Compulsive Hoarding Disorder
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Hoarding Can Be A Serious Problem
Compulsive hoarding is being found more and more and may have links to Compulsive-Obsessive Disorders.
Follow me as we investigate this growing problem and find out what defines the disorder.
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Anatomy of a Hoarder
There does not seem to be a clear clinical definition for a diagnosis of a compulsive hoarder, however there are some distinct characteristics involved.1. Amassing a large number of items which have little or no value and failing to use or discard them.
2. Living areas are cluttered to the point that the common use of the room can not be used
3. Signs of significant impairment from functioning due to the hoarding.
4. Showing signs of reluctance to return borrowed items and sometimes even beginning to steal items.
Hoarders may believe that these possessions are extremely valuable when they are in fact not. They may also know that they are totally useless but still can not make themselves get rid of the items.
Image Credit: GNU Free Documentation license allows use.
A book to help with Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, or Hoarding
Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price: $17.95
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
A Sad Example of a Hoarder
Hoarding: A Disorder or a Symptom
The medical community is trying to figure out if this is an actual disorder on its own or if it is a symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.There is clear indications in some studies showing that people with OCD will sometimes also be a compulsive hoarder but not all people who suffer from OCD show signs of hoarding.
Scientists are seeing an overlap of hoarders with people who have Impulse Control Disorder, especially when the hoarder shows compulsive buying or acquisitions.
There are some hoarders who show no other signs of having Compulsive-Obsessive Disorder, Compulsive-Obsessive Personality Disorder, or Impulse Control Disorder.
Some Physicians have found the use of anti-depressant drugs to help in the treatment of the compulsive hoarder.
Image Credit: GNU Free Documentation license allows use.
What do people hoard?
There are some different classifications of things that people hoard.1. Clutter which can involve a variety of useless items.
2. Books (a hoarder of books is suffering from bibliomania)
3. Animals (which can cause health issues for both animals and humans)
4. Digital files (photos, music, and useless files)
5. Food in refrigerators and pantries
6. Any combination of the above.
Image Credit: GNU Free Documentation license allows use.
If the Compulsive Hoarder has reached the stage where they are actively accepting treatment and working on their problem, we should make a point of praising them for their efforts. Let the hoarder know that you see the progress they are making. Tell them how much you appreciate the work that they have done.
Tweets about Hoarding
Workbook for Treatment of the Compulsive Hoarder
Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Workbook (Treatments That Work)
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price: $27.95
Compulsive Hoarders Effect Many
A compulsive hoarder not only effects their own living conditions but they also effect their families and friends. Sadly, many get so they won't let anyone into their homes. It isn't out of embarrassment of the conditions they live in but rather they are afraid someone might take their things away from them.
Unfortunately if the hoarder has small children in the home, the children are exposed to unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.
Do you know a compulsive hoarder?
Yes and we are trying to get them some help.
COUNTRYLUTHIER says:
Yes and it is all the freebie papers and magazines in the free weekly racks. I have watched a 5 x 10 storage unit be filled up to 5 foot deep with all these free items in less than 12 month.
JJNW says:
YEP. No help, though. The thing I do not get is that she saves newspapers in stacks 6 ft tall!
I admit to being a bit of a "stuff" junky too...but I can throw stuff out, given enough time...lol
lpyrbby says:
I've lived in it as a child but...its the kind of hoarding I don't know that there's help for when the people living in it really don't seem to care :(
cdevries says:
I did know one: it started as purchasing for an antique/collectibles stall and as theater set dressing, but took over his home and three storage units.
GiftsBonanza says:
Yes, I have worked with many elderly people who were compulsive hoarders
No thank goodness!
AddaptAbilities says:
I don't, but I have ADD, which presents different problems with holding onto junk. I definitely had piles of useless crap sitting around my house, but I always managed to stay this side of squalor.
mulberry says:
I don't know one I guess. Although hubby and his mom seem to have a really tough time throwing anything away to the point everything falls out of cabinets and draws can't be shut. Haven't caught them stealing or getting useless items out of the trash etc.
Frankster says:
No, but I've read about many animal hoarders, which I think are the worse kind. They have so many cats or dogs and end up hurting the animals they supposedly love.
In your efforts to help the hoarder do not begin to discard items for them. You will cause a set-back of sorts for them. Unfortunately, they have to "own" this one and do the work themselves. It is important for them to let go of the obsession to hoard. It is a part of the healing for them.
Some Personal Thoughts on Hoarding
I truly and sincerely feel a deep sympathy for the men and women who are affected by this disorder. I believe that they really can not help themselves. I believe that down deep in their very core, they do not want to live in these conditions but they can not make themselves stop on their own.
We are gaining more awareness of people who are suffering and it is my hope that friends and family can find ways to help their loved ones with treatment.
Help for Animal Hoarding
Inside Animal Hoarding: The Case of Barbara Erickson and her 552 Dogs (New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond)
Amazon Price: $22.24 (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price: $34.95
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
I was recently contacted by a woman who is a professional organizer. One of her clients suffers from a Hoarders Disorder and she thought that possibly her client might feel better about getting rid of some things if she were able to sell them to someone. The client agreed and an appointment was set for me to come to look at her treasures.
It took 6 weeks of rescheduling appointments to finally get my foot in the door.
Hoarding Poll
Hoarding Comments
Let's keep this lens tidy by putting our comments about Compulsive Hoarding in this neat and tidy box....
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JJNW
Aug 14, 2011 @ 4:08 am | delete
- (hee hee...on the tidy box) Good info. I think low self-esteem and/or fear have a lot to do with this problem.
Blessed!
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puremystery
May 21, 2011 @ 9:25 pm | delete
- I think it's good to remind ourselves of what kind of environment that we live in. The things that we surround ourselves with effect everything about us, physically, mentally, etc.Thank for for posting an informative lens!
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GiftsBonanza
Apr 11, 2011 @ 6:16 pm | delete
- I sometimes think I am a hoarder in the making, but not enough to have the disorder. This is a great lens and very informative!
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lizziebeth
Apr 6, 2011 @ 4:29 pm | delete
- I really like this lens. I am featuring it on my new Messies lens. Thank you for the great information.
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LeanneChesser Apr 1, 2011 @ 1:16 pm | delete
- Back to leave a blessing :).
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Tipi
Jan 28, 2011 @ 7:24 am | delete
- I would have to say my closets could use a good going through, and donate stuff to a thrift store to help out. I do plan on doing that this spring, before I move. I'm not a hoarder by any means, but I have know some. I knew this one guy who had a van and it was full of toilet paper that he was hoarding. That was odd, the van just sat there full of TP.
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mukunda22
Nov 1, 2010 @ 4:50 pm | delete
- De-cluttering is a daily task, one which I took on over the summer. Still lots to do.
Thank you.
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tssfacts
Oct 29, 2010 @ 6:38 am | delete
- Great article. Lots of good information. I have found (among the elderly hoarders I have known) that people who hoard have a common thread: fear. Most people can't talk about the fear but once they do it seems to help them get help.
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jptanabe
Oct 15, 2010 @ 9:49 am | delete
- Great job on this! I'm sure you are right that people with this disorder have to decide to get help and change - it won't work if someone just starts taking away their junk.
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nDee
Sep 11, 2010 @ 9:39 pm | delete
- Thank you so much for this informative lens. Well presented (as usual)!
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I Am Not A Hoarder
but I do have a lot of stuff...
by BevsPaper
Compulsive Hoarding Disorder affects many.
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Help For The Hoarding Disorder
Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring
Amazon Price: $9.97 (as of 05/30/2012)
