Description

Hoarding disorder is a constant difficulty of pulling, or parting with possessions because you believe that you need to save them. You can experience distress at the idea of getting rid of the items. Little by little, hold or gather a large number of elements, regardless of their actual value.

Hoarding often creates extremely narrow conditions of life, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, tables, staircases and all other surfaces are usually full of things. You may not be able to use certain areas for your purpose. For example, you may not be able to cook in the kitchen. When there is no more space in the interior of your home, clutter can be extended up to the garage, vehicles, patio, and other storage areas.

Grabbing varies from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on his life, while in other cases it seriously affects their daily functioning.

People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, so getting them to take part in treatment can be difficult. But intensive treatment can help you understand how your beliefs and behavior can be changed so that you can live safer, more enjoyable life.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of hoarding disorder often appear during adolescence to early adult years. You can obtain and keep too many items, gradually build up the mess in the living spaces, and are struggling to get rid of things.

As you get older, you can continue receiving and maintaining in the things that you may never use, and that there is room for more. By the middle ages, the disorder can become overwhelming as the symptoms become more severe and increasingly difficult to treat.

Problems with hoarding develop gradually over time and tend to be a private behavior. You can avoid having family, friends or repair of the workers in your home. Often, the main disorder has been developed by the time it reaches the attention of the others.

The symptoms of hoarding disorder may include:

  • To achieve and maintain too many items that may not have a need for now and there is room for more.
  • Course difficulty of pulling, or parting with their stuff, regardless of its actual value.
  • The feeling of the need to save these things and be annoyed by the idea of getting rid of them.
  • The construction of disorder to the point where you can't use the rooms.
  • Trying to be perfect and to avoid or delay making decisions.
  • Problems with the planning and organization.

Getting too many elements and refuse to part with them results in:

  • Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothing, papers, books, or objects of sentimental value.
  • The items that the crowd and the disorder of his walking spaces and areas of life. The rooms may not be used for the desired purpose, such as not being able to sleep in his bed.
  • The accumulation of food or garbage to large, unhealthy levels.
  • Distress or problems in the operation or maintenance of yourself, others and pets safe in your home.
  • Conflict with others that try to reduce or remove the clutter from your home.
  • Relationship problems, avoiding social activities, and employment problems.
  • Difficulty to organize items and sometimes losing the important elements in the disorder.

With hoarding disorder, items usually be saved because:

  • You believe that these items are unique or that you'll need them at some point in the future.
  • You feel emotionally connected to the elements that remind you of the happy moments or represent loved ones or pets.
  • You feel safe and comforted when surrounded by things.
  • You don't want to miss anything.

Hoarding disorder is different to the collection. People who have collections such as stamps or model of the car, with care, in the search of specific items, organize them and display their collections. The collections can be great, but they are generally messy. In addition, it does not cause distress and problems functioning that are part of a hoarding disorder.

The hoarding of animals

People who hoard animals can pick up dozens or even hundreds of pets. The animals may be confined in the interior or on the exterior. Due to the large number of these animals are often not cared for properly. The health and safety of the person and the animals are often at risk because of the unsanitary conditions.

When to see a doctor

If you or a loved one has symptoms of hoarding disorder, talk with a health care provider or a mental health professional with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hoarding disorder as soon as possible. Some communities have agencies that help with hoarding problems. Consult with the local or county government resources in your area.

As difficult as it may be, if your loved one hoarding disorder that threatens the health or safety, you may need to contact the local authorities, such as police, fire, public health, child or elder protective services, or animal welfare agencies.

Causes

It is not clear what causes hoarding disorder. Genetics, the function of the brain and stressful life events are being studied as possible causes.

Risk factors

Hoarding usually begins around 15 to 19 years. It tends to worsen with age. The hoarding is more common in older adults than in younger adults.

