Questions about the topic of "hoarding".....
This is not the most pressing topic. However, "hoarding"came up the other day when my friend from the Dominican Republic who is planning on becoming a citizen next year) was visiting from Maine.
He and his wife were complaining about a neighbor who was in trouble with the law due to a horrible case of "hoarding". I was trying to come up with the proper translation in Spanish, but neither of us could. He just knew that you could smell the house as you passed by things were so bad.
This topic of hoarding has been made popular by TV shows recently. Click here if you haven't heard of this. Many hoarders collect tons of animals, among other junk and clutter that they can't let go of. Even though they literally can't walk through their homes and they are being threatened by the law, This has been labeled as a mental disorder, but I'm just not quite sure how I feel about this.
If it is a mental disorder, than I have the reverse syndrome. My motto: "When in doubt, throw it out." I absolutely hate clutter and hate having anything around the house that doesn't serve some sort of purpose whether for function or beauty.
So in my curiosity, I was wondering a few things: Is this a U.S. phenomenon or has anyone else heard of it? What is the proper translation for (hoarder/hoarding)? Would it be acaparador? Do you tend to collect or throw things away? Does anyone you know suffer from the repercussions of this problem?
This is more like it!! 
16 Answers
My motto: "When in doubt, throw it out."
whohooooooooo, you are talking about me, for sure!!! 
How did you know ??
My friends say: one of these days I am going to throw the cats into the trash, as almost everything lands there
This is called el Síndrome de Diógenes, which of course I can't relate to at all!
We don't really have a verb I know of, we say: acumulación de basura,
Actually, what surprised me when I saw this one is that not only do these people not throw anything out, but they even bring trash into the house! Amazing. And how is it possible that they can live in that smell? 
I hold strongly to the idea that if you have not worn it for 6 months then give it to
someone who will. Attachment to things causes us humans more grief than a
cartload of monkeys, breaking away from our attachments will free us from the
grasping and greed that often besets us.
" By the absence of grasping
one is made free , if clinging
how can one ever be free ,
if not free how can we ever be happy".
There can be no doubt in my mind it is a crippling (and deeply sad) mental disorder. From what I have read, it seems to run in families, and frequently inflicts the elderly.
Interestingly, there are many such "disorders" classified now, which 200 years ago used to be referred to as "eccentric traits."
Personally, I prefer the old classification. It kind of reminds me of Ayn Rand's quote: "the only normal person is someone you don't know very well."
Yes I think acaparador/a works and it can also mean monopolizing.
I have this problem, but the solution is to move to a different place every year and throw out everything that won't fit in your suitcase.
Just yesterday I was looking for a newspaper to use to wrap food in and really frustrated because last year I had about 10 and I haven't got any yet this year!
And I need scraps of paper to write rough notes on, which were all thrown out last year. Every surface in my room at home from my childhood is covered with something, the closets are so full they won't close, there's a narrow path to the bed, and of course there is loads of stuff under the bed, all the shelves are covered and drawers are so full you can't open them.
The good thing is this summer we were a bit short on money and we found loaaaaaaaads of things to sell! There are lots of benefits to storing things if you don't need the space for something I think!
But of course I don't hoard food! Well a little.. but I throw it out when it goes off. My resolution this year is to eat everything I buy and not buy more till what I have is eaten.
Maybe I should call myself SquirrelWho!
Pesta said:
Unfortunately, I am frequently reinforced in my packrat tendencies, whenever I throw something out, hesitatingly, I remember that I threw it out. Then usually not more than a week later, I find a use for the item, and wish I hadn't been so much in a hurry to throw it out.
Maybe this is the key to the "pack rat" vs "non-pack rat"minds. I rarely if ever remember anything I throw out. It is almost as if I have basura amnesia. Even if I happen to remember throwing outsomething like a book, say (don't judge me. ) and the next week a friends mentions that she would love to read that book, what's the worst that can happen? Either I tell her where she can buy a copy or if I'm in a good mood, I go and plunk down the $17.95 and buy it for her.
In the meantime, I am so thoroughly enjoying the empty space which the book filled up before, that I can't be bothered worrying about the $17.95. To me, organized closets, clear spaces and the ability to find things in a moments notice without having to rip half my house apart are well worth the investment. But that's just me. 
While I have "pack-rat" tendencies, I know what's disposable, and what is not.
Unfortunately, I am frequently reinforced in my packrat tendencies, whenever I throw something out, hesitatingly, I remember that I threw it out. Then usually not more than a week later, I find a use for the item, and wish I hadn't been so much in a hurry to throw it out.
Of course, the items I don't throw out are mostly never used. On occasion, an item becomes useful, and validates my packrat tendencies once again. 
