Dear Annie: I am a retired psychotherapist and read your column every day.

I'm writing in response to "Torn and Tired," the person whose mother wants to downsize but struggles to part with the clutter in her overflowing house. I think you missed an important issue in your response, which is that I suspect the mother may have hoarding disorder. The daughter alludes to this in her letter, and if it's true, this changes things beyond decluttering. It is important that this family understands what hoarding disorder entails.

There are professionals who can help people with hoarding disorder if that person is willing to get and accept the help. Understanding the illness can also be very helpful to family members. -- Compassionate Clinician

Dear Compassionate Clinician: Thank you -- and the handful of other readers! -- for pointing out this very important distinction.

Hoarding is recognized as a legitimate mental health diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and it should absolutely be treated as such.

This mother would benefit greatly from professional help, as you mention, in addition to the support of her loving and patient family.

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