eternity]

"we hoard because we fear that we are not enough".. Now I'm balling my eyes out😭😭 This hits hard.

[@danielleb6064]

Same

[@judylloyd7901]

Bawling* 😊👍

[@lanabills4498]

Yes. It's a safety thing too. I get to be in charge of things I love. They won't be leaving anytime soon.

[@SF-ru3lp]

I can identify with that, Chelsey! Adequacy/sufficiency/ being acceptable/knowing that we are cherished, protected, provided for are all in-puts we are meant to get as very tiny kids.... often our parents can't give us what they, in turn, might not have received... I have been blessed by good Christian ministry and an undersstanding spouse. Ryan is just saying in the video that he covered his misery with stuff. Joshua saying: it looks like we are running towards stuff but rather it's cos we are running away from stuff. Great quotes. Every blessing to you Chelsey! Sorry long text. I love talking about the stuff that's behind our stuff. G Ire

[@petmomful2260]

@@SF-ru3lp I have a different take on that, at least for me. I had a very bad, chaotic childhood. I kept my things neat and organized and loved to organize my drawers and stuff. I think maybe it was because it was something I could find order in, something I could control. Isn't it funny how we all act so differently to the things that happen to us in our lives?!

[@paulineslaven4536]

I knew I was disorganised .aBut today my life has turned a corner .I had no realisation I was a hoarder .A real live hoarder . It’s like something clicked in my head after listing to this particular podcast. I really can’t thank you enough . I’m on it. I have a real problem I can pinpoint and I finally admit it I don’t need 3 tables etc Thwnkyou for th clarity at 52 years I am like an alcoholic who finally sees the light 😀

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

you are on a good path....keep going..you can do it

[@ajadkins1555]

Good luck on your journey! So blessed to see the light!

[@ariellelewis2968]

What is the word for a person who hoards and purges repetitively? That's me. I openly admit I am "this". I feel like this has been my norm my whole life.i have a similar background as you guys but I had a single mom who moved A LOT. So I would emotionally attach to things but then clear everything out due to up coming moves and later the anxiety it gave me only to continue to collect.

[@SF-ru3lp]

Every blessing and encouragement to you, Pauline. G Ire

[@SF-ru3lp]

@@ariellelewis2968 Reading your sharing, Arielle, the thought occurred that with the childhood moves you mightn't have had the chance to put down roots of attachment to people and places (?.... would the necessary new things in the new place have been an attempt to make one's own comforts and attachments...). Just a thought. There are do many layers in all our formation... Everything of the very best to you. G Ire

[@half-elf]

Whenever I would watch Hoarders, I would leap up during the show and start cleaning. Couldn't help myself. Mom tidy and dad hoarder.

[@ymb6987]

@Sara Prigan - oh my goodness, SAME!

[@marvellousmaeve9357]

That was so me, too!

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

my wife watched it, it used to make my teeth itch...and she's a semi-hoarder!

[@Happyinmontana]

Doing that right now... I need motivation to spring clean today... Doing a dump run this weekend.... yeah

[@peonypoplar9199]

Yup, me too, I watched all episodes 😆

[@missgreenbottles]

So true about books! I used to have so many. I’ve recently sold a small 300 year old book in medieval French that I couldn’t read. I realised that I was only holding onto it because I liked that antiqueness of an old book and the idea of owning a piece of history, but I feel better knowing that I’ve passed it on to someone who will appreciate it more and probably read it :)

[@amandasymon4363]

So helpful - My mother was a hoarder and she taught her three daughters to hold on tight to all possessions. I am 65 and I am working hard to reprogram my deep instincts. Thank you for helping 🙏

[@ashleyjones1918]

I was a budding child hoarder. I had an issue letting things go (like clothes that didn't fit that I was attached to or even an old toothbrush). It continues to be something I have to be cognizant of as I can easily fall back into those behaviors. There was a comfort of being around objects that I found some level of joy in as my relationships with people (family and otherwise) have always been exceptionally challenging. There have also been hoarding behaviors seen in multiple family members. I think it definitely can be a learned behavior and possibly genetic. While I know it is frustrating for someone who doesn't hoard to deal with some who does, I wholeheartedly think empathy instead of anger will be more beneficial in helping the person. Shaming someone for their unhealthy behaviors is more likely to make things worse.

