It will take you more than just cleaning up the house to help a hoarder recover. There are a lot of psychological factors you need to consider.
You already know the strain hoarding can put on everyone involved if someone in your family struggles with it. You and your loved ones may find dealing with the condition very challenging.
Wondering how things got so out of control might keep you up at night.
Your loved one may fill their home with so much clutter that entire rooms are inaccessible.
Although you’re ready to help, your loved one may not be ready to accept that they have a problem. But it’s clear to you how this is affecting your family.
It might not make much sense to you as a result. Why is your loved one choosing to go on like this when there is a better way to live? How can anyone think this is normal?
You are not alone. Many people are unsure of what causes their loved ones to behave this way. If you’ve ever asked yourself whether your loved one’s hoarding might be related to a mental illness, then you’re on the right track.
What your loved one is experiencing is incredibly complex. It may take some time for you to understand that you are dealing with psychological problems that are deeply ingrained. Before you try to get involved, you must understand what hoarding is.
We’ll assist you in determining the cause of your loved one’s actions. Once you understand their challenges, it will be easier for you to find the right solution.
Read on to learn more about the psychological impact of hoarding on your family member’s life.
What mental illness causes hoarding?
Hoarding is a serious disorder. People who suffer from hoarding compulsively accumulate large numbers of things. Hoarders will hold on to their possessions as if their lives depended on them, despite the harmful effects.
The root cause of hoarding is complex. There are several contributing factors. While hoarding itself is not classified as its own mental illness, it is associated with several. These illnesses range from OCD to PTSD.
Experts have linked hoarding to many complicated mental health issues like depression and anxiety. When you’re trying to help a hoarder clean up, you should be prepared to address all of these things.
Hoarding vs. OCD
Millions of Americans suffer from OCD, also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It can be responsible for a variety of symptoms, including compulsive hoarding. Hoarding and OCD do not, however, go hand in hand. Not all people with OCD will hoard, and not all hoarders will have OCD.
Many OCD sufferers find that hoarding gives them a momentary sense of relief from the distress of their intrusive thoughts. However, the resulting clutter can quickly become overwhelming.
It may even pose a serious health hazard. In extreme cases, hoarders may be unable to care for their basic needs.
Their windows or doors may be completely blocked off by clutter.
In an emergency, responders may not be able to access the home for a timely rescue. Compulsive hoarding at this level is incredibly dangerous.
You must take action to get your loved one help with their hoarding problem right away. But beware. You never want to force a hoarder to clean up. It could trigger a worse issue.
If you want to clean a hoarder’s home, you need to ensure you get their consent.
How long does it take to clean out a hoarder’s house?
You may have difficulty predicting how long your loved one needs to recover from hoarding. Hoarders are unique. Their situations will vary in severity.
Not all hoarders collect the same things. The issues they deal with can all be extremely different from home to home.
You must conduct a thorough analysis of the circumstances. The only way to estimate how long the cleanup will take is to assess your situation independently.
Once you get a clear picture of what you need to do, you can set goals for yourself to keep track of your progress. Decide how long you want to spend in a certain area each day. Do your best to stick to that time. But, if your plan needs to be adjusted, that’s OK.
Your loved one will be dealing with a lot of hard emotions during the cleanup. Make it your top priority to give them the support they need.
If that means revisiting your schedule to be more accommodating, so be it.
Unfortunately, not everyone has unlimited time to clean up a hoarder’s home. Your loved one may be facing eviction. Or, you may only be around for a short time.
In such scenarios, you must seek the help of a professional. They will know the best way to get the results you are hoping for without causing unnecessary distress.
Help Cleaning a Hoarder’s House
Hoarding is a serious problem. It can have a significant impact on both the individual hoarder and those around them. If you don’t have the right approach, trying to help them clean up may lead to more hoarding. It can cause financial issues, strained relationships, and emotional distress for your whole family.
You might have great intentions. Your best cleaning efforts might be in vain, however, if you lack the skills and knowledge necessary to manage the circumstances.
It may be difficult for your loved one to accept the help at first.
But it is the best way to ensure a smooth recovery.
If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, don’t hesitate to speak to a professional. Working with cleaning services that specialize in helping hoarders declutter their homes can save you and your loved one a lot of stress.
Best Hoarding Cleaning in NYC
At Hoarders911, our #1 goal is to help your loved one get their life back on track. We have been helping hoarders clean up for nearly 30 years.
Your loved one can overcome hoarding and live a healthy, happy life.
You just need a good plan in place to help them stay consistent. We will help you assess the situation to determine the best course of action. Then, we will develop a personalized solution to help you transform your home.
Our experts have a solution for your every need. If your home is having plumbing issues due to clutter, we can help. If you discover bed bugs during your cleanup, we can help!
We can even help you repair most of the damage the property may have sustained during the hoarding. Are you struggling with mold? We can take care of it!
Leave the cleanup to us, so you can focus on helping guide your loved one through the process.
Our professional junk removal experts will take every measure to protect your privacy. You don’t have to worry about alerting the neighbors with trash piled up on your street.
We will handle everything for you. But we will never make a decision without you.
If you are concerned about someone you know who is struggling with hoarding, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are hoarding cleaning services ready and willing to assist.
Speak to one of our experts today, and ask about our all-inclusive 7-Step Solution!