Child of a hoarder, I’m exploring the link between hoarding and memory to eventually uncover if hoarding is a way of writing the self.
at the intersections of objects, memory and the self
Child of a hoarder, I’m exploring the link between hoarding and memory to eventually uncover if hoarding is a way of writing the self.
That is exactly what it is. I hoard to retain memories of my life, because my memory has always been poor. When I see a physical object, the memory of any events or period surrounding it come to life inside of me, and it feels good.
I’d actually say it’s the opposite of self. I’m a COH too, and hoarding serves the same purpose for my mom as my eating disorder does for me. It exists to distract from what really hurts. In our case, my dad’s abusive behavior and the deaths of some close family members. Glad to have found your blog!
Thank you, Joanna, for that perspective. I also just discovered your blog this week and I appreciate what you’re working through. My limited understanding of hoarding is leading me to think it sometimes appears to be a solution but ultimately destroys what it was meant to save.