Here's the truth about hoarding disorder – and how to help someone

If you or a loved one engages in the practice of hoarding, know 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. While this behavior is common, it was only accepted as a psychiatric disorder in 2013. 

Among the things we have discovered about the condition is that using appropriate language can be helpful - it's best not to call someone a "hoarder," for instance, and to instead refer to them as "someone who hoards" as none of us are our disease or disorder. It's also helpful to learn how to assist someone engaged in the behavior and to know that people who hoard often feel like they can't help themselves.

What is hoarding? 

Hoarding is a mental health disorder in which someone has an ongoing compulsion to hold onto their belongings, which causes them to accumulate a significant number of possessions and clutter. In addition to being hard 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 Florida State University. 

It's also worth noting that while many of us can relate with the desire to hold onto certain belongings, someone who hoards generally feels that way about nearly all their possessions, and feels significantly distressed at the thought of parting with any of them, notes Gregory Chasson, an 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 thought to be a combination of factors. "Hoarding disorder is believed 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.

On the genetic side, she says it's known that individuals with family members who hoard often have similar difficulties and are at increased risk for developing the condition. On the environmental side, one could have been raised in a so-called "scarcity mindset" where everything was taught to have value or be useful at some point. "People who hoard believe they might need the item later or that somebody else could use the item, or that the item can serve a purpose 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 multiple items so that getting rid of them becomes emotionally painful.

Important:What is emotional health? Definition and how to improve emotional health

How to help someone who hoards 

No matter the reason someone hoards, it's essential to help them slowly and respectfully.

But helping is important. Being surrounded by too much clutter can impede one's quality of life, especially if one's bedroom or kitchen are so full of items that tables and appliances and beds can't be used for their intended purpose. There's also an increased fire hazard and likelihood of pest or rodent infestation.

An important first step is to help someone recognize why making a change is important. "Instead of complaining and getting angry, it will likely be more productive to have a non-judgmental discussion about how the behaviors are having a negative effect on your relationship and to express concern about the loved one's health and safety and to offer help managing the clutter," offers Schmidt. 

When it comes to cleaning and organizing the space, it's critical to "avoid forced cleanouts," cautions Chasson, and to work on the project hand in hand with the person who hoards. It can be helpful to have organization 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 with the items forever. This can also help them acclimate to the idea of not having the items anymore and can give them a chance to see how good a clean space in their home feels. 

"A storage unit can also help with feelings of being overwhelmed and paralyzed because there is so much that needs to be done," says Schmidt. At the same time, it's important to keep such a transition temporary so that someone who hoards doesn't just refill the empty space in their home with more stuff. "I always tell people to get a month-to-month lease and to make sure a storage company isn't going to increase the rent on you after a couple of months, or using a storage unit this way can become quite costly," advises Burke Bradshaw, the COO of Towne Storage. 

Getting to the root of why someone hoards is also important. "Just eliminating or organizing existing clutter is not sufficient because clutter is usually a symptom of a broader issue," says Chasson. Seeking professional help and practicing cognitive behavioral therapy may be the best ways of accomplishing this. 

"Find a professional experienced in hoarding disorder," advises Diebler. "Along the way, be collaborative, be patient, be empathic, be positive and praise progress – even if it is slow."