Hoarding: When is it more than clutter?

Garage ClutterMedia coverage of hoarding disorders is on the rise. Compulsive hoarding is a real and serious behavioral health condition. For many the tendency to collect starts in the teenage years, and can progress to extreme hoarding 10-20 years later. Treatment by trained mental health professionals is most effective  because they are able to recognize co-occurring disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

How do you know if you or someone you love has a hording disorder?

Here are some signs a person can look for when evaluating whether or not they or a loved one may need professional treatment with their hoarding disorder.

  1. Acquisition of, and inability to discard, meaningless objects
  2. Cluttered living spaces that limit their use
  3. Significant distress and/or interference in functioning

What are some ways to treat a hoarding disorder?

  1. Get professional help. Contact Rogers Memorial Hospital’s admissions department or complete our online form for a screening.
  2. Once you have a relationship with a mental health professional, you can begin working to identify triggers to hoarding and track items brought into the home
  3. Through exposure and ritual prevention patients are repeatedly exposed to the anxiety, anger and sadness associated with discarding possessions.
  4. Organize: To keep an item the patient must have a place to put it. Develop rules for sorting, discarding and organizing. Encourage decision making and problem solving.
  5. Develop alternative behaviors: Perform previously avoided activities such as doing the dishes, laundry, preparing meals. Establish short and long term goals such as work, volunteering, socializing etc.

What are some resources for learning more about hoarding?

The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation

The OCF is a not-for-profit organization of people with OCD and related disorders, their families, and mental health professionals. The OCF also has a sub site on hoarding.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America

ADAA Provides prevention and treatment information for individuals, family members and professionals.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Support Group:

An OCD support group is held on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church: 121 Wisconsin in Waukesha. 542-4256.