This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
One woman shares her story of how she knew she had hit rock bottom with her obsessive hoarding.
"I grew up in a house where hoarding was normal. My mom is a hoarder, and my dad tolerated her behavior. I now see myself sliding down a very slippery slope into the same dangerous territory.
Let me explain. My family home in South Carolina consists of five bedrooms for our family of four. When my brother and I left home, my mother took over all of our closets for her massive collections of handbags, shoes and suits. My dad even built her a custom closet in the spare bedroom.
Advertisement
My mom amassed tremendous amounts of clothing because when she loses or gains weight, she buys a new wardrobe and doesn't throw anything away. Once, she had a garage sale and we hoped that she'd be getting rid of some of her stuff. Instead, she sold my things to make room for her belongings in my closet.
This obsessive collecting has started to creep into my own life. Hoarding is in my DNA, so I can't say I'm surprised.
Advertisement
Growing up, I was always very organized about my belongings, but there were hints that hoarding was in my future. I needed to know where everything was so that when I got dirty I could run inside and change. My family says I would change multiple times a day.
Once I was a professional earning my own income, things got bad -- my online shopping addiction took over. Around the same time I moved to Philadelphia, where my habits weren't as closely watched and my storage space was limited. While I may have sacrificed closet space, I sure didn't curb my shopping.
Advertisement
I have one closet in my current apartment. The closet is small (it measures 29 inches wide by 79 inches high), and I have open shelving where I store my shoes and handbags. I have a bedroom dresser that is stuffed to the max as well as numerous plastic storage units under the bed. I use suitcases as shoe storage, too.
There are many problems with this situation, one of which is that I don't get much wear out of my clothing because I can't see it all. I stumble across things that I've bought that still have tags on them.
Thankfully, it's not a financial crisis -- yet. I never shop on credit; I only shop with cash and I know the limits of my budget. But I know that I'm addicted: I love the thrill of a good deal.
Then, I hit rock bottom. When I moved into my current apartment the metal closet racks were already damaged from the previous tenant. Since DIY isn't my strong suit, I ignored it and hoped for the best. But things took a turn for the worse when I kept loading my new purchases onto the already weak frame. One Sunday night, while watching "Game of Thrones," I heard the inside of my closet collapse. I groaned, because I knew exactly the mess that was waiting for me behind those two doors.
I slowly opened the doors and then quickly slammed them shut again. That's when I realized I had become my mother and was officially a hoarder.
Advertisement
Since then, I've given in. I've succumbed to it, allowing it to stay that way. To make matters worse, I've begun piling my clothes on top of the mess, like a widow throwing herself on a funeral pyre.
In my eyes, the only solution is a new apartment with a bigger closet. Though it may not sound like it, I am learning to deal with my addiction. I've become obsessed with closet organization: I watch YouTube videos and I plan on investing in Huggable Hangers to conserve space.
I know I have work ahead of me in order to curb my hoarding tendencies. I'm going to have to let go of many of my prized possessions. I've held onto things that haven't seen the light of day since the late '90s -- those have to go.
But I'm not gonna stop shopping. Instead, I can focus my talents on my new home. Rather than a new pair of shoes, I'll be looking for a new couch."
Are you in need of some organization? Here, some of our best tips:
The Best Cleaning & Organizing Tips
Advertisement
Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.
**
Do you have a home story idea or tip? Email us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.