Take The Hoarding Test...

[dolphin]

http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/home/r...d_assess.jhtml

Do you have a problem with compulsive hoarding? Use this self-assessment test to find out.

[dolphin]

I took the test and it sure was an eye opener for me. Guess I need to get back to the psychiatrist, LOL.

Here are my test results:

Clutter score: 12

Difficulty Discarding score: 14

Acquiring score: 15

Each of these scores can be interpreted as:

0–2: Minimal
This is probably not something you need to worry about.

3–7: Mild
Although you may have a bit of clutter, difficulty discarding or acquiring, it is unlikely to be a significant problem for you. You might want to consider working on these issues, perhaps using a self-directed manual such as Buried in Treasures.

8–12: Moderate
In all likelihood, you have a significant hoarding-related problem. People who score in this range typically find their lives to be impacted by clutter, difficulty discarding or acquiring. You might benefit from working on the problem on your own with a manual such as Buried in Treasures. However, you could also consider working with a mental health professional who knows about the treatment of hoarding.

13–17: Severe
People who score in this range usually find that their quality of life is suffering quite a bit due to hoarding-related concerns. A self-directed manual such as Buried in Treasures might be a good start, but if you score in this range, you will probably find that you need the help of a professional to beat the problem.

18–20: Very Severe
If you scored in this range on any of the clutter, difficulty discarding or acquiring scales, it's time to get professional help. People who score in this range are probably going to have a very hard time tackling this problem on their own. Contact a mental health professional who knows about the treatment of hoarding.

My one grace saver is that my actual living space is very livable and not in a squalorous state. But, my garages are heaped full of unnecessary items that I acquire on the whim that "I'm just certain I can sell that for lots of money." I have 2=2 car garages and 2 1 car garages and only one is clean enough for a vehicle.

Please don't feel the need to post your results. I just felt like "coming clean".

[justpeachy92]

My clutter score was 2
dfficulty discarding score 1
aquiring score was 1

I can honestly admit I am glad I didn't inherit the hoarding trait from my mother and grandmother. The both hoard alot, you can't walk through my mothers house without bumping into something or having to move something out of the way. My grandmother has 2 houses, one for her stuff and one she lives in. The house she lives in houses some of the stuff in the guest room, keeping her from having guests.

[geckoace]

Clutter score: 4

Difficulty Discarding score: 1

Acquiring score: 6

i did pretty well, i like throwing things out!

[frugalandsimple]

My score:

Clutter score: 3

Difficulty Discarding score: 2

Acquiring score: 3

I have very little clutter around my home and I rarely have difficulty with getting rid of things I probably won't be using in the future.

[itsahumanzoo]

I fall into the mild category.

3–7: Mild
Although you may have a bit of clutter, difficulty discarding or acquiring, it is unlikely to be a significant problem for you. You might want to consider working on these issues, perhaps using a self-directed manual such as Buried in Treasures.

[dolphin]

You girls are doing great!

I was never a hoarder until 9 years ago when we moved to our present home. It was MIL's and it was full and then we brought most of the contents from our 3 bedroom home and garage here.

We paid over $8,000.00 for MIL's personal items (to dh's brother), just so they would leave us alone. We had lots of stuff stolen after MIL's death by family members and then we had 3 burglaries over the last 9 years.

I've had 7 yard sales. Trucked a load of things to BIL's. Sold 3 trailor loads of things at an auction. Sold lots of stuff in the newspaper. Sold over 400 items on ebay. DS has moved in and out of here atleast 7 times, always leaving things behind. I've also given many things away to Freecycle.

My main problem is that illusive search for the million dollar item to sell on ebay to make up for all of the losses we've had. I've done well finding those items to sell even including a picture I paid $10.00 for and sold it for almost $500.00 but the search for items like that has me bringing home lots of other items from flea markets and freecycle that don't sell.

[FrugalMomof3]

Mine were in this order: 1, 2, 3....

Not that bad as I have done alot of decluttering the past couple months and now there is nothing left to get rid of... at least not now!

[danni]

Here are my test results:

Clutter score: 8
Difficulty Discarding score: 12
Acquiring score: 7

I am so much better than I was but I still have a long way to go.

[JanieD]

Clutter score: 6

Difficulty Discarding score: 7

Acquiring score: 3

Not to bad, in the Mild range. Noticing progress over the last few months, finding it much easier to throw things away lately!

[suebeehoney]

Clutter Score: 5
Difficulty Discarding Score: 2
Acquiring Score: 7

All fell into the "mild" range.

I wish I could give this test to a former boyfriend from years ago. His hoarding problem is one of the main reasons we broke up. He would keep cereal and frozen foods for YEARS...literally. He opened a box of cereal one day and moths flew out of it and it was full of webs. He had so much food hoarded that he had his cabinets full at home, about 30 2-liter bottles of pop lined the floor by the wall in his kitchen, his freezer on his fridge was so full you risked an avalanche every time you opened it, and he had an upright freezer at his parents' house in another county full of food. (Most of which was so old and freezer burnt you couldn't tell what it was - yet he'd eat it.)

[C@rol]

Not to bad:

Clutter score: 2

Difficulty Discarding score: 1

Acquiring score: 3

[Libby]

Oh I am not even going to post my results LOL But then again I think I am more hard on myself then others would see me.

[beks37]

Clutter score: 2

Difficulty Discarding score: 4

Acquiring score: 8

I didn't think I was so bad on the Acquiring-but I do spend a lot of time on Craigslist looking for things I just have to have, but don't really need. I have a garage sale every year to sell that same stuff.

[Ilovesewing]

Mine was:
Clutter - 1 (since I don't buy I don't have much)
Difficulty discarding - 6 (Everything here is from when my kids were little....sentimenal type stuff)
Acquiring - 0 (not at all surprised - I hate shopping )