[@ah5721]

Did you grow up poor ? Just wondering because for some people I know have trouble letting go because of how they grew up. Especially when poor

[@judylloyd7901]

I've watched the hoarders programme, and for some of them the hoarding was triggered by the loss of a loved one, or some other kind of grief.

[@EllieBloo]

It was when I saw a few dresses with tags on them in my closet that I began revisiting my whole purchasing habits. I’ve been listening to you guys for a while now. Thanks! 😊

[@petmomful2260]

My husband's uncle just died in his flat about 2 weeks ago. He was a very very nice man, but he was a hoarder. Even tho he was offered help over the years, he would not, or could not, clean up the place. It is full, 3 floors, and filthy. I feel very sad that he died in there all alone, and I feel sad about what the family has to go thru to clean it up, sell his properties, pay for his funeral, etc. He owned the building so he could do what he wanted. This is going to take them a year I bet! My husband sorts thru boxes and boxes and boxes, hoping to find a will or something that will help legally. I am washing his clothes so they can be donated. Most everything is stained with nicotine from years of smoking, and is destroyed. Strangely enough, they have found NO bugs or rodents. This has really made ME want to embrace minimalism and reevaluate what I am doing with MY time.

[@dawnhughes9942]

I bought a level 5 foreclosure. I removed over 30tons of waste so far. This has been a very emotional process. I didnt expect it to bring me to tears so much. I don't have the disorder myself but learning and processing this is helping me heal whatever wounds were left behind here and hopefully some of my own cluttered mind. Thank you.

[@flufftronable]

Lovely to see Ryan talk more

[@ChristysChannelYall]

I throw everything away and get rid of everything. Hoarding fascinates me. What I do is a problem too because many times I don’t keep something that I do wind up needing later. I HATE clutter and lots of things around me.

[@TheHannahbarker]

This topic interests me so much. I’ve been binging (hoarders) on a&e this past month and it’s very eye opening. I think the episode when they discovered that this one particular individual continued to hoard is because she HATED decision making. Almost like she was afraid to fail at letting something go-so she just never did.

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

they taught me in professional organizing class that many people hoard because "stuff is safety" and "decision fatigue" My running theory is that people who do that take some form of comfort in objects in their environment, and that clean, open spaces or counters are some sort of "spatial agoraphobia"

[@wendileemacleod3220]

I've been following you guys since the first movie and just pre-ordered the new book. Both of my parents grew up during the Great Depression and hoarded in different ways. In my experience, and psychology education, I can't emphasize enough the role that mental health plays in hoarding. Most severe hoarders are reclusive, so society stops having an effect I feel. Maybe they have received the societal messages and internalized them, however the root cause is predominantly grief, loss, fear, or severe mental illness. I live with Bipolar Disorder, and if I see an uptick in online shopping that's my red flag that I'm tending toward mania. This topic is so fascinating, and I think front of mind after trying for years to help my parents and then having to be responsible for their hoarded home when they passed. I appreciate the different levels of hoarding/scale - I'm mindful of my propensity to hoard just based on my childhood and my own internalized societal messages. Thanks for letting people know that it's not always about having 300 cats or piles of newspaper. We all have more than we need.

[@jengenx7729]

I found a jar of ground cloves in my Mum’s pantry that had expired in 1996.... 25 years ago!!!! It actually smelt fine but I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but throw it away 😳

[@debk6161]

Great episode! More thorough than the television shows about hoarding. Helps me to better understand the hoarders in my life. Thanks! ❤️

[@nicolevigo5349]

Really enjoying this episode. My mom is a hoarder and it has been very stressful to deal with. I don’t like bringing my kids over to her place. It gives me anxiety. It’s not dirty, there’s no trash, there’s just sooo much decor and stuff everywhere! No where to walk really especially kids.

[@pamelamacdonald8154]

My best friend is a hoarder. Understand how you feel.

