Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Disposophobia

           
As the New Year progresses many folks are still 'into' doing their various 'resolutions', likely one of those resolutions is to get rid of 'stuff' and 'neat things up.'

For many, this will be a simple and enjoyable task.

For others -- it is a much more monumental task -- especially for folks with lots and lots of stuff.

So much 'stuff' that there is a name for it.

What is the name? you ask.

It is  Disposophobia!  

-- Also known by the more common name "hoarding".

Do you have it? Do you know anyone with it?

The Collyer brothers had it (though when I heard about them years ago, I thought their name was spelled Collier. Sigh. Oh well.) Anyway, they had it. Big time.

So, what is ‘Disposophobia’?  Let’s divide up the word and find out what it means:

Dispose  = get rid of by throwing away or giving or selling something to someone else  
+ Phobia = an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something

So, bottom line, this means ‘the fear of getting rid of something,  so you just keep it.’

And, yes, Disposophobia was a new term to me. But, I think I know several folks who have it.

Hmmm. Isn’t that what folks always say when they have the ‘problem’ and not the ‘others’ for whom they are ‘seeking help’? Oh, well, whatever.



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