“Pack rats” who become “buried alive” in a mountain of stuff – to the point where their homes become unsafe or uninhabitable – are called “hoarders.” Once the problem reaches the point of compulsive collecting, it becomes a serious problem, an unofficial subset of a mental illness called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The classification is still being argued, as some hoarders do not have other OCD symptoms, and different portions of the brain seem to be involved with hoarders.
If you cannot comprehend the seriousness of the problem, view some videos from the A&E; TV show titled “Hoarders” at http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/video. The show begins with the statement that three million people suffer from hoarding; these are two of their stories. The scenes are appalling.
Some people collect stuff as memories of the past; some collect as a kind of “insurance” against the future – just in case they “might need it”; some compulsively save things beyond the usefulness of the objects, such as food which becomes spoiled.
Hoarders might save books (bibliomania) to the point where their health or personal relationships are affected. Digital hoarders” collect files on computers beyond the point of usefulness: it becomes a financial burden to buy new hard drives to store items they will never use or need. (Wikipedia)
“Animal hoarders” collect animals like dogs or cats. They believe they are being kind and helpful – perhaps saving the animals’ lives, like adopting pets that face euthanasia – but the animals begin to suffer health problems from overcrowding and lack of vet care to the point that animal rescue agencies must get involved.
If you suspect someone you live with or care about has a hoarding problem, you can intervene. If a “collector” begins collecting until they cannot live in their homes safely or maneuver around normally, you can suspect a problem.
Hoarders often don’t see their collecting as a problem, until they are threatened with eviction – due to legal problems with landlords and authorities about clean up and safety; or a failed marriage – after the partner decides he/she can no longer live in unsanitary, uninhabitable conditions; or they face the loss of their children through child protective services.
The Mayo Clinic recognizes 10 symptoms of the disorder, including cluttered living spaces, the inability to discard items, keeping stacks of papers and junk mail, rotating piles of items without actually discarding anything, and acquiring new items which aren’t necessary or useful – including trash. Such people have difficulty making decisions and organizing items, and they often form an “excessive attachment” to their possessions; they may be perfectionists and end up having few or no social interactions.
Wikipedia lists five levels of hoarding, beginning with annoying clutter that may require a professional organizer to get involved, up to level 5, which requires multiple sources of intervention. The worst hoarders may need help from organizers, social services, psychological/mental health representatives, “building and zoning, fire and safety, landlord, legal aid and/or legal representatives.” The National Study Group of Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD.org) lists five levels, with a subscale of four categories on their “Clutter Hoarding Scale.
The” Clutter Hoarding Scale” includes structure and zoning; pets and rodents; household functions; and sanitation and cleanliness.
Causes.
The causes behind hoarding are unclear. According to the Mayo Clinic, many people seem to start out as packrats and realize they are getting out of control from there. Triggers may include genetics and upbringing.
Risk factors include age, family history, stressful life events, social isolation, and perfectionism.
The Mayo Clinic has found that hoarding usually begins around the age of 12 and becomes worse with age; hoarding tends to run in families; hoarders might begin compulsive activities after the loss of a loved one or a stressful divorce situation or because of another emotional trigger. Hoarders may become isolated because of their hoarding – people can’t get into their homes or hoarders are too ashamed to allow others to see their messes. Alternatively, they may be socially withdrawn and use the objects to comfort themselves.
Perfectionists often avoid making decisions about what to hold on to and what to get rid of, so they simply keep everything.
Complications.
Hoarders usually come to the attention of others because eventually their homes become so unsanitary as to become health risks; they may not be able to perform simple tasks like cooking or bathing because the rooms are overloaded with stuff; they begin to show poor work performance; they appear lonely or isolated; or their homes become fire hazards.
One of the A&E; televised series shows a woman whose husband had a heart attack; she delayed calling 9-1-1 because she feared consequences like the firefighters seeing the home and calling children’s services.
Treatment and medication.