[@alanbirkner1958]

My mom hoarded papers and clothing. My dad cleaned up, they had arguments about it. I recycle or reuse things, or pass them on. I collect a few things but I keep what I use. I like costume jewelry, but if I haven't been wearing it, I give it away. Tina

[@ah5721]

My grandpa's ex is a tidy hoarder. Her bathroom was claustrophobic and her decore was fussy old granny style. I hated visiting. But I love my grandpa so I went to see him but it was hard.

[@seamonkeyl9061]

My mum is a hoarder too, and unfortunately as she's gotten older the dirty aspect creeps in. All I can do is keep loving her and fortunately she is a funny, kind person (until it comes to trying to clean up her flat!). Acceptance that this is a mental disorder keeps things in perspective.

[@sparklejesusfreak]

I loved how I could see that even though I've only ever been a stage 1 hoarder that there have still been things in life I've hoarded and a couple things I still do. I can't seem to let go of homeschooling books even though my kids have been in public school the last three years due to life circumstances but I hold onto them hoping that soon that will change and I can do so once again. And fabric because I really enjoy sewing but in this season of life I have very limited time so I haven't let go of most of it because I also hope to one day have the time to do so regularly again. But finally realizing with sewing that I've had more than enough fabric the past 7 years I also haven't bought anything new in the past 3 years except for the couple times I had a specific project I was doing for it. Instead I've slowly been working with what I already own. So that gives me peace. Thank you for all you do as I learn more about myself everything I watch another video which has allowed me to continue to declutter and bring so very little in at the same time

[@iownadodge7081]

I definitely started purposely “food hoarding” during beginning of scary worldwide pandemic...freeze dried vegetables and fruits with a 10 + year shelf life, that I regularly normally consume. They’re bulky but very lightweight, delicious and easily moved, so I’m ok with this 1-pantry ‘ temporary hoard’.👍

[@ah5721]

Thats not hoarding that's food storage and everyone should have 2 week ms min or 3 months if possible stored in case of emergencies like: job loss, food outages, power outages, natural disasters etc. Food is necessary for survival. Just make sure to rotate it new in back and old in front so it doesn't got bad.

[@alanbirkner1958]

Love to watch you guys. Here is how I shop: if we fill one trash bag each month, then a dozen trash bags will last a year. If we go through 6 rolls of TP in a month, then 12 will last 2 months, and so on. My mom hoarded trash,papers,clothing, and food. A cousin died in his massive hoard. Tina

[@jcszot]

I had two relatives that were hoarders. One was my father, and one was my uncle. They both passed away and had no arrangements in place. I cleaned out both residences with the help of my siblings. Needless to say after that, we had a chat with the rest of the family telling them that they needed to A- please put some arrangements in place even if it’s the cheapest thing you can find online but it’s legal and B- to try to keep their environments under control because it really is a burden for the family. In the end, our conscience was and is clear. We did the right thing so it’s all good karma, but it was exhausting. After this was all over I found myself returning to my own apartment and asking the question if I were to die tomorrow would cleaning out my apartment, be as exhausting and stressful as it was for me and my brother and sister, cleaning out my father and my uncle’s apartment. I certainly did go through a lot of things after that over several months so they say all things work out for good, but it can be very exhausting to take on these endeavors in a situation, such as the ones that I dealt with.

[@ymb6987]

This is an excellent episode! My mother grew up in hoard from her parents and continued it into her adulthood and our family home. She phrases it as 'accumulating' - a nice, denial word for her to accept her hoarding. I've suggested addressing this with someone on a professional level but she won't. She is not willing and not ready but I keep working toward the day that she will; even at 72! It is never too late!!

[@rachelpeham3508]

Thing is, it has to come from her. I'm not sure pushing from outside helps. I have this same dilemma with my beloved mother in law. Best I can do is not accept things that she wants to give me firmly.

[@yasmindawoojee6831]

I love the Minimalists they teach us to live our best life.

