Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, co-authored by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee, is a startling and sometimes gross observation of hard-core hoarding. I’m not talking about messy housekeeping, or a house with clutter, I’m talking about hoarding to the extreme. Stuff piled almost to the ceiling. Floors littered to the point that people have to walk across piles of stuff to get from room to room.
The tendencies of hoarding often appear to be a narrow aspect of OCD (Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder), though not treatable by medication. It’s a condition where people value possession over use. Hoarders have lost the battle of mind over matter.
Hoarding seems to be carried out largely in secret; hoarders tend to be ashamed of their disorder. Marriages break up because of it; children are resentful and ashamed to bring their friends home.
Stuff delves into the psychology of what compels compulsive collectors to create unlivable conditions. Why would anyone collect stacks of newspapers, or scraps of paper with notes that no longer have meaning? Why would anyone scrounge through other people’s trash and take home useless, broken objects? It isn’t uncommon for a hoarder to fill up one living space and move on to another, only to start again. Some people rent storage units for the sole purpose of storing seemingly useless stuff.
Hoarding can be dangerous when the stuff hoarded attracts insects, rats and mice. When the results of hoarding invade other people’s living space, public health often intervenes, but the real problem isn’t solved. Even after a home is cleaned and truck loads of stuff hauled away, the hoarder will feel invaded and simply start in again—often with a vengeance.
With each chapter, Stuff delves into individual case studies, people afflicted with different types of hoarding and their out-of-control behavior. It’s a fascinating study and I came away with a deeper knowledge of the condition, and an appreciation for professionals who serve in this capacity. The book has a “Finding Help” section that contains valuable information to assist hoarders and their families.
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things is an intriguing read. Hoarding is a growing problem in our society and this book offers a very readable look at the reasons and ramifications of this unfortunate disorder.