Which emotional response is most characteristic of hoarding disorder?

The most characteristic emotional response of individuals with hoarding disorder is marked by anxiety and emotional distress when it comes to the thought or act of disposing of their collected items. This distress arises because these individuals often have a strong emotional attachment to the items they hoard, viewing them as integral to their identity or as potentially valuable resources for the future. The fear of making the wrong choice about what to discard leads to significant distress.

This response is not simply a matter of attachment but an intense struggle, where the thought of removal triggers feelings of panic and overwhelming anxiety. While some may exhibit a perceived value of every item collected, this perceived value can be closely tied to the anxiety experienced during the thought of discarding them, making the emotional response center around the distress caused by the idea of loss. Such intense feelings help distinguish hoarding disorder from other behaviors related to collecting or organizing items.