[@PinkSallyProductions]

I have recently been working with a hoarding recovery specialist for professional reasons (mental health work) and this episode was very interesting to me. I would like to add a little of what I have learned about this disorder. Hoarding does not always occur because that person does not feel like enough, although it may be part of sufferers experience, it can also be rooted in or triggered by trauma (JFM mentioned some trauma that he experienced) often occurring in childhood (growing up in an abusive home, whether sexual or due to neglectI/parental substance misuse issues or close family bereavement/loss). There is also a ‘protection’ and/or ‘control’ component to it which I am still learning about in my training. Hoarding disorder is a huge subject, as is OCD, and I hope that anyone dealing with these issues (as I saw in some of the comments) is able to access help and support. I have met several people who are finding a way out of hoarding via therapy and practise and I have found listening to their life experiences to be heart rending and painful and I applaud anyone who faces this and takes steps to recover. I look forward to hearing what else you discuss about it on Patreon. Thank you for covering an emotive subjective with compassion and also some personal experience. Be well 🌹

[@Ikr2025]

Yes I think protection and control are definitely factors for me. Felt attacked constantly (verbally) and being the youngest was given no control over what happened either.

[@anaalves3658]

My in-laws are hoarders, they now live in separate homes, but both are bursting at the seams from stuff. You can't find a clear surface to put down a cup of tea 😳😳😳. It stress me out. My parents are a bit better, but I have been nagging them to get rid of stuff, they finally recycled our encyclopedia Britannica collection from the early 90's. And just this week my dad got rid of a bag full of 8mm video tapes. It's slow going but it's in the right direction.

[@jillbooth2829]

Thank you for not having ads. I appreciate it.

[@BarbaraThorndyke]

I think most Americans get stuck at the dirty, trashy aspects of hoarding and think as long as their items are clean, organized then it's collecting. But then ignore that the guest room can't be used, there's a pathway to their bed, or the pantry door can't be closed.

[@banirahman4926]

I think that most people are hoarders but they don’t realize it. For me though I didn’t have the habit of buying a lot of stuff, I had a lot of unused stuff at my house and I wasn’t bothered about them until I started listening to your podcasts more than two years ago. By now I decluttered so much and still do every day. Now I easily notice all the unused items and take action by removing them.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I watched this video in installments and have to comment again. Fascinating discussion. This can be listened to/watched multiple times. Also and for people interested in the topic of hoarding and who learn through stories, I'd like to recommend Marcia Davenport's 1954 novel "My Brother's Keeper" which was inspired by the tragedy of the real-life Collyer brothers who died in their jam-packed, booby-trapped mansion in New York in 1947. The book does a great job showing how hoarding can start with a troubled family and with little decisions over the years to do or not do something, how hoarding "...doesn't happen overnight" as someone said to me, and can have a terrible and even deadly ending. The book was written when there was little or no research on hoarding but I think is an accurate, believable story.---Also I read a comment many years ago that accumulating a lot of things is an effort to keep death away. I'm not sure I agree but it's an interesting idea.---Too to get an idea of how little material things can do for us, if you haven't seen it already, I recommend the movie "Ciitzen Kane" and when you see the ending which I won't spoil: wow!

[@jimwheeler7277]

You mentioned "spartanism" in this video. I have a sister who suffers from Spartanism. She can't keep things. She's is a repeated cycle of buying things, only to get rid of them within just a few weeks. For example, she has repeated gotten rid of almost every piece of furniture and then re-buys new furniture shortly thereafter. This is cycle she has for virtually everything she owns. She owns about 250 items in total, including clothes.

[@Ikr2025]

Wow that is really interesting. I wonder how can she afford to keep buying new things?

[@Iquey]

What's funny about hoarding is in England apparently they call billboards "Hoardings"?? I don't know if they still call them that, but it's an interesting connection, how a form of advertising is called hoardings.

[@LuciaCasucci]

I loved the conversation and all your genuine recommendations. I have a family member that is a hoarder, and my immediate family has definitely some level 2/3 traits of accumulation, so for them is normal. Cant wait to listen to the maximal episode to hear how you recommend handling that. Thanks for all the practical advice!!

