Do you suffer from FOTO?

Our expert unpacks the ‘fear of throwing out’ phenomenon that’s cluttering our homes and minds!

Many of us hold on to belongings that we no longer need. Recent research has found sufferers feel guilty about their habit, a state of mind nobody appreciates.

Associate Professor and OCD, hoarding and anxiety disorders researcher Dr Jessica Grisham explains the condition, and what to do about it.

How it works

“People have always been attached to their possessions,” says Jessica. “But now there’s access to more commodities that are more affordable, things are constantly coming into the home. You start to get clutter.” And that’s when attachment sets in. “Often people keep hold of things that remind them of happy times or because they’ve spent a lot of money on an item – perhaps when they started a new hobby or fitness regimen,” explains Jessica. “Things start to accumulate. They look around and realise there are things they’re no longer using, but feel anxiety about getting rid of them.” ”

When it’s a problem

As soon as you start to feel anxious or annoyed about your clutter, it’s time to take action. Jessica warns not to confuse FOTO (fear of throwing out) with compulsive hoarding, which is considered a clinical disorder and requires professional attention. “When the build-up of stuff becomes so extreme that the person can’t go about daily life, like preparing dinner, it crosses into the clinical threshold.”

Who it affects

“We tend to think of older adults as having FOTO, but the research showed people as young as 18 reported it. They wanted to live lighter but were struggling to let go of things.”