Hoarding Disorder – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Hoarding disorder is a condition where someone has ongoing difficulty throwing away or parting with possessions. People with this disorder feel they must save items and may become upset at the thought of getting rid of them.
They collect many items regardless of their actual value. Living spaces become extremely cramped when someone hoards. Narrow paths wind through stacks of clutter.
Common surfaces like countertops, sinks, stoves, and stairs become covered with items. Many parts of the home can’t be used for their proper purpose. For example, cooking in the kitchen might become impossible.
When the home fills up, clutter often spreads to other areas like:
- Garages
- Vehicles
- Yards
- Storage sheds
The severity of hoarding varies from person to person. In mild cases, it might not greatly impact daily life. In severe cases, it can seriously affect a person’s ability to function normally.
Many people with hoarding disorder don’t recognize they have a problem. This makes treatment challenging. However, with proper help, they can learn to change their beliefs and behaviors.
Intensive treatment can help them create a safer, more enjoyable living environment.
Signs of Hoarding
Hoarding disorder typically begins in the teenage or early adult years. People may collect too many items, build up clutter in their living spaces, and find it hard to throw things away.
As time passes, the problem often gets worse. By middle age, clutter can become overwhelming and harder to treat.
Hoarding usually happens in private. People who hoard often avoid having visitors in their home. Many times, serious clutter has built up before others notice.
Common signs of hoarding disorder include:
- Collecting and keeping excessive items with no immediate use or space
- Struggling to throw away possessions regardless of their value
- Feeling strongly attached to belongings and upset at the thought of discarding them
- Accumulating so much clutter that rooms become unusable
- Trying to be perfect and struggling with making decisions
- Having trouble planning and organizing daily life
The buildup of items typically leads to:
| Problems | Effects |
|---|---|
| Disorganized piles | Newspapers, clothes, books, and other items stacked everywhere |
| Blocked spaces | Walking areas and living spaces filled with clutter |
| Unsanitary conditions | Buildup of food waste and trash |
| Safety concerns | Risks to the person, others, and pets in the home |
| Relationship strain | Conflicts with people who try to help clean up |
| Social isolation | Avoiding activities, friends, and employment opportunities |
| Lost items | Difficulty finding important things in the clutter |
People who hoard usually keep items because they:
- Believe the items are unique or will be needed someday.
- Feel emotionally connected to things that remind them of better times.
- Experience comfort and safety when surrounded by possessions.
- Don’t want to waste anything.
Hoarding is different from collecting. Collectors carefully search for specific items, organize them, and display them proudly. Collections may be large but are rarely cluttered and don’t cause the distress or problems that hoarding does.
Keeping Too Many Animals
Some people hoard animals, sometimes gathering dozens or hundreds of pets. These animals might be kept inside or outside the home.
Due to the large numbers, the pets often receive inadequate care. Both the person and the animals face health and safety risks from unclean living conditions.
When Medical Help Is Needed
If you notice hoarding symptoms in yourself or someone you care about, talk with a healthcare provider or mental health professional who understands hoarding disorder as soon as possible.
Some local communities offer specific services for hoarding problems. Check with your local government to find resources in your area.
If a loved one’s hoarding creates serious health or safety risks, you might need to contact authorities such as police, fire department, public health services, child or elder protective services, or animal welfare agencies, even though this can be difficult.
Causes
The exact cause of hoarding disorder remains unknown. Scientists are currently researching several possible factors that might contribute to this condition:
- Genetic factors – the disorder may run in families.
- Brain functioning – differences in how the brain works could play a role.
- Life experiences – traumatic or stressful events might trigger hoarding behaviors.
These potential causes are still being investigated to better understand why some people develop hoarding tendencies.
Risk Factors
Hoarding disorder usually begins between ages 15 and 19, often worsening as people get older. This condition appears more frequently in older adults than in younger ones.
Several factors may increase someone’s risk for developing hoarding disorder:
- Personality Traits: Difficulty making decisions, poor attention skills, and problems with organization or problem solving.
- Family Connections: Having a relative with hoarding disorder significantly increases one’s own risk.
- Stressful Events: Traumatic experiences like losing a loved one, going through divorce, or experiencing a house fire with loss of possessions can trigger hoarding behaviors.
People who develop hoarding often struggle to cope with emotional challenges, which can lead to unhealthy attachments to objects.
Problems and Difficulties
People with hoarding disorder often have other mental health problems at the same time. These include:
- Depression – feelings of sadness and loss of interest that don’t go away.
- Anxiety disorders – ongoing worry and fear that affects daily life.
- OCD – unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors that are hard to control.
- ADHD – trouble paying attention and controlling impulses.
These conditions can make hoarding worse. For example, someone with depression might find it harder to clean up because they lack energy. A person with anxiety might feel more stressed about throwing things away.
Prevention
No clear way to prevent hoarding disorder exists. Researchers still don’t fully understand its causes.
Early intervention offers the best approach. Getting help at the first signs of collecting problems may stop the condition from worsening.
Many people don’t realize hoarding has become serious until clutter significantly builds up. By this point, the behavior patterns have often been developing for years.
Professional treatment from mental health providers can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
