Packrat Syndrome: Do You or Someone You Love Have Any of These Symptoms?

• Keep things because you feel guilty about throwing them away
• Rescue things that others are going to throw away
• Collect things even if you have no room for them
• Purchase things you don't need only because they are on sale
• Hold on to things because your children might need them someday
• Afraid or embarrassed to have company over because of how your house looks
• Afraid get rid of things because you may "need them someday"

• People who suffer from packrat syndrome can develop varying degrees of difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Clutter tends to isolate the packrat from friends and loved ones.
• Self esteem issues, as the sufferer feels further alienation amidst growing piles of clutter.
• Deterioration of decision making skills. Deciding to keep something or throw it out becomes an impossible decision, the packrat avoids decision making altogether and simply keeps all items.
• Unhealthy emotional attachments to physical things. The sufferer can not disassociate the item from the memory, and becomes even more reluctant and afraid to let go, lest they somehow lose the memory altogether.
• Low energy. Excessive clutter may make the sufferer feel tired a majority of the time.
• A feeling of "being stuck" in life and unable to make progress or institute wanted changes.
• Depression. If clutter is not cleared, it may lead to a worsening depression that may require medical intervention.