When you think of hoarding, you think of the usual case of accumulating a huge amount of items. It doesn’t matter what kind of item it is, but for one who has a hoarding disorder, attempting to get rid of the items results in significant distress. This disorder, which affects 2-6% people in the US, can have a lasting negative impact on focus and productivity if not treated. However, the disorder has evolved into modern-day digital hoarding.
Piling digital files
Similar to its traditional counterpart, digital hoarding refers to the excessive accumulation of files and an emotional resistance to deleting them. People who digitally hoard often save things like emails, photos, articles, or podcasts because they think they might need them later. Digital clutter, such as unread emails and unorganized media files, eventually becomes a psychological burden.
Additionally, digital hoarding is often accompanied by physical and mental exhaustion. Since expandable cloud storage options are available, the possibility of an uncontrollable number of digital files becomes higher. Where there’s more storage, that means there’s more space for hoarded items — in this case, digital files. Dr. Emanuel Maidenberg of UCLA Health describes the disorder best as “just a new version of an old psychological challenge.” According to a recent study with university students, this points to an academic burnout which eventually manifests itself through suffering school performance.
Taking back control
More research is needed when it comes to digital hoarding, so it might seem that diagnosing and treating can be tricky. However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible. Practices used to manage traditional hoarding might prove to be helpful, such as identifying hoarding patterns. Professionals recommend the gradual decrease of activities associated with hoarding. If the urge does not go away and the condition starts to become uncontrollable, it is always better to seek medical and professional help.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Vitaly Gariev.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic / UCLA Health / Cambridge University Press / Natalia Bravo-Adasme, et al. (National Library of Medicine) / Psychology Today
