Emotional/psychological attachment to objects/belongings

I was wondering today if this is an autistic thing.

I've spent several decades collecting objects and the last decade+ trying to rid myself of the majority.

However, I have given up on the idea of ever being minimalist.

I notice that I remember where everything came from, even, when purchased, which shop in which town.

I try not to be sentimental about things, but sometimes I can't help it.

My mother, who I believe was autistic, was a hoarder in quite an extreme sense.

My autistic friend finds it very hard to part with belongings.

Everything has an association.

Are others like this and are there contributors here who are genuinely minimalistic and don't have an attachment to things?

Parents
  • I have always had very trong attachment to my belongings. When I was a teenager I couldn't stand it if something was missing. I had to know that I have everything on its place to be able to relax, The knowledge that something is missing caused me a huge anxiety and stress discomfort and anger. Now i manage these emotions and I know how to soothe myself. I had no idea at that time, that it may be linked to autism. But once I watched a documentary about a single mother taking care of her teenage autistic son. He had also intellectual disabilities but the issue she had with him was so similar to mine! She had to be very careful when cleaning his room, because if she misplaced some of his belongings, he had meltdown. It was long time ago, but that was one of those moments when I thought 'hey, it's so relatable!'. 

Reply
  • I have always had very trong attachment to my belongings. When I was a teenager I couldn't stand it if something was missing. I had to know that I have everything on its place to be able to relax, The knowledge that something is missing caused me a huge anxiety and stress discomfort and anger. Now i manage these emotions and I know how to soothe myself. I had no idea at that time, that it may be linked to autism. But once I watched a documentary about a single mother taking care of her teenage autistic son. He had also intellectual disabilities but the issue she had with him was so similar to mine! She had to be very careful when cleaning his room, because if she misplaced some of his belongings, he had meltdown. It was long time ago, but that was one of those moments when I thought 'hey, it's so relatable!'. 

Children