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What do you know about hoarding?
What is a hoarding disorder?
Why do some people hoard things?
What items do people hoard hold on to?
How does hoarding affect your day-to-day life?
How do you know if you have hoarding disorder?
A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. The items can be of little or no monetary value. Hoarding is considered a significant problem if:
If you hoard things, you might feel very worried about making mistakes – also known as perfectionism. You might also find it hard to make decisions, plan ahead or work out how to do tasks. These could be possible reasons why some of us are more vulnerable to hoarding.
You might hoard because you feel a strong need to keep things. But your connection to these things can cause you distress. And the impact of hoarding can affect your day-to-day life. Hoarding disorder is a mental health problem that a doctor can diagnose.
How do you know if you are hoarding? Find examples of items that you might hoard, plus information on diagnosing hoarding disorder.
- Overview
- What is hoarding disorder?
- What causes hoarding disorder?
- Are you at risk for hoarding disorder?
- What are the symptoms of hoarding?
- How to treat HD
- What’s the outlook
Overview
Hoarding occurs when someone struggles to discard items and collects unnecessary objects. Over time, the inability to throw things away can overrun the pace of collecting.
Hoarding disorder (HD) is the condition associated with hoarding. HD can become worse with time. It most often affects adults, though teenagers may show hoarding tendencies as well.
HD is classified as a disorder in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This designation makes HD an independent mental health diagnosis. HD can occur simultaneously with other mental health conditions as well.
HD can occur for several reasons. A person may begin to hoard because they believe an item they’ve collected, or are considering collecting, may be valuable or useful at some point in time. They may also connect the item with a person or significant event that they don’t want to forget.
Hoarders often live with their collected items at the expense of their own needs. For example, they may forego using their refrigerator because their kitchen space has become blocked with items. Or they may choose to live with a broken appliance or without heat rather than let someone into their home to repair the problem.
People who may be more vulnerable to hoarding include those who:
•live alone
•grew up in a disorganized space
•had a difficult, deprived childhood
HD isn’t uncommon. Approximately 2 to 6 percent of people have HD. At least 1 in 50 — possibly even 1 in 20 — people have significant, or compulsive, hoarding tendencies.
HD affects men and women equally. There’s no research-based evidence that culture, race, or ethnicity plays a part in who develops the condition.
Age is a significant factor for HD. Adults aged 55 and older are three times more likely to develop HD than younger adults. The average age for a person seeking help for HD is around 50.
Adolescents can also have HD. In this age group, it’s generally milder and symptoms are less distressing. This is because young people tend to live with parents or roommates who can help manage hoarding behaviors.
HD builds gradually over time, and a person may not be aware that they’re exhibiting symptoms of HD. These symptoms and signs include:
•being unable to part with items, including both valuable and invaluable objects
•having an excessive amount of clutter in the home, office, or another space
•being unable to find important items amid excessive clutter
•being unable to let items go for fear that they’ll be needed “someday”
•holding onto an excessive number of items because they’re reminders of a person or a life event
Diagnosis and treatment of HD is possible. However, it may be difficult to persuade a person with HD to recognize the condition. Loved ones or outsiders may recognize signs and symptoms of HD long before the person with the condition comes to terms with it.
Treatment for HD must focus on the individual and not solely on the spaces that have become overrun with clutter. A person must first be receptive to treatment options in order to change their hoarding behavior.
Hoarding disorder is a diagnosable condition that requires the help of a medical professional. With professional help and time, a person may be able to move on from their hoarding behaviors and reduce dangerous and tension-inducing clutter in their personal space.
- Natalie Silver
Jan 26, 2023 · Hoarding disorder is an ongoing difficulty throwing away or parting with possessions because you believe that you need to save them. You may experience distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. You gradually keep or gather a huge number of items, regardless of their actual value.
Sep 10, 2021 · Hoarding disorder is the act of excessively acquiring items, that may have little value, and experiencing distress when faced with the decision to discard or part ways with them. If you or...