[@motorcyclehair]

Not sure if this was the episode I watched last wk where yall touched on veganism. I've tried so many times & there's anemia & autism in my family. Autistic people are already known to have low amino acids & tryptophan. I feel guilty that I just "can't be vegan" bc the whole msg is that everyone can be. I got back to meat after watching your video on how everyones different & I'm feeling alot better. I tried to supplement all my problems in the past b12, vitamin d, iron & none of it solved my problems. I'm on meat, bone broth & goat milk. I really want to thank Ryan for mentioning the ancestrial meats with heart, organ, as well as ground beef. I bought one & try it this week. I just NEED to accept, I should not suffer if I cannot be vegan by my health limitations. Not everyone can be vegan, no matter how much they want to be & I think we need to respect that. THANK YOU for bringing up an important issue.

[@christelschmidt7468]

Moving back to Vancouver in Sept. 2021 after 23 years abroad. It’s been a great 2 years minimizing with intention...and it continues. If you are ever stuck there again...you will be welcomed!

[@anamariaiatan875]

Love you guys , love the subject ! Keep up the good work

[@julies9267]

After I had my twins my life was swimming in baby stuff. That's when I came across you two! I am now a minimalist and my 3 daughters are very minimal too. Still working on hubby! 😉

[@carolbts3337]

Thank's, guys! ✨🤗❣️

[@natashyas4149]

Good stuff, guys, thanks for explaining this stuff!

[@EntirelyHonest]

Another great podcast, thank you

[@RadCenter]

I'm surprised that none of your resources mentioned the strong clinically demonstrated connection between trauma and hoarding. Trauma in a person's life must be addressed before the process of recovery from hoarding can begin. Severely disabling hoarding is seldom healed without intensive therapy and possibly anti-anxiety medication. A support network is also crucial.

[@dogie1070]

I went through that “deodorant transition” during the lockdown. (6’+ social distance maintained!) It is true that no deodorant is possible!

[@Sky-Child]

No deodorant for 10 years now. Woop woop

[@rebeckamattisson5083]

Thank you for this episode!

[@geraldineb.9204]

Fear of being not enough👍.. Soo true, sadly, a lot of people feel this way😥

[@priskateijo]

I love your honesty.

[@danielamestanek7899]

"channel my Inner Bonobo." awesome!

[@lourlopezsk]

Ever since I discovered minimalism over three years ago I realised I grew up with a family of hoarders. What I didn't know is that we were level 4 hoarders. Wow, I'm shocked.

[@stephanieemalia]

watching from Hawaii 🙂 love you guys!

[@lindaw140]

👍👍👍great information super informative and insightful

[@kikitaube-hansen]

I worked 10 years with ´´hoarders´´. Then I took a break of 2 years. There are so many men and woman that are so lovely and kind. And they are experts in their field.

[@karenstairs8273]

I've taken my 36 Huge bins of paper hoard and now only have 4 tiny sweater size bins left to go through...It is freeing to let go of the paper.

[@suewarren4486]

My sibling has hoarded for as long as I have known them. They are younger. This has been extreme, only kept from being physically overwhelming during childhood by frequent moves, without the stuff.

[@moanateliersoo18]

this is so helpful. hoarders are hoarders because they don't know what is enough.

[@mamakaka73]

I had one tiny box with sentimental things lefts from my grandma. It was stolen in a home robbery two years ago. So now, like you, if my house burned down I would not be broken hearted, just inconvienienced

[@lolass5240]

It's a long, long way to me but I feel inspired to follow this way of life!! And I.always had have the idea and said to myself: I could live with the necesary, not more not less. So, I thank to Netflix to show me your documentary and both of you more, to show us that thiis Life style exists.

[@user-ze5nd9se9i]

Watching from Moscow , thank you 🙏 helpful stuff 👍

[@lokelanijackson9727]

Both of my parents are level 6 and I've been purgeing for 16 yrs and now am remodeling the place. But I'm a struggling minimalist I wanna be a minimalist but got stuff I use and need just no place to put it and it drives me nuts.

