The article reflects on the author's experience of sorting through inherited family items, revealing emotional ties to possessions and the complexities of hoarding behavior. As a clinical psychologist specializing in hoarding disorder, the author notes that while keeping sentimental items can be typical as people age, it can escalate to significant clutter and impaired functioning due to diminished executive function and decision-making abilities. This raises questions about the psychological motivations behind such behaviors, particularly in the elderly, and invites reflection on the value we assign to personal items and memories.
Hoarding disorder is a psychiatric condition defined by urges to save items and difficulty discarding current possessions, often leading to impaired daily functioning.
For some people, this tendency to hold on to objects grows over time, eventually leading to hoarding disorder, especially as age-related changes affect decision-making.
The process of sorting through keepsakes often raises questions about sentimental value and the psychological factors that drive the need to keep things.
My favorite find was a solitary puzzle piece, reflecting my late grandmother's tendency to hide the final piece of puzzles, invoking nostalgia.
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