Hoarding can be an unhealthy lifestyle habit that has lasting negative repercussions for an individual’s work, relationships and health.
Professional help is often the most effective solution to hoarding. Therapists specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy and other techniques that teach individuals to better control their clutter, as well as recommend medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to support mental wellbeing.
Stage 1: Obsession
People suffering from hoarding disorder have an irresistible urge to collect and hoard possessions. This may stem from trauma or fear of becoming disenfranchised from society; additionally they often purchase new things without necessarily needing them – which can become quite expensive over time.
At first it may be hard to accept the idea that one of your loved ones could be hoarders, but understanding the signs and stages will allow you to recognize when action should be taken to support recovery efforts for their loved one.
Hoarding begins with obsessive clutter, or collecting or buying things you have no use for despite knowing they exist, such as coins. Over time this accumulation may become much larger – from coins to trash!
Once they reach this stage, it’s important to start cleaning their belongings and arrange professional cleaning services so their home becomes safe and sanitary. This step can help your loved one overcome disordered living and lead a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle once more.
At such an emotional time for them, it’s vital that we try and provide as much support and information as possible to ease their burden. Asking questions to understand their perspective about the situation as well as any causes behind their behavior could also prove useful.
At this stage, there may be various symptoms to indicate someone is developing hoarding disorder, including foul smells and animal waste build-up in living spaces. Hoarding disorder is a serious mental health concern that must be dealt with immediately to avoid it worsening further and creating dangerous environments in their home.
Stage 2: Anxiety
Hoarding may come as a shock, yet it’s a very real psychological disorder which can have serious repercussions for quality of life.
Hoarding, by definition, is defined as an inability to part ways with possessions due to anxiety and obsession. Furthermore, people suffering from hoarding tend to view their items as expressions of their identity or sentimentality and become emotionally attached.
Hoarders often have low tolerance for distress, leading to excessive clutter in their home and lives. Luckily, there are ways you can help your loved one overcome their hoarding addiction before it takes control of their lives.
National Institute of Health reports that one effective way of combatting this problem is learning the signs and symptoms. These may include feelings of anxiety or depression, difficulty parting with possessions and an irrepressible urge to save everything that you own. Effective strategies for curbing such behaviors involve developing routines that focus on what really matters while setting clear priorities that include medication therapy or support networks as a source. It should also be noted that hoarding tends to affect individuals aged 55 years and over although younger individuals can also be affected.
Stage 3: Clutter
Clutter can be the result of hoarding or simply trying to organize belongings. Individuals who are disorganized may have trouble knowing where everything is, making it harder for them to locate what they need when needed.
Hoarders often struggle to discard their belongings and organize their homes, which may lead them down an emotional distressing path and present safety hazards for themselves and their loved ones.
Knowledge of the difference between clutter and hoarding is crucial if you wish to support a loved one through this difficult period of their illness. Although it can be frustrating, you can offer support by emphasizing positive coping mechanisms.
If you notice your loved one is suffering from excessive clutter, it’s advisable to contact a health care provider like a GP or social worker in order to assess and provide solutions for decluttering their home. These professionals will help them diagnose their condition as well as create an action plan for decluttering.
Your doctor can also refer you to local hoarding groups or online resources that may help. Joining one can provide invaluable support while teaching new coping techniques and providing support for managing the condition.
It can affect people of any age, gender and culture and has the ability to interfere with social interactions, working or studying effectively and can even have detrimental effects on one’s mental wellbeing.
Hoarders may experience both psychological and physical effects from their hoarding activities. Physical issues include difficulty breathing and possible respiratory illness; headaches; and fatigue are other potential side effects.
At this stage, their home becomes completely unsafe and unhygienic. Their living spaces may be filled with trash and animal or human waste that creates an inviting environment for infection while creating anxiety in them and leading to difficulties when bathing, eating or washing hair.
Stage 4: Disorganization
Disorganization is often misunderstood as an indicator of hoarding. While all homes may contain some random items that haven’t found a home yet, if a hoarder’s collection exceeds normal limits it could become an acute problem.
Hoarders often struggle to part with their possessions and believe it is important for them to save everything, which leads them down a path toward cluttering and congesting their living space.
Hoarders may find relief through harm reduction strategies such as selling their items on eBay or giving them away to friends and family – this approach may help minimize its harmful effects and bring relief.
Individuals suffering from extreme hoarding tend to feel embarrassed about their situation, leading them to attempt to conceal it from others in order to stay out of social situations and form meaningful relationships with other people. This may prevent them from developing healthy interpersonal connections.
They will also likely suffer from personal hygiene issues and weight or mental health concerns.
These individuals will require assistance in cleaning and restoring their home so they can move in again, using specialized products and equipment designed to safely restore it while eliminating bacteria.
Take steps to support someone suffering from hoarding disorder can be challenging, yet essential to their wellbeing and quality of life – especially if their disorder impacts family members too.
Stage 5: Health Concerns
Hoarding disorder can have serious repercussions for an individual’s health and safety, as well as their relationships. It may create unsafe living conditions with fire risks and trip hazards present, as well as lead to legal troubles related to violation of housing codes or even eviction proceedings.
Hoarding disorder can also contribute to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, so it’s vitally important for those affected to seek assistance as soon as possible.
Hoarding disorder affects approximately 10% of the US population, and those suffering may have difficulty discarding items they no longer require and accumulate piles of items they no longer require. They may not realize their habit is unhealthy and likely feel ashamed for having this problem.
They may find it difficult to engage in social situations and invite guests into their home, as well as avoid going out with friends and family members.
Hoarding can lead to life-threatening illnesses and injuries in extreme cases. Accumulated trash, clutter and animal or human waste can wreak havoc with respiratory systems; ammonia levels in the air may interfere with brain functioning; while living conditions that lack sanitation increase risks of infection, diarrhea or allergic reactions.
Stage 5 of hoarding is the final and most serious step. At this point, the home has become completely disorganized and will require intensive cleaning services to restore it to a liveable condition. Proper PPE such as face masks, goggles, gloves and hand sanitizer will be necessary when entering.
Attaining assistance as soon as possible is crucial to safeguarding both your own health and the wellbeing of loved ones. Therapy sessions or other resources may offer much-needed support; by understanding hoarding behavior and receiving appropriate treatments, you may improve the quality of life.
