Hoarders struggle with a variety of psychological issues. Understanding mental illness is the key to helping a hoarder.
All hoarders suffer from mental illness to varying degrees. It is the main reason why helping a hoarder clean up is so difficult for an inexperienced person.
When you encounter a hoarding situation for the first time, it’s best to resist the urge to start throwing things away immediately. Learning about the mental health implications of hoarding is the best way to help that person recover.
Forcing a hoarder to clean up before they are ready can make matters far worse. You must take the time to identify the mental illness that is contributing to the problem.
Addressing the mental health aspect of hoarding before you start decluttering ensures a safe and effective cleanup for everyone. Cleaning a hoarder’s home takes patience and compassion.
Studies show that hoarding is not just about collecting unnecessary objects.
Hoarding also about people’s relationships with these objects. A compulsive hoarder may feel a great sense of attachment towards his or her belongings because they provide comfort and security when life gets stressful.
Several Mental Illnesses Contribute To Compulsive Hoarding
In the past, you may have heard of compulsive hoarding as a disorder in and of itself. But it can also be one symptom among many that can accompany other mental health issues. In fact, compulsive hoarding has been linked to an array of psychological disorders that include:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and anxiety
There are several mental health conditions that contribute to compulsive hoarding. However, not everyone who struggles with these disorders will become a hoarder—and not all hoarders have another condition on top of their hoarding tendencies.
If you’re concerned about someone’s potential for compulsive hoarding, seek help from a qualified professional who can help guide you towards recovery.
OCD and hoarding disorder.
OCD is a mental illness characterized by having obsessive thoughts, or obsessions, and repetitive behaviors, or compulsions. It affects 2-3 percent of the population.
Hoarding and OCD are not the same. Someone with OCD may have a compulsion to hoard objects. But not all hoarders have OCD.
PTSD and hoarding disorder.
PTSD is a mental illness that people experience after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. If you have PTSD as a result of combat experience or being involved in a natural disaster, you may hoard things as a way to help cope with your memories.
Depression, anxiety, and hoarding disorder.
Hoarding is a symptom of depression and anxiety, not the other way around. If you suffer from hoarding, it’s important to know that your condition is not your fault—and that it could be indicative of other mental health issues.
However, clutter does affect your mental health. For this reason, people who struggle with hoarding often experience higher risks for depression and anxiety.
Hoarding should be taken seriously. You can get help for hoarders by contacting a professional.
Hoarding Cleanup Services
Hoarding is a serious mental health condition that affects about 2% of the population. A person with a hoarding disorder has excessive difficulty discarding items and may accumulate large amounts of objects, including trash.
This behavior causes significant problems in your daily life. You may have difficulty using your living spaces due to clutter, or you may be unable to maintain safe living conditions because of an overabundance of stuff.
The best way to help a hoarder recover is with professional help.
We provide cleaning help for hoarders throughout NYC and the tristate area.
Our hoarding cleaning services include everything from clutter cleanup and junk removal to heavy-duty cleaning and pest control.
We understand the importance of meeting you wherever you are. That’s why we always work closely with everyone we serve to help them make the best decisions for themselves.
Our experts present you with all the information you need, judgment-free, and allow you to determine what the right course of action is for your home.
If you need help recovering your home from hoarding, let us know.
Call now for a risk-free consultation: 718 962 0877
