I don't think you're overprotective, I think it's a sign you feel "underprotected". As someone who. Has. Been. There. So trust me. Food....clothing...paper. You seek comfort.

It's a tough thing to lick. Of course, I don't think hoarding can be "licked", I think it can be "understood" and "managed". But doing the talk-talk won't do it...it's just delaying the inevitable. Again, trust me. The book part? If you're like me, the books are simply a distraction so you don't have to think about the other stuff. If I buy a book, that's my excuse to not do the dirty work of throwing away the other stuff. I mean, can hardly read and throw out trash at the same time, eh? It took me throwing out a crapload of books to realize that, by the way.

Hoarding has a lot of OCD to it...anxiety, all the fun stuff. Are you on OCD meds at all?? Just wondering.

Go for a walk, instead of buying stuff. Throw out 3 items a day or give them away (without replacing). It's the habit thing, you know. Time to try some new habits.

Good luck, what you're going through is so terribly misunderstood. Don't take it all on at once though, just a tiny little bit at a time. Good luck!