[@lafandenuel5605]

there's a demmentia quite common symptom, a delirium called Diogenes syndrom (after cyninc classic greek philosopher). Those people start bringing trash from the street to their homes thinking they are treasures and have inmense value. There are images of houses with 4 ft height of trash bags in the floor where the inhabitans died trapped by his own trash. I remember a case in the city of Vigo, Spain, whose owner was found weeks after he died because the friends he had on FB called police. He had more than a thousand friends on FB all around the globe and talked to nobody in a city with 300k inhabitants.

[@arlenelicklider4643]

My daughter is a hoarder, I was so frustrated until I realized that she is just as frustrated with my refusal to acquire or keep things. I still don't know how to help her, there are young grand children involved, but at least now I am more understanding.

[@vholmgren]

My mother was a hoarder (passed a few years ago) and I was so frustrated until I realized that she did so as her life and economic situation required her to keep things as she was poorer than many others and another reason -she liked the past so much (and disliked the present). My brother is the animal hoarder - has gobs of cats and dogs and my mom's father hoarded books (1000's of em). A tradition!

[@ah5721]

Talk to her why she wants to keep things. Let her keep some of her stuff as long as it's tidy. Take her to therapy. Get therapy for yourself. Why do you feel I need to get rid of things? Is it garbage ? It cause you can't stand clutter ? Maybe your militant discarding of her things in particular has set her off. I'm the opposite of a hoarder cause of how I grew up.

[@arlenelicklider4643]

@@ah5721 thank you, but she is married with children and lives out of state, to her, everything, even empty wrappers have meaning, when she was still living here, we agreed that she could keep as much as would fit in her space cleanly and not be on the floor. That was the best compromise we could reach.

[@ah5721]

@@arlenelicklider4643 sounds like you tried🤷‍♀️. Maybe talk to her about the effect if her hoarding would have on her Children?

[@carylmaluping9632]

This is great ❤️

[@jencaragia]

Love you guys! 💜

[@meginski25]

Hit enter too soon. Thank you for this episode. I’m working way to decluttering and learning to live with less.

[@ArtyAntics]

My husband is my codefendant for hoarding, in my defence I’m recovering. My brother has OCD and is definitely Spartan inclined. I’m doing better with my OCD type thoughts. I couldn’t do anything for fear of not doing it perfectly. I just find it strange how my mums anxiety drove me to hoarding and him to throw everything away. I’m sure attachment styles have something to do with it. P.s. my hoarding was never about me not being enough, it was about trauma.

[@pamelamacdonald8154]

Shout out to Ohioans. Guilty of being a sentimental hoarder. Also "but I might need it someday." Grew up with family members who collected things like crazy. My Uncle was a hoarder and it put a huge burden on my mother to clean his house out. There was all kinds of mold on the walls.

[@daCubanaqt]

Great podcast. It is funny, I listened to their earlier podcast about hoarding and this one is much more detailed on hoarding which is an indication of hoarding getting more attend and becoming its own diagnosis in the DSM. I disagree that hoarding cannot start early on, it definitely can. Not all kids share and as someone who kept high school papers for 20 years it definitely started in teenage years!

[@maryssaann]

Listening a year later after finding out my grandparents are “downsizing” so my grandmother will hopefully minimize some of her many possessions. I want to help her not only minimize but find out what has made her feel the need to hold onto things such as old newspaper articles, cards, nick knacks and collecting decorations and clothes. I know she has anxiety which does run in my family to some degree. I wonder if practicing minimalism has helped. I still have those feelings and old habits around my anxiety, but living a more intentional life has helped me to exercise those muscles of learning to face difficult emotions and situations head on instead of turning to things like she does.

[@helenaquin1797]

Remember reading an article in about '95 about the birth control pill and vody odor. What I read was that the woman - while on the pill - does not fully smell her partner's natural odor. And it is critical for a woman to find her partner's odor appealing as it's a sign that the immune systems of the two are compatible. (If not, there are other things that could be incompatible to make for less health in any potential offspring.)

[@meginski25]

I love LMNT. Super yummy! Raspberry Salt is my absolute fave!

