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Accepting Hoarding as a Medical Disorder Opens Doors

March 29, 2019 By Robert McQueen

Accepting Hoarding as a Medical Disorder Opens Doors

In August 2018, hoarding gained recognition as a medical disorder at the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is good news for around 1.2 million sufferers spread right across the UK, not forgetting their families and friends. In fairness, the NHS had already classified hoarding as a medical disorder back in 2013.

Definition of a Hoarding Disorder

The NHS classifies a hoarding disorder as being when a person collects various items excessively and attempts to store them haphazardly. The result is disorganised piles of clutter, which most of us would discard as rubbish before it becomes a threat to safety. The collected items are typically of little value. Hoarding piles of old newspapers in a chaotic floor-to-ceiling fashion is a good example.

The NHS explains that hoarding develops into a potentially serious problem when:

# Piles of clutter start to affect day-to-day living. A common example is rendering that important small room we call the bathroom inaccessible due to collected items blocking the ‘wee wet room’

# This amassed collection results in stress for other occupants of the household and makes everyday living difficult or impossible. The necessary remedial action results in heightened tension in the home as relationships deteriorate

Identifying Hoarding Disorders and Seeking Medical Treatment

The reasons that drive people to hoard remain unclear, which makes medically treating hoarding disorders quite difficult. A hoarder does not always see their ‘problem’ as a disorder, or remains stubbornly oblivious to the condition insofar as it affects others in their circle.

Often, hoarders know they have an unnatural compulsion to collect and store useless bric-a-brac, but remain reluctant to get help out of guilt, shame or humiliation. Persuading a hoarder to accept their situation and seek medical help is crucial.

Getting a sufferer to discard their accumulation of useless artefacts can lead them to stress through perceptions of isolation. These symptoms can bring on mental health issues as well as posing health and safety concerns in the household.

If not properly and professionally handled, hoarding is a condition that will not likely disappear on its own, as would a bout of influenza. This makes professional counselling, followed by medical treatment imperative.

Why Collecting is Acceptable but Hoarding Not?

Most of us develop interest in various pastimes that may evolve into genuine hobbies that become passionate pursuits. How items collected get arranged and organised sets hoarding apart from collecting.

Invariably a collection is orderly, interesting and of some value, though this is not always the case. A collector proudly knows where their collectables are stored and can access specific items easily. A hoard is the total opposite, in the sense that hoarded items are stored haphazardly and are difficult to find later because they are inaccessible.

Tell Tale Signs of Hoarding Disorders

A person who is falling under the influence of hoarding may display these tendencies:

# Once good relationships with friends and family start deteriorating

# They become possessive and attached to items they have collected and resent others touching or using them

# Have difficulty managing routine daily tasks and even lose interest in them. Decision-making becomes difficult

# Be unable to arrange, organise and classify items they insist on collecting and hoarding

# Accumulate worthless items. For example, large collections of old newspapers, advertising handouts and plastic shopping bags

Medical Treatment for Hoarding Disorders

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most common form of medical treatment. The trained therapist will assist the patient to understand what makes it difficult to throw things away, causing a build-up of clutter.

Therapy can overcome the disorder though it may take several sessions. It is important that the patient buys-in to practical tasks set for them, and accepts responsibility for clearing stockpiled clutter back home.

Related

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: definition of hoarding, hoarder house clearance, hoarding disorders, Medical Treatment for Hoarding Disorders

Our House Clearance Services

We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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Client Reviews

Imogen
Aug 3, 2022
 by Imogen on Avery Associates
Professiuonal House Clearance

Dear Jeffrey I want to extend a heartfelt thank to you and your team for the hero’s work that you all did yesterday at the house in Highbury. You... Read More

Anne Wenham
Jul 26, 2022
 by Anne Wenham on Avery Associates
Fantastic service

So pleased to have found Avery Associates when we had to clear a three floor town house. The probate valuations for house and contents were swiftly ... Read More

Margaret Campbell
Jun 24, 2022
 by Margaret Campbell on Avery Associates
Amazing Service and Support

Hello Pam / Jeffrey, As requested, sorry it is late …. I forgot☹️ I used Avery Associates for probate content valuation, clearance... Read More

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Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

Services provided throughout London and the Home Counties. View our clearance case studies.


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