I am a pack rat myself, recently I found a pair of speakers for the computer that I've probably had since I was 13 years old in a box of my old junk. /sigh the truth is that I could really use some speakers right now too, but the darn things DON'T WORK anymore. How is that for irony? So I had to throw them out, which was really annoying. I'll just stick to headphones for now. Speaking of which, I've got three pairs of headphones right now, with only one of them having functioning microphones. One of them is so bad I should probably throw it out, I don't use it, I just never think about it because it is in my drawer. I still have video games from when I was a child too, stacked up on one of my shelves. I think I mostly keep them for sentimental value, since I don't even own the console you need to play them.
I can sympathize with these people. I have problems letting go of stuff myself, especially if it is something to do with technology like discs or wires or phones. But that lady who kept the pizza holders (they keep the pizza from coming apart while they are being delivered) is just crazy.
It's the first time I read about this disorder. What do these people think? Do they believe that this accumulated stuff will be useful someday?
This is called el Síndrome de Diógenes, which of course I can't relate to at all!
That's weird 
. Diogenes was an Ancient Greek philosopher who used to live in a huge jar. He believed that a person can live without unnecessary stuff, that's why he had nothing at all in his possession.
I'm with you Nicole, I cannot stand clutter and I am constantly throwing away every little bit of whatever is laying around on the counter tops. Maybe that's why that hoarding show fascinates me, I love it. My husband won't watch it with me though...
Our home is modern and minimalist. I keep spare parts for our home systems in my sotano along with tools and other bits needed in home maintenance but outside of this we keep it to a minimum, no need for 4 10 inch fry pans when two will do, I do store the needed stuff for parties though as they are in regular use. I do think our hoarding tendencies go to books books and yet more books.
Rabbit said:
You'll all be smiling out of the other side of your faces when society collapses and you have to come to me for empty shampoo bottles. - rabbitwho hace 2 horas
I think you're teasing us Rabbit about the empty shampoo bottles.
However, if you ever change that cute little Rabbit avatar to the pic below, we will have an intervention.
Ianta said:
It's the first time I read about this disorder. What do these people think? Do they believe that this accumulated stuff will be useful someday?
Yes, that is one of their strongest arguments. If you actually watch the full show or the tons of others that are available on line, you will see that despite the major things that these people stand to lose, namely friends, family, health, pets, and even the loss of the house itself if they don't clean it up....they just don't get it. This particular show sends in about ten trucks, and workers (all wearing masks because of the foul odor) and also a psychiatrist to help them to cope. In addition, there are usually family members willing to help.
All of this is for nothing because a hoarder will literally struggle with throwing out the most obscure items. This could be a paperclip, a twenty year old electric bill, piles of magazines, you name it. It is as if they love the things more than the people in their lives. Then when the people start helping them, they become irate if they find the most ridiculous piece of junk in the trash. One woman flipped out because a container of yogurt that had expired 18 months earlier was thrown out. She claimed that it was still good and she might need it.
They claim it is a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but it seems that nearly any bad behavior has a diagnosis these days. If you get the chance to watch a whole show, I think you will be shocked and horrified!!! 
Heidi said:
My friends say: one of these days I am going to throw the cats into the trash, as almost everything lands there
People are constantly joking about my problem with throwing everything out. I know better than to throw the cat out because my daughter would never forgive me. jeje....But everything else is on the endangered list in my home!!! ;)
So I guess we share those two things in common:
We're night owls/vampires and we absolutely despise clutter!!!
Actually, what surprised me when I saw this one is that not only do these people not throw anything out, but they even bring trash into the house! Amazing. And how is it possible that they can live in that smell?
I have no idea how they live with the smell or the shame. I mean, to have someone come in your house and literally have to throw up because they can't take the smell...I guess that is why it is labeled as a mental health disorder. Who in their right minds would actually bring more trash into their homes (if you can call them that). Many times these people are told that their children are going to be taken away, yet they still don't deal with the issue. The thought of a child or a pet living in those conditions just breaks my heart. 
Amykay said:
Maybe that's why that hoarding show fascinates me, I love it. My husband won't watch it with me though...
That is why I was fascinated by the few shows I watched on this topic. I have to give credit to the doctors and family members. I don't know if I could be as patient. The way these people rationalize keeping the most ridiculous items, while they are in the process of being evicted and losing their children is totally beyond me.
I saw one sad show where an older woman had no safe place to sleep due to the clutter and mess. So she strapped herself into a porto-potty. Apparently, she fell and was injured one night and it took rescuers so long to make it through the piles of debris to rescue her. I just can't imagine!
I guess everyone's mind works slightly different. Of course these are extreme cases. Some people seem to thrive with a messy desk or work space and they know where to locate everything they need. Others like myself, can't get started until everything is put away, in order and even aligned properly. It annoys me to see anything crooked on a surface or wall.