[@Pubslife]

Ryan, I wanted you to finish the story about your affluent family/friends with the pool and the price tags still on everything. I am guess they may have ended up with massive credit card debt regardless of being high income earners. Am I wrong? Was it one person in the marriage that over shopped or both? Did the marriage last. I was just wonder the consequences of such behavior.

[@barbrasegal5429]

Time worthy.

[@s.aura.h8084]

Josh enjoys drinking hydration sachets?! I had to drink these in Morocco when I got really sick and I couldn’t stand them! 🤣 The tile trackers are cool - they would be super useful while travelling abroad. Also want to say I really appreciate the longer episode! Much love guys x

[@billieannfronczek6737]

I believe severe hoarding can signify a traumatic loss or frequently multiple life altering events. There is loss of control or purpose or a supportive community or inability to accept support. I believe there is like a numbing at the start of collecting or hoarding but takes a very idiopathic disease path. I think a person lacking coping skills may be more likely to hoard but Ido believe there is a underlying traumatic event.

[@jessicawademusicJ19]

His face at 24:38. LOL I love it! haha We were all taking in the bonobos lol

[@darrisnelson5223]

Can you be a plant hoarder?🤔😬

[@beingmyownfan]

I am watching this video while browsing for future Jordan retro sneakers release dates. lol

[@feathersky860]

Love you both ❤️✔️🦅 your SIMPLETON 👍

[@beaglemit]

“Look how many families that would feed” My response would be let’s go right now and feed them! And then when we get there “accidentally find out it’s expired” and tell the family (shelter) I’m about to give you expired food is this ok? And let THEM decide. Probably not but he needs more people who don’t “see it his way” in a real life situation versus theory.

[@tiffaneyjewelmindfulness]

My dog has OCD and is also a hoarder. He brings all his toys into his crate all the time. I put them away and he removes them immediately.

[@eviewesner6231]

Ryan got Christmas in March!!

[@LJ542]

These phrases related to talking about extremes and how some people regard minimalism as an extreme. ".......Our culture is the extreme......It has gotten away from our nature." Perfectly said. I think your comments there are right.exactly.ON.

[@kraykray4118]

Ryan always smells of cool water 😂😂😂

[@tinameredith8299]

Can you post the links to your recommendations items please.

[@anamariaiatan875]

What's the brand of the cdb oil ? Thank you

[@leaurbanova6530]

i´m 14 and my parents are hoarders. it hurts me to see them being so stressed but when i tell them about minimalism and benefits from it they just get angry. i don´t want to pressure them, but decluttering certain things just seem to be the right thing for them. please tell me what should i do

[@kimleeson5400]

Lea, you can not make your parents change, but you can show them by example. You can work to keep your own room tidy and de-cluttered. Maybe they will see the value in that and then you can offer to help them with some small areas of the house and make some gradual progress when they see some results. I also had a family member who I wanted to help with decluttering, but they would just get mad when I offered to help declutter. People have to want to do it for themselves. And I think the best way to lead people is to show them by example.

[@leaurbanova6530]

@@kimleeson5400 thank you very much, i already decluttered my room but they just say that i do it from boredom and don´t think that it has any effect. although i am gonna try more and show them all the other benefits.

[@rosarosa365]

I just subscribed to your private page. Do you guys have an app thatll make access easier?

[@TheMinimalistsPodcast]

The Patreon app is great!

[@bigb853]

One of my favs💕💕💕💕✨✨✨💖💖💖

[@belgianguitarist7503]

EP. 278, and you don't see yourself as a hoarder? 🤔😂 Keep it up guys! Really inspiring me here! 🤘

[@mjinthailand8273]

I can relate with this :)

[@SF-ru3lp]

Hoarding is a very sad situation. I do believe that thd hoarding is behaviour that comes about as a response to some "below the surface"/ historical trauma/fear etc. I do feel that it is a coping mechanism/protective behaviour... I know that on a much smaller level I let some piles of stuff build up if I am procrastinating or not wanting to face a certain task/paperwork. G Ire PS Greatwork, guys. I love your pithy sayings.