The risk factors include:

  • Of the personality. Many people with hoarding disorder have a style of behavior that includes difficulty making decisions, and problems with attention, organization, and the resolution of problems.
  • The history of the family. There is a strong association between having a family member who has a hoarding disorder and to have the disorder yourself.
  • Stressful life events. Some people develop hoarding disorder after experiencing a stressful event in their life that they had difficulty coping, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or losing belongings in a fire.

Complications

Hoarding disorder can cause a variety of complications, including:

  • Increased risk of falls.
  • Injury or being trapped by the displacement or falling objects.
  • Family conflicts.
  • Loneliness and social isolation.
  • Conditions that are not clean, and can be a health risk.
  • A fire hazard.
  • Performance on the job.
  • Legal issues, such as the eviction.

Other mental health disorders

Hoarding disorder is also associated with other mental health conditions, such as:

  • Depression.
  • The anxiety disorders.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Prevention

Because little is known about the causes of hoarding disorder, there is no known way to prevent. However, as with many mental health conditions, to receive treatment at the first sign of a problem can help prevent the hoarding of it getting worse. This is especially important because, by the time the mess becomes a noticeable problem, the hoarding has probably been going on for a while.

Diagnosis

Often people don't seek treatment for hoarding disorder, but for other issues, such as depression, anxiety or relationship problems. To help diagnose the hoarding disorder, it is best to consult a mental health professional with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. You will have a review of mental health that includes questions about the emotional well-being. Probably he was asked about his beliefs, and behaviors related to obtaining and saving of the elements and the impact that the disorder can have on their quality of life.

Your mental health provider to ask for permission to speak with family and friends. Photos and videos of your living spaces and storage areas affected by the disorder, are often useful. You can also ask questions to find out if you have symptoms of other mental health conditions.

Treatment

Treatment of hoarding disorder can be a challenge, but effective, if you are still working in the learning of new skills. Some people do not recognize the negative impact of the accumulation in their lives, or do not believe they need treatment. This is especially true if goods or animals offer comfort. If these possessions or animals are taken away, people often react with frustration and anger. It can quickly charge more to help meet the emotional needs.

The mainstay of treatment for hoarding disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a competency-based approach to therapy. Learn how to better manage the beliefs and behaviors that are linked to maintaining the disorder. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medications, especially if you have anxiety or depression, along with the hoarding disorder.

CBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the main treatment for hoarding disorder. Try to find a therapist or other mental health professional with experience in the treatment of hoarding disorder.

As part of the CBT , you can:

  • Learn to identify and challenge the thoughts and beliefs related to obtaining and saving of the elements.
  • Learn to resist the temptation to get more items.
  • Learn how to organize and group things to help you decide which ones to get rid of them, including items that can be donated.
  • Improve decision making and coping skills.
  • Eliminate the clutter in your home during the home visits by a therapist or a professional organizer.
  • Learn how to reduce isolation and increase the opportunities to join in meaningful social activities and supports.
  • Learn ways to increase your desire for change.
  • Assist the family or group therapy.
  • Having occasional visits or in the course of treatment to help you maintain healthy habits.

The treatment often involves regular the help of family, friends, and agencies to help eliminate clutter. This is often the case with older people or those who are struggling with medical conditions that may make it difficult to keep the effort and the desire to make changes.

Children with hoarding disorder

For children with hoarding disorder, it is important that the parents involved in the treatment. Some parents may think that leaving your child to get and save a number of items that can help reduce your child's anxiety and to avoid family fights. This is sometimes called "the accommodation of families." This fact may do the opposite and strengthen the child's tendency to get and save the items.

In addition to the therapy for their child, parents can find professional guidance useful to learn how to respond and help you manage your child hoarding behavior.

Medications

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the first recommended treatment for hoarding disorder. There are currently no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hoarding disorder. Medications are used to treat other conditions, such as anxiety and depression that often occur along with hoarding disorder. The most commonly used medications are a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris). Continues the research on the most effective ways for the use of medications in the treatment of hoarding disorder.

