More people hoard on their computers

Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) come in a variety of different forms, one of which involves allowing items of sentimental value to build up and create clutter. The illness, also known as hoarding, has been under the spotlight on a number of reality television shows. However, experts say that a different form of the condition has not received much attention, but is common among obsessive-compulsive patients: digital hoarding.

This illness an be defined as allowing everything from files to e-mails to pile up on a computer, according to FOX-29. Similar to people who do not feel obligated to spruce up their homes, hoarders believe that they cannot delete or throw anything away because they "might need it" in the future. Oftentimes, the collecting begins after an individual has endured trauma, prompting them to attempt to hold onto memories.

Jeff Szymanski, executive director of the International OCD Foundation, told the news source that most people fall into hoarding habits because of the idea that the internet has an endless amount of space. Experts recommend getting into the routine of deleting unnecessary e-mails, along with old files that have become dated and irrelevant.

More than 2 million Americans suffer from OCD every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Counseling can help those who hoard as a result of trauma.