If you or a loved one engages in the practice of hoarding, know that you are not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 2.6% of all Americans, more than 8 million people, struggle with the disorder. Although this behavior is common, it was only accepted as a psychiatric disorder in 2013.
Among the things we have discovered about illness is that using appropriate language can be helpful; it is better not to call someone a “hoarder”, for example, and instead to call him “someone who hoards” like none of us.they areour illness or disorder. It’s also helpful to learn how to help someone who has a behavior and to know that hoarders often feel they can’t help themselves.
What is hoarding?
Hoarding is a mental health disorder in which someone has a constant compulsion to hold on to their belongings, causing them to accumulate a significant number of possessions and clutter. In addition to being difficult for the individual to part with their items, “the person often has a strong desire to acquire items in the first place,” explains Brad Schmidt, a distinguished research professor of psychology at State University from Florida
It’s also worth noting that while many of us can relate to the desire to hold on to certain belongings, someone who hoards generally feels almost that way. all possessions and feels very distressed at the thought of parting with any of them, notes Gregory Chasson, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago.
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Why do people hoard?
The exact causes have not been defined, but are believed to be a combination of factors. “Hoarding disorder is thought to involve both genetic and environmental factors,” says Marla Deibler, a clinical psychologist based in Princeton, New Jersey, who specializes in the treatment of hoarding disorder.
As for genetics, he says that people with family members who end up often have similar difficulties and are at higher risk of developing the disease. In terms of the environment, he could have been raised in a so-called “scarcity mentality” where everything was taught to have value or be useful at some point. “People who think they might need the item later or that someone else might use the item, or that the item might serve a purpose that they haven’t yet discovered,” says Chasson.
Other times, he says, a person may not want to contribute to environmental waste or may have attached sentimental value to various items so that getting rid of them becomes emotionally painful.
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How to help someone who hoards
Regardless of why someone is hoarding, it’s essential to help them slowly and respectfully.
But helpingisimportant Being surrounded by too much clutter can hinder the quality of life, especially if the bedroom or kitchen is so full of items that tables, appliances and beds cannot be used for their intended purpose. There is also an increased risk of fire and the likelihood of pest or rodent infestation.
An important first step is to help someone recognize why it is important to make a change. “Instead of complaining and getting angry, it will probably be more productive to have a non-judgmental discussion about how the behaviors are having a negative effect on your relationship and express concern for your loved one’s health and safety and offer help to manage clutter,” Schmidt offers.
When it comes to cleaning and organizing the space, it’s essential to “avoid forced cleaning,” warns Chasson, and work on the project hand in hand with the person who accumulates it. It can be helpful to have organizational piles such as keep, trash, or donate.
Offloading some items to a self-storage unit can be another strategy to help someone part with many items at once without feeling like they have to part forever. This can also help them get used to the idea of not having the items anymore and can give them a chance to see what a clean space feels like in their home.
“A storage unit can also help with feeling overwhelmed and stuck because there’s so much to do,” says Schmidt. At the same time, it’s important to keep this transition temporary so that someone who hoards doesn’t just fill the empty space in their home with more stuff. “I always tell people to get a month-to-month lease and make sure a storage company isn’t going to raise your rent after a couple of months, or use a storage unit from ‘this way can become quite expensive”. advises Burke Bradshaw, the COO of Towne Storage.
Get to the root of Because someone who hoards is also important. “It’s not enough to remove or organize existing clutter because clutter is often a symptom of a larger problem,” says Chasson. Seeking professional help and practicing cognitive behavioral therapy may be the best ways to do this.
“Find a professional with experience with hoarding disorder,” advises Diebler. “Along the way, be collaborative, be patient, be empathetic, be positive and praise progress even if it’s slow.”
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