We usually think of compulsive hoarding behavior as an acquisition of physical items such as clothing, containers, antiques, food, or tools. However, some individuals hoard information, hanging on to both hard copy and digital materials.
People who feel compelled to hoard information tend to focus on one of three types of information: research items, memory items, or general knowledge items.
Research Information Hoarding
Many people do research to learn something interesting or before making significant decisions. However, the hoarding research process is lengthy, laborious, and beyond what is necessary. Some information hoarders enjoy the extensive research while others can be tormented by it.
Individuals with this type of hoarding use books, magazines, the Internet, consumer reports, newspapers, and pick the brains of family and friends to help them make a decision, or to satisfy curiosity. They feel compelled to continue until they “fully know” the topic they are looking into.
Research designed to help choose a new car, doctor, plumber, or vacation destination may continue for days or weeks. The research might involve hyper-focus, or working for continuous hours and losing track of time at the expense of self care (e.g., eating, sleeping, socializing).
Memory Information Hoarding
Some people are compelled to save information that reminds them of important people or events in their life, or already read materials that may be needed later. They might hold on to used or new calendars/planners, greeting cards, gift lists, and shopping or to-do lists.
Memory hoarders may use computer pop-up reminders or post-it notes to excess. Some individuals keep video or audio recordings of significant occasions, or keep detailed time records.
General Knowledge Hoarding
People who hoard general information do not seek the material out. Instead, they believe information that has come their way is interesting and/or important to remember. This includes items such as an energy saving tips newsletter, a 50 uses for vinegar brochure, or current events flyers—anything related to that person or someone they know.
Although many of us keep pertinent, helpful information on hand, the issue with hoarding is the quantity kept. The collection may become so extensive that locating specific information when needed becomes impossible.
Those who keep general information materials often have a broad spectrum of interests and curious minds, so much of the material that crosses their path ends-up being stored in a box, pile, or computer file.
Consequences and Treatment
Saving and collecting becomes a problem when it compromises a person’s ability to function. As with other types of hoarding, keeping information can lead to a cluttered home, delaying important decisions, loss of time, relationship stress, and getting stuck in life, unable to move forward. It can also lead to cyber-clutter—countless pieces of information stored digitally.
If you or someone you know feels compelled to hoard information or other items, and are distressed by the consequences, help is available. Many counselors today use cognitive-behavioral therapy and ERP, or exposure and response prevention therapy to help individuals alleviate their symptoms.
Source: html link: OCD Newsletter
Photo credit: Magnus Akselvoll - flickr
