Beneath the surface lies a gradual shift in our relationship with possessions.

Ever notice how stuff just seems to accumulate without you really realizing it? That’s how hoarding tendencies often sneak up on people. It’s not like the shocking scenes you see on TV shows. For most folks, it begins innocently—hanging onto keepsakes, saving items “just in case,” or putting off tough decisions about what to toss.
The boundary between being a collector and sliding into hoarding gets fuzzy when you become emotionally attached to your things and can’t think clearly about them. Most people with hoarding tendencies don’t see themselves that way at all. They think, “I’m just sentimental” or “I’m being thrifty.” Catching these early warning signs can stop things from snowballing into something that messes with your safety, relationships, and mental health.