[@ritarevell7195]

Great show you guys. I certainly recognize myself in this, not an extreme hoarder, but my clutter is out of control. Everything with piles of paper and stuff piled up. But it’s a problem for me, and my family members. I definitely am more than a level 1...maybe I am a level 2/3? Oh my! I’m a hoarder! Yikes!! Odors, sometimes. Oh guys, things are looking dire!!

[@mossyoakmom8880]

My office was pretty full with mostly papers that needed going through and other odds and ends. It was pretty out of control. The piles of paper were so high I couldn’t find the top of my desk. Im always watching these types of shows to gain knowledge and inspiration. I was watching a slob comes clean, Dana K White, on You Tube and she said when you’re doing a decluttering project you don’t have to do the whole thing at once. Do what you can do each time and you will make progress. This seems so simple but really has stuck with me. I’ve been working on my office for a few weeks here and there and I am making progress. I’ve recycled, shredded, thrown away and filed paperwork and I’ve gone through other belongings in there. I moved my desk to a different area and vacuum my floor pretty much daily, the parts of the floor that I can. I use a little hand held vacuum to vacuum my desk top and any other horizontal area as I go because of the dust and debris that has accumulated. It’s still a work in progress because we own a business and I have to stop and do paperwork for the business but I am getting somewhere. I have plans of painting it when I get to that point. I’m very excited to have an office I can come into free of a hoard so I can just sit down and do my book work with no problem. Take care.

[@ritarevell7195]

I have a basket that I throw papers into that need to be shredded and then I go through once in a while and do that chore.

[@Deborahlevy1]

I understand that hoarding is a psychological disorder but hoarding appears to also have a genetic component. I have a very close friend who has a hoarding issue. He did a DNA search through 23 and me. His report showed two markers for hoarding.

[@10529Erin]

I'm facing a real mess when my inlaws pass. And its generational as they have the stuff from their parents, too. I'm overwhelmed and when I encourage them to pare down(Swedish Death Cleaning), they laugh and say it's the kids problem. I'm trying not to be angry about the selfishness of 78 year olds laughing about leaving me to deal with a lifetime of never dealing with their sentimental hoard.

[@ZenDragoonYT]

Id tell em either they minimize or when the time comes youll hire someone to throw out the whole mess

[@jennis4647]

@10529Erin I am going through the same thing with my mother. No matter what I say she will not part with anything. It’s so frustrating. She laughs and says I can just deal with it all when she dies.

[@alicelaybourne1620]

Oh dear, your little girl must be an angel. I have definitely met children as soon as they can talk and walk refuse to share and definitely will NOT give away their toys. Go to a day care and check it out.

[@sashavaldez4626]

I find myself hoarding food with this pandemic and the stores being unreliable, i have found i constantly feel the need to always have the just incase food on hand. How do i break that way of thinking.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Speaking of spartanism, I'm reminded of the condition called Diogenes Syndrome. People with that will go so far to just live on the street or in a car when they can afford a residence. A lady in my town became a shopping cart lady after a family inheritance problem then a local church got her an apartment, all expenses paid, and after a few months the lady went back to living on the street, sleeping in the post office lobby at night. Eventually another church provided the lady with a key so she could spend the nights in their building. Diogenes was a philosopher in ancient times who chose to live in a barrel and the condition is named after him.

[@pattimoore5729]

I love my tiles... I got them when my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and started misplacing things

[@estherkinzelmann4875]

You are hoarding ideas.... 🤔🤣 By the way I like your talk because it's also very personal and often. My respect.

[@s.h.4241]

Food expiration dates are often “best by” dates meaning the flavor is at its best. It doesn’t mean it’s inedible. Honestly if you haven’t eaten it by the best by date it probably needs to go though.

[@ritarevell7195]

I find that when I put things in the cupboard, it becomes out of sight/out of mind. I found can goods that were way outdated-those I tossed without testing them for taste value.

[@ah5721]

There are some foods that can be eaten others not. It needs to pass the sniff test. And the can needs to not be bulging. Its important to have a rotation of food in place