Compulsive decluttering

Compulsive decluttering is a pattern of behaviour that is characterised by an excessive desire to discard objects from one's home and living areas.[1] Another term for this behaviour is obsessive compulsive spartanism.[2] The homes of compulsive declutterers are often empty.[3] It is the opposite of compulsive hoarding.

Compulsive decluttering is a type of disorder that is classified within a broad name, obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. Compulsive decluttering is the act of throwing items, or clutter, away, or getting rid of them in an attempt to "clean up" what one with the disorder may think is cluttered. Even though it is the polar opposite of compulsive hoarding, the two are related because they both fall under the umbrella of OCD in different ways. Compulsive decluttering is also known as compulsive decluttering disorder, and is also known as "compulsive spartanism."[4]

Because a clean environment typically looks better and more organised than a "cluttered" one, people can start to get into the habit of decluttering, which can lead to the extreme of compulsive decluttering. People can often misunderstand compulsive decluttering with a typical "spring cleaning," often due to the fact that somebody with the disorder tends to declutter year round.[1] People that have compulsive decluttering disorder think that any items around them are cluttering or disrupting their every day lives.[3] Throwing these items away gives them satisfaction, and gives them the idea that they are in control of their lives.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of compulsive decluttering include repetitive discarding of materials and consistent reorganizing of one's immediate surroundings. Some people with the disorder may question whether or not they have enough of particular items, and may never feel relaxed even if everything is in their desired "order." In some circumstances, a symptom is for the person to constantly feel as though they need to delete texts, emails, browser history, even photos from their electronic devices.[5]

Effects

The effects of compulsive decluttering on one who has it can be significant. Because this disorder involves throwing away anything that causes discomfort, there may be a significant financial or social burden.[6] This disorder causes people to think they are better off getting rid of what they currently have, because it is in the way, and buying a replacement if and when they need one.[4] For example, if a pen is sitting on a desk, and it makes the desk look disorganised, somebody with compulsive decluttering disorder would most likely throw it away in an effort to declutter the desk, and when they need a pen to write with, then they would buy a new one.[4] When this process begins to repeat, it is a sign that they have compulsive decluttering disorder. The financial burden comes from the repetitive repurchasing of the things that people would otherwise own for a long time, and normally would not need to repurchase. Depending on the severity of the disorder, the items that are being replaced can get to be much more expensive. These things that people may begin to get rid of and repurchase can include phones, furniture and even jewelry. It may also include adverse social effects. People with obsessive decluttering may deliberately or unintentionally discard items that are meaningful to others, like family heirlooms or photographs. The effects that this disorder has are very similar to those defined by OCD, even though these effects may be portrayed in significantly different ways.

Treatments

While there are no specific treatments for compulsive decluttering at this time, attempts at treatment are included in the different ways OCD is treated.

References
  1. Garrett, Leslie. "The Mental Illness That Makes People Throw Away Their Possessions". The Atlantic.
  2. "Hoarding vs Clutter Phobia, which one is really OCD". A Life Lived Ridiculously (blog).
  3. Yaqub, Reshma Mernon. “Confessions of a Compulsive Declutterer.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Mar. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/living/confessions-compulsive-declutterer/index.html.
  4. KHONNewsHawaii. “Too Much Decluttering? Disorder Can Affect Many, Including Seniors.” YouTube, KHONNews, 3 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssC7c6BPaE.
  5. Sonorryan, Jemima. “Obsessive-Compulsive Spartanism: When Mental Illness Hijacks Your Decluttering Efforts.” Medium, Augmenting Humanity, 8 Sept. 2017, medium.com/@jemima.s/obsessive-compulsive-spartanism-when-mental-illness-hijacks-your-decluttering-efforts-1e0abadef1f8.
  6. Carlo, and Molly Wickham. “Obsessive Compulsive Decluttering.” Anxiety Boss, 22 Apr. 2018, anxietyboss.com/obsessive-compulsive-decluttering/.
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