Why do hoarders seem to feel tired all the time?

1. 98

   Bedbugabscondposted 12 years ago

   Why do hoarders seem to feel tired all the time?
   
   I have a number of friends and family who hoard stuff. I have noticed that every single one of them seems to be overly tired. Is there correlation or causation between hording and energy levels or is it a coincidence?

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2. 62

   manofmystery24posted 12 years ago

   I think their hoarding is a reflection of a lot suppressed issues. Suppressed issues can make you feel extremely exhausted. I feel like it can also be overwhelming looking at all of that clutter. In Feng Shui, clutter is the ultimate enemy.

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3. 74

   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   I would suggest a number of possible correlations, and also a feedback loop:
   - depression causes both exhausting and a tendency not to clean up, get organized, and do stuff
   - fear creates exhaustion and a tendency to hide and not deal with things
   
   I think there is also cyclical causation. Looking at a mess is a downer! Feeling down, we don't clean up the mess. Staying in the mess, we feel down.
   
   I'm not a hoarder, but, to the extent that I let clutter pile up, it's a definite downer for me.

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4. 77

   Express10posted 12 years ago

   It could be part of a catch 22. The hoarding is a symptom of mental problems. Mental problems such as depression often show themselves physically as well though the symptoms may be vague to the person.
   
   Also, the effort it takes for many hoarders to draw the line between those they allow to know about their hoarding requires them to do a difficult dance when they interact with others, hiding their issues and shame is tough work and eventually can isolate them. Isolation can cause depression and other mental (and physical) problems, etc.

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5. 73

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Hoarders basically have plenty of anxiety and anxiety always makes you feel tired. It is like battling with an invisible force.

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6. 55

   Squirrelgonzoposted 12 years ago

   Hoarders might be tired from Hoarding...I know this seems like a simple answer, but you have to think-someone who is a hoarder is trying to secure what they want in as big of a quantity that they want/can.
   
   Maybe the woes from maintaining these items are tiring them out, or they are afraid or worry that someone will try to take their possessions away from them? That might be stressing them out-which in turn, can tire them out.
   
   I am no expert. I hope they feel better soon if they are tired!
   
   -Gonzo-Out

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7. 84

   FatFreddysCatposted 12 years ago

   I figure it's gotta be hard work crawling over and around all those huge piles of crap in and around their houses. No wonder they're tired.

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8. 59

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   Interesting question. I have a theory that is untested - as far as I know. I haven't explored the idea. Here is my best guess.
   
   I think that an unorganized and cluttered environment creates stress which creates fatigue.
   
   I think clutter may be a sign of fatigue and so it is a vicious cycle because people who live in cluttered environments must feel frustrated which worsens their fatigue. I also think that untidiness may at least in some cases be related to procrastination.
   
   We have to be careful about cause and effect here though because the reason people hoard things or appear to hoard things may be due to health reasons which cause them to be fatigued!
   
   Just to complicate things - I have known some very neat hoarders who do not have fatigue. I wonder what make them tick? Where do they fit into my theory?
   
   There may in fact be research out there to support this theory, but I have never looked into it.

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9. 61

   landscapeartistposted 12 years ago

   I have to admit that I am somewhat of a hoarder.  And, I have to admit that alot of your ideas and theories are somewhat true.   I had been suffering for many years from depression over a failing marriage that I had tried so desperately to save.  I had got myself into a situation where I was afraid to rid myself of anything that might or might not mean a change in my life. 
   So, memorabilia of a life that I had hoped for and a life I thought I had, kept piling up.  Even though I have reduced my stash of memories, I still find myself hoarding more items.  Even sittling there doing absolutely nothing can tire oneself out.  I find myself in constant conflict with myself to throw something out into the trash and it is so tiring.  When you are depressed all the time, you find it really hard to get up and do something about your own situation.  It's a constant neverending battle.

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      SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your honesty - we all learn from it. I hope you can lift yourself out of the battle and let go of the past. The present has so much to offer - and so do you!

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      Bedbugabscondposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for sharing. It is nice to try to see it from a hoarders point of view. I hope you can solve the conflict and feel great!

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      promaineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It can be a neverending battle! I've been there too. But you're coming to a lot of personal wisdom. The hard part is healing the needy and clinging parts, teaching them this wisdom, and moving forward. Best wishes and prayers for you!

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   4. 61

      landscapeartistposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you to everyone who responded to my comment.  I failed to mention that when we reduce our stash of hoarded materials, we battle an inside force to run back and retrieve that item.  No matter how miniscule the item is, I feel overwhelming need

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10. 0

    rmcleveposted 12 years ago

    I agree with SidKemp 100 percent. I'll also add that it is harder to clean a cluttered house and there is infinitely more surface area for dust, bacteria, and more to land. If the individual has asthma, allergies, or other problems, it would probably sap their energy and immune system. Thus, fatigued, exhausted people who are already trying to deal with an intense emotional workload.

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    1. 74

       SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Excellent point about allergies - I was wiped out by dust mites (achy and exhausted) until I learned to seal my bed and get rid of stuffed furniture. A hoarder with a dust or dust mite allergy would be in bad shape!

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11. 74

    rdownposted 12 years ago

    a lot of them sleep in places other than a bed ..like bath tub so no wonder they don't get a good night's sleep and are tired!  it is probably due more to depression though.

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