When Hoarding Becomes a Concern for Mental Health

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When Hoarding Becomes a Concern for Mental Health

November 26, 2024 | Lysa Kirby, LCPC | 3 min. read

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When Hoarding Becomes a Concern for Mental Health

What is Hoarding?

Hoarding is typically characterized by the difficulty of parting with or discarding possessions. In most cases, there has been an accumulation of items that clutter the home and interfere with the individual’s daily routine. Hoarding also has an emotional component. The individual usually has intense emotions with the mere thought of separating from their possessions.

Signs of Hoarding Disorder

Excessive Clutter: the home is no longer functional because of clutter.
Difficulty Discarding Possessions: the thought of discarding personal items triggers significant emotional distress.
Emotional Attachment to Items: a sense of strong emotional ties to items that appear to be non-functional to others.
Social Isolation: people with hoarding disorder often feel shame of their living conditions and will isolate fromisolate themselves from society.
Indecision: struggle to decide if an item is of value or can be thrown away.

Factors that can Contribute to Hoarding

Emotional Comfort: possession brings a sense of comfort.
Fear of Future Need: people that hoard fear that if the item is thrown away, they may need it in the future.
Perfectionism: individuals believe that if they hold on to an item long enough, they will find the perfect use for it.

The Impact of Hoarding

Physical Health: when your living environment is unsanitary and/or has fall risks it becomes a detriment to your physical health.
Emotional and Mental Health: hoarding is often associated with depression, shame, and anxiety. The longer the hoarder is in this setting the worse their mental health symptoms become.
Relationship Strain: family and friends become frustrated with the hoarder’s behavior. Often family and friends distantce themselves and tension-filled relationships ensue.
Financial Burden: many hoarders spend excessive money to gain more possessions.

How to Get Help

Acknowledge the Problem: recognizing that you have a problem is the initial stage of seeking help.
Therapy and Professional Support: seeking professional support from counselors, professional organizers, moving companies and support groups can provide the comprehensive guidance that is often needed for a hoarder to better manage this disorder.
Take Manageable Steps: tackling small and tangible tasks is a lot more manageable for the hoarder; remember to celebrate the small wins!
Be Patient: seeking help and improving the hoarding behaviors is a gradual process and will require a great deal of patience.

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Effects of Childhood Neglect on Adults

Adults who experienced emotional neglect as children may struggle with unresolved emotional issues, even if they don’t fully understand where those feelings come from.

In crisis or need immediate help?
Call 988 or go to your nearest ER.

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