Hoarding

Recognizing how distressing it must be to see a loved one or even yourself dealing with a hoarding disorder, we thought it might serve as a source of relief if you had some understanding about what causes hoarding. In that spirit, the following information will address some of the personal conditions that can serve as causes of hoarding.

Many people have never heard of animal hoarding, and that’s understandable. It is also unfortunate because many dogs, cats, and other animals die or suffer every day due to this pernicious, and growing, social problem. If you are among the millions of people who have never heard of animal hoarding, consider the following facts in...

Have you heard of hoarding disorder? Maybe you know it under another name or have a general idea that it’s not psychologically healthy to amass huge amounts of personal belongings for no apparent reason. Many of us have known someone in the past who likely had a hoarding problem. Perhaps they packed several rooms of...

Is Compulsive Decluttering the Opposite of Hoarding? If your home is packed to the gills with junk that you just can’t part with, you probably have a hoarding problem. In fact, hoarding syndrome is an actual psychological category that people seek help for. There are multiple signs and symptoms, the most common being an excess...

Many people ask what is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? This condition is an anxiety syndrome in which the victims have obsessions (recurring, unwanted ideas, sensations, or thoughts), which make them compulsive (driven to do something repetitively). Such repetitive behavior, which includes cleaning or checking on things, constant washing of hands, can considerably impede an individual’s...

All About Hoarding Right now, there are more than 1.2 million compulsive hoarders in the U.S. alone. What is a “compulsive hoarder”? Medical dictionaries note that the condition affects anyone who exhibits an uncontrolled need to buy or somehow acquire large numbers of items for no clear, logical reason. To make matters worse, the conditions...

Who Hoards, and Why? This post is not to be confused with the fantastic and very helpful online website titled Children of Hoarders (COH), but rather my observations in dealing with actual children of hoarders. Not many people know what goes on behind the closed doors of hoarders. However, because of the work we do...

What Is Hoarding Disorder? What You Can Do? Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house. I would go to her house right after school, and sometimes I would even spend the night with my two other cousins. I would also spend the weekends there if my parents had to work....

Determining the Difference Between Clutter and Compulsive Hoarding Can be Difficult It can be tricky to look at a messy house or room and know whether it’s the result of a messy person or a compulsive hoarder. No two homes are alike, and everybody has a different idea of what they consider to be “cluttered.”...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Helping Hoarders If you’re working to help a loved one address a hoarding problem, it’s important to address the issue in an intentional and sensitive way. Although you may have initially approached the problem from of a place of concern, frustration, or even anger, the hoarding behavior can only be...