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Main differences between 'collectors' and 'hoarders'
Collectors:

• feel proud of their possessions
• keep their possessions organized and well maintained
• find joy in their possessions and willingly display them to others
• attend meetings or conferences with others who share their interest
• enjoy conversations about their possessions
• budget their time and money around their possessions
• feel satisfaction when making additions to the collection
  

Hoarders:

• feel embarrassed by their possessions
• have their possessions scattered randomly, often without any functional organization
• have clutter, often resulting in the loss of functional living space
• feel uncomfortable with others seeing their possessions, or outright
• refuse to let others view their possessions
• often have debt, sometimes extreme
• feel ashamed, sad, or depressed after acquiring additional items

Commonly Hoarded Items:

Could Vitamin B6 Deficiency Increase Chance of Hoarding?
The following is an excerpt from "Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding":

"There are two major neurotransmitters that are involved in the study of the biological explanation of hoarding, dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is responsible for regulating our motor movements, emotions, and moods. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter apparently associated to OCD and related disorders. Therefore, we may infer that serotonin and dopamine may influence the mechanism of hoarding.

In tiny amounts, serotonin exerts a powerful influence in the mechanisms of behaviors and mood regulation. In order to break down serotonin into its byproducts, vitamin B6 is required. A faulty serotonin mechanism may contribute to OCD and its related disorders. Interestingly, a deficiency in vitamin B6 causes rats to hoard (Gross and Cohn 1954)."

What is Your Saving Pattern?
There are different types of 'saving' patterns.

Sentimental saving happens when a person attaches an emotion to a possession, then associates the item with the emotion. For example, an empty matchbook from a restaurant reminds you of a happy meal with family or friends.
Instrumental saving occurs when a person feels that an item must be saved because it could be used in the future. Desk drawers filled with rubber bands or paper clips are a good example of this.
Saving items because they have some sort of aesthetic value is less common than the other two types of saving. An example of this may be a piece of shiny glass.

Common Traits of Hoarders
Fear of losing information
Indecisiveness
Fear of Making a Mistake
Inability to Prioritize
Fear of Loss
Fear of Memory Loss
Lack of Organization

When to Consider Seeking Professional Help
If you are experiencing any of the following conditions or feelings, you may want to consider seeking counseling or taking medication under the care of a psychiatrist:

• severely depressed mood
• dependence on or abuse of alcohol or drugs
• extreme anxiety (such as frequent panic attacks or agoraphobia)
• thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself
• moderate to severe OCD symptoms not related to hoarding (handwashing, checking locks or doors)
• hallucinations or delusions

Preparing for Success: A Few Tasks before You Clean Up

• Try to temporarily suspend the acquisition of new items
• Practical preparations: 1): Get some boxes and markers, 2) clear some temporary storage space, 3) schedule times for cleaning, and 4) don't forget to reward yourself