When we hear the term 'hoarding,' images of cluttered homes, newspapers stacked to the ceiling, and pathways lined with belongings often come to mind. For those dealing with hoarding tendencies or living with a hoarder, these scenes are not just a distant possibility—they are a stark reality. The battle against hoarding is multi-faceted, challenging, and deeply personal. The range of the battle is from physically accumulating to the emotion of reasons why you can't let it go.
Can Hoarding Be Cured?
This blog will take you deeper into hoarding. From understanding the psychology of hoarding to life-changing success stories, we hope to give hope and inspiration to individuals affected by hoarding. Believe us, recovery is possible!
Please note: we are not mental health professionals. While we share information and stories related to hoarding cleanup and recovery, it is for creating awareness and support from a cleanup standpoint.
Hoarding Cleaning: The Psychology of Hoarding
What motivates someone to hoard? It starts with this: Hoarding has almost nothing to do with the straightforward desire to acquire or living with a lack of cleanliness. For most, hoarding is done to feel safe or in control, and the items collected have a special attachment or meaning.
Collectors vs. Hoarders
Even though collectors and hoarders both compile objects, there is a big difference between them, which is the relationship they have with the objects in their collections. Collectors are usually systematic and deliberate, deriving pleasure from carefully selected objects. However, hoarders have difficulty deciding what to discard, so their living environment becomes dysfunctional.
The Impact on Homes and Families
The effects of hoarding are not limited to the individual concerned. Hoarded homes are usually rendered unusable, and hence, they threaten basic living.
The Physical Toll
The physical consequences of hoarding are profound, from fire hazards and structural damage to health risks such as vermin infestations, mold growth, and the chance of falls.
The Emotional Shadow
Hoarding casts a huge emotional burden on the minds of the hoarders and their family members. Shame, anxiety, and isolation are all common emotions of the hoarder; family members can feel frustration, fear, and the massive task of supporting their loved one.
Can Hoarding Be Cured? Steps to Recovery
The Cleanup Plan
A straightforward step-by-step process to declutter a hoarded home is essential. This means setting small, attainable goals, working in a set order, and calling in professionals and volunteers who can help and understand the unique needs and difficulties that come with hoarding. Look at the ultimate hoarding cleanup checklist made by our partners at Bio-One of Oceanside: 4-Step Plan For a Successful Hoarding Cleaning.
The Restoration of Hoarded Minds
True recovery is accomplished by targeting the root causes of hoarding. This requires psychological therapy, a network of support, and a willingness to change.
The Role of Therapy
Counseling and treatment for hoarding range as much as the causes behind the behavior. One form of treatment is exposure therapy, in which individuals are slowly but surely conditioned into discarding possessions. Group therapy and other therapies also come with some tools for stress and emotional management.
Recovering together: support networks:
Support groups offer a special place for hoarders and their families to share experiences, benefit from others who have been down the road of recovery, and benefit from the healing process. These networks lessen isolation and work to interrupt the cycle of shame.
Where to go for change:
There is lots of information for those seeking recovery. Essential resources include:
- "Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding," by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, and Gail Steketee
- International OCD Foundation's Hoarding Center
- Clutterers Anonymous
- National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)
Can Hoarding Be Cured?
No known absolute cure exists for hoarding, but recovery is possible, and the condition can be managed effectively. Recovery can be a rocky process, but it is possible with continued dedication and assistance.
Ways in Which Bio-One Fremont Can Help
When the compulsion to hoard has led to potential biohazards, the only answer is professional restoration. At Bio-One Fremont, we take great care and are incredibly discreet when dealing with these situations. Hoarding can be treated and managed with the appropriate treatment and ongoing support. Never give up hope—there is help, and we are just one phone call away!