Lifestyle and home remedies

In addition to professional treatment, here are some steps you can take to help you take care of yourself:

  • Follow your treatment plan. It is a hard job, and it is common to have some setbacks along the time. But treatment can help you feel better about yourself, improve your desire to change and reduce their hoarding. Have a daily schedule to work on the reduction of their disorder. To do this, during the times of the day when you have more energy.
  • Accept the help. Local resources, professional organizers and the loved ones can work with you to make decisions about the best way to organize and sort your home and to stay safe and healthy. It may take time to return to a safe home. Help is often necessary for staying organized around the house.
  • Reach out to others. Hoarding can lead to isolation and loneliness, which in turn may lead to increased hoarding. If you do not want your visitors in your house, try out to visit friends and family. Join a support group for people with hoarding disorder can let you know that you are not alone. These groups can help you learn about your behavior and the resources available.
  • Try to stay clean and tidy. If you have possessions stacked in the bath or the shower, resolve to move, so that you can take a bath or shower.
  • Make sure that you are getting the proper nutrition. If you can't use the kitchen or the scope of your refrigerator, you may not eat properly. Try to clear those areas so that you can prepare healthy meals.
  • See for yourself. Remember that you don't have to live in the chaos and suffering that you deserve something better. Focus on your goals and what you can gain by reducing the clutter in your home.
  • Take small steps. With the help of a professional, you can tackle one area at a time. Small and steady wins as this can lead to big gains.
  • What is the best for your pets. If the number of pets who have grown beyond their ability to take care of them properly, remember you deserve to live happy and healthy lives. That is not possible if you can not provide you with adequate nutrition, clean living conditions and veterinary care.

Preparing for your appointment

If you or a loved one has symptoms of hoarding disorder, your doctor may refer you to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hoarding disorder.

Because some people with hoarding symptoms of the disorder do not recognize that their behavior is a problem, such as a friend or family member you may experience more pain by grabbing your loved one does. If this is the case, you may want to first meeting alone with a mental health provider with experience in the treatment of hoarding disorder. A provider can offer support and help on how to encourage your loved one to seek help.

Consider the possibility of seeking treatment, your loved one will likely need peace of mind that nobody is going to go to his house and start throwing things.

Here's some information to help you prepare for the first appointment and what to expect from your mental health provider.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms you are experiencing, and for how long. It will help the mental health provider to know what types of articles that you feel that you have to save them and their personal beliefs about the attainment and maintenance of the elements.
  • Challenges that have been experienced in the past, when trying to manage the disorder.
  • Key personal information, including traumatic events or losses in your past, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one.
  • Your medical information, including the physical or mental health.
  • Any medications, vitamins, herbal products or other supplements that you take, and your dose.
  • Questions to ask your mental health provider.

You may want to take a trusted family member or friend along, if possible. They can offer support and help to remember the details discussed at the appointment. Bring pictures and videos of the living spaces and storage areas affected by the disorder.

Questions to ask your mental health provider include:

  • Do you think that my symptoms are a cause of concern? Why?
  • Do you think I need treatment?
  • What are the treatments most likely to be effective?
  • How much can I expect my symptoms improve with treatment?
  • How much time will pass before that my symptoms start to improve?
  • How often should I therapy sessions, and for how long?
  • There are medications that can help?

Feel free to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your mental health provider

To get an understanding of how the hoarding disorder is affecting your life, your provider may ask:

  • What are the types of things that tend to get and keep?
  • Avoid throwing things away?
  • Avoid making decisions about your disorder?
  • How often you decide to get or keep things don't have the space or the use of?
  • How do you feel if you had to get rid of some things?
  • Does the clutter in your home, avoid the use of rooms for your purpose?
  • What the mess prevent you from inviting people to visit your home?
  • How many pets do you have? They are capable of providing adequate care for them?
  • Have you tried to reduce the clutter on their own or with the help of friends and family? How successful were the attempts?
  • Have your family members expressed concern about the disorder?
  • She is currently receiving treatment for any mental health conditions?
Symptoms and treatment of Hoarding disorder