How To Find Help.

   How Can You Help.

   Support Groups.

   Read the Personal Stories.

   Add a Personal Story.

• Inform yourself to get a better understanding of the problem. Place the "mess" into it's correct context and don't simply assume this is the sign of a lazy person. Use this information to show them that help and treatments are available.
• 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.
• To the person who hoards, Accepting the mess is often "easier" than confronting it.
• Tell yourself that they might be feeling very ashamed and pressure and judging won't help at all. Realize this is a mental disorder and all changes might be very difficult for them.

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, 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, which without adequate professional help may proove detrimental for the patient.
• 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.
• 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 or give them a reason to fight.

• There is hope for change and there are many others that have these problems. Look for available Support Groups and join them 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.
• If they are unable to see their problem as being 1, try to open their eyes, but do so in an understanding and gentle way.
  If they are willing to change, there is hope.