Since hoarding is not yet classified as a distinct disorder, no one is sure what works best, but psychotherapy works for some people. Try to find a psychologist or psychiatrist who has experience in treating hoarding with cognitive behavior therapy. A hoarder may learn what causes the hoarding compulsion and improve his/her decision-making skills. There are also group and family therapies.
Medication. Researchers are finding that one particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), an anti-depressant, may be helpful. Paxil seems to help many with obsessive-compulsive disorders, and some compulsive-hoarder symptoms seem to improve, also.
12-Step groups.
“Clutterers Anonymous” (CLA at clutterersanonymous.net) offers 25 questions for a person to answer to discover if his cluttering has become a serious problem. This group also offers help through face-to-face or telephone sessions, which follow a 12-step program to recovery.
A sample of CLA questions are: #9. “Does your clutter create a risk of falling, fire, infestation, or eviction?” #13. Do cleaning, organizing, follow through, upkeep and maintenance all become daunting tasks, making the simplest of chores insurmountable?” #20. “Does clutter cause you to have late charges added to your financial obligations?”
By way of help, the group does not focus on simply de-cluttering. They realize the problem goes much deeper than that. In fact, they feel the behaviors are due to physical, emotional and spiritual causes. People have “become owned by [their] possessions”; they “lose today” because they live in “yesterday and tomorrow”; and they attempt to fill empty lives with “useless objects, non-productive ideas, meaningless activities, and unsatisfying relationships.” (CLA)
Prevention and self-care.
There is no known prevention. Many hoarders will not admit they have a problem. Some recognize a problem, but do not know what to do about it.
The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research suggests 8 steps someone can take to help himself/herself.
1. If a hoarder is working a program, “Stick to your treatment plan.”
2. “Try to keep up personal hygiene and bathing.” This is self-explanatory, and you understand the necessity of this if you watch some of the A&E; videos of hoarders.
3. “Make sure you’re getting proper nutrition.” Many hoarders cannot use parts of their homes because of cluttering, but they must try to keep bathrooms and kitchens accessible.
4. “Reach out to others.” Many hoarders become ashamed of their living conditions or fearful that they will be “found out,” so they isolate themselves.
5. “Look out for yourself.” This is considered to be a mental problem, so hoarders must “remind” themselves that they deserve better.
6. Take small steps.” Hoarders may need a professional organizer or help from family or very close friends, but should strive to reverse the process one small step at a time. Each gain is progress towards recovery.
7. “Focus on your goals.” Most hoarders realize they are missing out from having normal lives and relationships. They want healthier, more enjoyable lifestyles.
From the A&E; clips, professional organizers, psychotherapists, and professional clean-up groups help people out of dire situations under forced-time schedules at threat of losing their homes or children. You can see some hoarders steeling themselves to get rid of stuff by repeating a mantra like, “If I clean up, I can have friends and family in” or “I could get my kids back from children’s services” or “I might be able to save my marriage.
If you recognize hoarding tendencies in someone you live with or care about, try to talk them into seeking mental health care. If they simply will not seek help, and you see the situation deteriorating, you may have to take other action.
You can call senior health care services about intervention with a senior who may be overwhelmed and living in unsafe/unsanitary conditions.
You may have to call children’s services and report a hoarder on behalf of children living in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
You may need to contact an animal rescue group about animals living in wretched, overcrowded conditions without adequate care.
If you know of someone who needs help, try to intervene. The problem never gets better on its own.
Sources:
A&E; video clips from its series “Hoarders” can be seen at http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/video.
Clutters Anonymous. Questionnaire: “Am I a Clutterer?” Http://clutterersanonymous.net. Copyright 1989 – 2009 by World Service Organization. Retrieved 1-10-10. Site offers leads to 12-step groups and online help.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hoarding. Copyright 1998 – 2010. Hoarding. Symptoms. Causes. Risk factors. “What you can do.” Treatment and drugs. Lifestyle and home remedies. Quoted parts retrieved 1-9-10.
National Study Group of Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), a 501(c) 3 educational organization that allows downloaded copies of their “Clutter Hoarding Scale” at http://www.nsgcd.org/resources for consumers and professionals. Retrieved 1-10-10.
