Article March 11, 2013 Issue

Can hoarding be healed?

Ginger Mack Emden

If cleanliness is next to Godliness, being labeled a “hoarder” (one who collects things in excess) can be embarrassing and make a person feel far from God!

A recent report on NPR, regarding the updated manual of what psychiatrists classify as mental disorders, stated that “hoarding disorder” was a new inclusion. A bit surprised, my thought immediately went to, “Can hoarding be healed through prayer?”

Sure, we’ve all seen it, someone’s yard littered with old cars or flotsam. Or a reality TV show about people who struggle with piles of junk, making their home unlivable. Or maybe you have a friend who collects things and they’ve asked you to help them move? Aargh!! 