Learn to recognize the symptoms
Often, hoarders get very defensive over comments from anyone who’s seen their mess. However, even if they seem to get angry, it's just a cover for internal guilt and shame.
Hoarding disorder can also have a negative effect on relationships, social life, and work activities. it can often lead to conflicts, isolation, and loneliness.
There are no known preventive measures for hoarding disorder. However, as it appears early in life, getting an early diagnosis and treatment does improve outcomes.
Garage sales are to a hoarder what a drink is to an alcoholic. These places are usually packed with cheap things that in the end are unnecessary. Freebies are also a big weakness for people with the condition.
One common hoarding tendency is that all the items start taking over the living space. Tables, chairs, or entire rooms are filled with useless stuff.
Hoarding not only affects humans, but also animals. Especially if they're the ones being collected. If you suspect someone is hoarding animals, contact the correct authorities.
People with hoarding disorder will rarely seek help on their own. Usually the first concrete steps towards rehabilitation occur when concerned friends or family members reach out to a professional.
Fortunately, treatment does exist for people suffering from hoarding disorder. There are two main types of therapies to treat it: cognitive behavioral therapy, and the use of antidepressant medications.
It's important to contact a healthcare provider or mental health professional if hoarding makes a living situation unhealthy or unsafe.
Even if hoarding is classified as a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder, it's still a distinct condition.
Many people with hoarding disorder have issues with cognitive functioning. Some of these include indecisiveness, procrastination, and disorganization.
While hoarding disorder may exist on it own, it can also be part of another condition. Hoarding disorder is often associated with depression, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Some typical hoarded items include clothing, newspapers, and household goods. People with hoarding disorder can also accumulate many animals, who are often kept in poor conditions.
Some people with hoarding disorder are aware that it's problematic. But many aren't. In many cases, stressful and traumatic events, such as death and divorce, are associated with the onset of hoarding symptoms. In the next slides, you'll see some common signs.
It's still not entirely known what causes hoarding disorder. However, researchers have found that people with it suffer with planning, problem-solving, organization, sustained attention, and memory.
Researchers have identified other risk factors that make it more likely to develop the condition. Some of those include brain injury, trauma, impulsive buying habits, substance/alcohol use disorder, or the inability to pass up free items.
These are two distinct behaviors. Collecting normally involves saving certain items in an organized manner. Also, collecting doesn't negatively impact your life (at least in theory). Hoarding is unorganized, and people with the disorder save things with little or no monetary value.
Hoarding disorder is a mental condition in which a person has difficulty discarding items. They experience distress when attempting to get rid of things.
Hoarding disorder often shows signs during adolescence and gradually worsens with age. It's more likely to affect people in their sixties and those with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Everyone likes a good deal. But buying things you don't need, just because they're on sale, is a clear sign of hoarding behavior.
Unfortunately, the prognosis is often poor. Even if people with the condition greatly improve with cognitive behavioral therapy, many still have symptoms that impact their day-to-day lives.
Sources: (Romper) (Cleveland Clinic) (Mayo Clinic)
See also: The important link between mental health and the body
Many people with hoarding disorder may feel compelled to save something because they think it might be useful one day. But usually these items get lost in the mess.
Even if things might look chaotic, people with hoarding symptoms often feel protective of their belongings. They might become so attached to their stuff that they won't let anyone else borrow or even touch it.
Even items with little or no monetary value are collected. Things such as newspapers, napkins, and restaurant trash are kept around.
Hoarders generally don't want people over. Apart from embarrassment, many hoarders suffer from social anxiety. Entertaining would just be painful.
In a space overtaken by stuff, organization is almost impossible to maintain. Important things like cash or keys are constantly being lost in the clutter.
Many hoarders are afraid of accidentally throwing out the wrong thing. Therefore, they just hold on to everything in order to prevent any regrets.
One big problem with hoarding is that it presents other problems, such as difficulties around cleaning. For instance, because of all the stuff vacuuming can become super difficult, and this, in turn, can provoke allergies or asthma.
For many people with hoarding tendencies, the desire to collect more things, and the state of their home, can cause a lot of negative feelings. Some might feel extreme distress and guilt over their condition. Others might be in denial.
You've probably come across TV shows about hoarders, and while it can be an interesting premise for a reality show, it's important to remember that it's a serious condition that affects real people. Even if your home isn't buried under stuff, any small hoarding tendencies can still impact your quality of life. Therefore, it's important to recognize the signs and treatments of this mental condition.
If you suspect that you or a loved one is a possible hoarder, take a look at this gallery for some helpful tips.
Hoarding disorder: what it is, its symptoms, and how to treat it
Here’s all the essential information about this mental health disorder
HEALTH Mental health
You've probably come across TV shows about hoarders, and while it can be an interesting premise for a reality show, it's important to remember that it's a serious condition that affects real people. Even if your home isn't buried under stuff, any small hoarding tendencies can still impact your quality of life. Therefore, it's important to recognize the signs and treatments of this mental condition.
If you suspect that you or a loved one is a possible hoarder, take a look at this gallery for some helpful tips.