I've been thinking about hoarding a lot lately. The interesting thing about it is that something apparently so simple is significantly made to be a complex problem of mental health. As far as I understand, hoarding disorder goes way beyond just having a cluttered or disorganized house or even being a pack rat. It is a condition whereby people feel an overwhelming compulsion to accumulate things for no apparent reason.
I think that probably one of the most striking things about hoarding is the way it eventually engulfs someone's life, that you cannot even have a place to sit in your living space because of all sorts of clutter lying around everywhere, or picture the kind of anxiety it would create in someone just at the thought of discarding some old, torn newspapers or some tattered clothes. That must be very isolating and distressing to live like that.
I learned that it is not actually about being messy or disorganized; there is often a much deeper psychological reason behind it.
For example, some people begin to hoard after a shocking and traumatic event, almost as if they are protecting themselves from the world with their possessions. Others find it related to genetics or other mental health issues such as OCD and depression.
What really gets me is how young hoarding can start. The signs can apparently show up as early as 11 or 12 years old. And then it tends to worsen as the person gets older. I can't help but wonder how many people are struggling with this without even realizing it's a legitimate disorder.
Treatment for hoarding sounds like a real uphill battle, but at least the options are available. Cognitive behavioral therapy is what helps people change their perceptions regarding personal belongings. I think it is really cool that there are therapy groups available. It's very comforting for people not to feel so alone in this.
It must be very hard to live with someone who has a hoarding disorder, or maybe even to love somebody who does. I imagine that puts a big strain on relationships. But how would you help somebody who can't get rid of anything, even when their home is becoming hazardous or unsanitary? I mean, clearly, you can't just go in and clean up on your own. That could be really traumatic for the person with a hoarding disorder.
The thing is, hoarding is a mental health issue in the first place, not one of those personal quirks or habits. It deserves compassion and proper treatment like any other mental health disorder. As I do note some signs of hoarding in someone close to me, I would want to approach it very gently, strongly encouraging them to get professional help from a mental health expert.
