Why do people Hoard.
What do People Hoard.
How to find Help.
How Can You Help.
Usefull Links.
Hoarding is a specific symptom of OCD which results in people keeping large amounts of items that to the outside world are considered excessive or worthless/useless.
Hoarding & Saving Symptoms are found in up to 30% of all patients with OCD. But most people who Hoard will also exhibit OCD symptoms.
There are other mental disorders in which Hoarding Behaviour is seen, such as.: Anorexia Nervosa, Dementia and sometimes Pshycotic Disorders.
The differences between these types are not know yet.
4 keywords that are found when talking about Hoarding are.: Indecisiveness, Perfectionism, Procrastination, Avoidance.
This is a symptom that is known to be difficult to treat, especially if there is little willingness to change.
The usual medications that can help with/for many other OCD- symptoms seem to be less effective for treating hoarding. Same goes for the ERP that is traditionally used to treat OCD when it comes to therapies.
But an adapted form of ERP is being developed of which the results will still have to be looked in to more thoroughly.
The primary reasons for Hoarding are Biologicaly based rather than psychological. But studies ( By Dr. Randy Frost.) have shown that no real cause can be determind yet.
BT ( Behavior Therapy.) does proove to show some benefits. But like mentioned above, do Hoarders not benefit greatly from the traditional treatments for OCD.
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For those who hoard, it creates a vicious circle in which they almost literally become trapped.........
The mess will or can become so dominant that their self- esteem and social life will/may suffer from it.
Simple things such as no longer feeling they can invite people over and with that, an important motivation for people to keep their house clean will disappear.
Of course, Hoarding like any other aspects of OCD, exists in different degree's.
But the severe cases of Hoarding may truly devastate a person's life if no help is sought.
They feel shame and this shame will gradually evolve into isolation.
Hiding 1's behaviour seems to be the only possible solution. But how do you hide sometimes very omni- present and visible clutter/mess from the outside world.
You can't, so you have to resort to blocking out the outside world from your inside world.
Living amongst "junk" is not accepted in our society.
Hoarding labels a person to be without any discipline, a person that is
messy and it's not just that.
This is a real disorder, not someone that is just unwilling because they are lazy.
(Living in a messy surrounding will in most cases mean something isn't going right. This may be a
depression, a lack of self- respect or no reason for caring anymore. So looking into the Why's of excessive mess may be helpfull.).
NOTE: Someone that lives amongst junk isn't per se someone that has OCD. If you find living this way is not a free choice, leave it to the proffesionals to help you to find out why you are and what you could do to break free from this pattern.
You can get help for this, but look for help for the correct problem.........
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What are the possible Causes.........
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Studies looked into the link between the Material Deprivation in Childhood and Hoarding Behaviour.
But while this showed no positive co- relation, they also found that there seems to be a tendens for Hoarders to report some material deprivation.
Since the studies were unable to make a clear enough relationship between both it is considered to be just a minor factor.
What could be a plausible factor is the parents displaying some Hoarding Problems. Seems that OCD can be prevalant in families.
Whethers this adds up to Hoarding being Genetical determined is not yet proven, nor whether it's a Learned Behaviour or the combination of both.
In all this is clearly a disorder that has yet to be thoroughly researched. Little is really know in a factual way, but people are trying to find out more and more about the why's and as important about how help can be given.
Why does someone Hoard.........
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Hoarding is about the fear of throwing something away that you might need someday, of not being able to remember it perfectly or that if thrown away it will cause a problem or that something bad may happen.
While many people keep things around them for a variety of reasons, is Hoarding a normal behavior become excessively present and creating more discomfort than it could/should be creating comfort.
How often don't you hear people say:"Typical, just after I finally threw that item away, I found a use for it or needed
it a few days later.........".
But rarely do they end up living in a house where small paths have to be created to be able to walk around.
Now you would expect for these things that are kept to have a purpose, to be meaningful or valuable.
But for the person that Hoards, the usefulness can lay in the most unexpected things.
Sentimental value is 1 other criteria to keep about anything.
The "What If's" that are so typical of OCD are found here too. Those with Hoarding Behavior find it extremely difficult to make decisions, and end up avoiding having to make any by keeping everything.
"What if I may need this 1 day..... where is the harm in keeping just this 1 extra thing........."
Not having to make the decision of discarding something also implies they can't make any mistakes while doing so.
I know, sounds simple enough, but how better to avoid making mistakes than to yes, avoid doing things, making decisions...........
You can't do anything wrong if you don't do anything. Those who don't try can't fail.
Then you have the issue of Control/Perfectionism, again so present when looking at OCD. The fact that when you throw something away, it's gone and once the trash will be picked up you will never be able to find this item again.........
