I am so glad this topic was brought up. My boyfriend is a hoarder, or pack rat. He has 4 times as many shoes as me, possibly 100 diff shirts (and counting), collects old toys, old stuff period....there's no set thing he buys. He did grew up getting basically whatever he wanted (though he's quite generous), so it doesn't derive from a poverty-place. His mother does the same thing though I don't see any OCD tendencies; I'm not sure what her reason is (prob just "a good deal"). He does have OCD--undiagnosed but we both know it--and I know much of the reason he collects/almost refuses to throw out, is because he's miserable. He's in a job he hates, and it's the total opposite of who he is. So he distracts himself with buying stuff (which I think a lot of "regular" ppl also do), albeit he has a knack for frugality. But there's stuff that's taken up space in the house since I moved in, and little room for what little bit I have.

You can have OCD without the typical "rituals." I have it, for example, and I don't do rituals--mine are more obsessive thoughts w/the compulsion to do them. I would agree the hoarding could be an anxiety resulting from social anxiety....that maybe somehow you're unconsciously trying to deal with that anxiety by buying all the stuff and "surrounding" yourself with them?

From what little i've seen in documentaries, etc., and watching my boyfriend, I definitely feel like compulsive collecting--regardless of price or necessity--is a way to cope with and at same time mask an anxiety or depression... just my opinion.

As much crap as we have, it is no where to the point that animal feces or urine is rampant or not being able to get to different pathways/doors (though we have piles and piles of stuff around). My bf is highly sanitary, so he wouldn't tolerate that anyway.