Hoarding

Hoarding is a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It tends to be an inherited disease. Often a hoarder had a parent who also hoarded.

People who hoard isolate themselves from people, and start building realationships with stuff instead. Things always take precedence over other relationships. A lot of hoarders live on their own because they've driven everyone else away.

Many adults with this problem started collecting things as an adolescence. Most of these people tend to become extreme hoarders as they age and are not treated until they reach age 40-50.

People who hoard are not lazy or unmotivated. Hoarding is debilitating, and can affect anyone, anywhere. Interestingly, most hoarders tend to be quite intelligent and articulate. Hoarders tend to hide their symptoms and their homes from their friends and family. The problem gets worse as people become more isolated.

Throwing hoarders things away can be very traumatic to them. Hoarders develop emotional connections to their things. Hoarders need to want to change, just as an alcoholic wants to stop drinking. Hoarders may need the help of a therapist, an organizer, and patient friends and family. Even with treatment and help hoarding is a culmination of lifelong habits, and relapses should be expected.

If you or someone you know is a hoarder find out how you can help or enlist the help of a professional.