Because of the fear of forgetting and the inability to accept that we can't be in total control, items will be kept so that with written/printed material for instance, it can be re- read at all times.
Some will find themselves looking through the garbage, checking if they haven't thrown out something they shouldn't have or resort in writing information down they see in every- day life, such as license- plate #'s, to make sure it won't be forgotten.
I used to hoard when I was younger, I would keep candy wrappers and elastic bands and small pieces of about..... anything.
The idea of loosing things that had even a remotely sentimental value to me, scared me. Because there would be no turning back, no control.........
To me it had also something to do with things being ephemeral, keeping things or parts of them, meant that I would literally prevent them from ceasing to exist, scared that parts of my life may be for ever forgotten.........
So I picked up small stones, leaves and kept notes and bills.......... I didn't want to let go of my life and forgot there was still much more to come.
All part of being afraid of death........
Letting go of things in life is so needed if we want to experience some sense of freedom, but for someone with OCD this means letting go of the control we want so badly.
What kind of items are Hoarded.........
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A wide range of things can be Hoarded since true utility or value aren't the criteria, but personal 1's are, whatever they may be based upon.
Written/Printed Information.
Meaning: Papers, Maganzines, Notes, Letters, Publicity, Bills, Books and so on.....
With the context of the Internet also e- mails are hoarded.
The remarkable thing about the keeping of written/printed material is that it actually is rarely ever read but just stored.
But the safety of knowing it is there is enough, you can get back to it all times.........
Items That Are Commonly Bought in Larger Quantities.
Meaning:Soap, Sugar, Salt and so on.....
These may be purchased in large quantities.
Non- Expensive Practical Items.
Meaning:Elastic Bands, Paper Clips, Plastic/Paper Bags, Used Envelopes, Used Items that Could be Re- Used and so on.....
If you have any suggestions of what could be added to the things that are Hoarded, feel free to send this by using this Form.
If you want to see what people have added, please Click the following link.
How to find help.........
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Important part of getting help is the willingness to change.
Some may feel the best solution would be to clean the house without the person's consent and there are actual Proffesional Organizers that could tackle such problems.
But there are a few reason why this may not always be the best solution.
This would only be taking away the result and not the cause.
While this may prove to be an initial motivation to some persons, this also doesn't mean they are ready/willing or even able to change.
If you consider that this is a life- long situation for some, you may also see that most may have a reaction of extreme distress.
Especially with Ederly Hoarders who have been living this way for a long time, this sudden and abrupt change may cause more distress than relief.
Finding a lasting solution/motivation is an important issue.
Asking for someone to help is always an extra, but the point is in trying to keep things clean.
Like with any other form of OCD, you may need to find help through Therapy and/or Medication.
Specific forms of Behavioral Therapy show the best results.
Remember, no 1 wants to live in a house full of junk.
Parents who Hoard have known to fear that Social Instances will take away their kids if they would find out how they lived, people isolate themselves
since they can't invite people over and going out isn't always easy either.
While shame is understandable from a human point of view, try and look past that.
Start by realizing this is a true disorder and that there is help for you.
What can you do to Help the Person you care about.........
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Don't judge the person for the mess that is around them. They are still the people suffering most from all of this.
They may seem content at times, but this is often part of the "hopeless" acceptance because they are unable to ask or look
for help.
Accepting the mess is often easier then confronting the condition.
Tell yourself that they might be feeling very ashamed and pressure and judging won't help at all.
Look up all you can, inform yourself and talk to the person about the available help that is out there.
Just cleaning up for them won't solve the problem, OCD is a mental disorder and you can't fight this fight for them but you can try to fight with them.
There is hope for change and there are many others that have these problems.
Join them to Suppourt Groups if they allow you to, listen to them and try to be understanding.
Also realize that to them it's not mere junk, or that they are much more used to how their place looks like.
Try and open their eyes, but do so in an understanding and gentle way.........
If they are willing to change, there is hope.........
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Usefull links concerning Hoarding.: |
The following are links to E- mail Lists, Internet Clubs and Suppourt Groups which may provide more information or to meet people to whom you may relate.
- Hoarding List."List Name: To Hoard or Not to Hoard - That is the Question. What are the answers for us? (Hoarding in OCD).
Purpose: Hoarding is a compulsive ritual engaged in to reduce anxiety arising from obsessional thinking. There are many different types of hoarders and many reasons for hoarding. This list is an opportunity for hoarders (and those who suffer with them) to explore this compulsion. Hoarding is one of many rituals found in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, though OCD may often be undiagnosed for years in people with this variation from more traditional OCD symptoms."
- H-C · Hoarding/Cluttering group for OCDers.A Yahoo Group for people that Hoard/Clutter within the context of OCD.
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