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Hoarding Disorder & The Things You Need to Know

December 19, 2019 By Richard Farrell

We post regularly about hoarding disorder as it relates to our house and garden clearance service. Our clients sometimes find the state of their relatives’ houses distressing, after they pass away or move into care.

If only we had known, they often say. Perhaps we should have visited them from time to time, or done something when this habit started. Today, we go back to the basics of the hoarding habit: what it is and what are the warning signs.

The Outward Signs of Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding exhibits as an ongoing, persistent difficulty in discarding things that are no longer of use. That’s because the person believes they may have a future purpose, and as a result accumulates more and more of them.

This clutter progressively develops ‘a mind of its own’ as it piles on sinks and countertops, and eventually spreads into almost every corner of the home. Rooms, passages and staircases gradually become inaccessible until the hoarding disorder victim is virtually overwhelmed.

However, they may not see this as a problem in their own minds. They adapt to their shrinking living space, as they would in a room, or even a bed in a care home. Hoarders can’t see a problem, because they have surrendered the rest of their living space to their accumulation.

The Warning Signs to Watch for With Hoarding

Hoarding disorder often appears in older age, although with the wisdom of hindsight there is sometimes evidence in children’s bedrooms. The habit sets in gradually as the adult hoarder begins acquiring things for which they have no immediate need.

The habit may become chronic as they reach middle age when treatment becomes more difficult. That’s partly because they are often intensely private people, and nobody knows what is happening on the far side of their front door.

In summary then:

  • Hoarders acquire things for which there is no purpose or space
  • They have difficulty discarding them, even things of no value
  • Moreover, they have a compulsion to curate them for future use
  • The thoughts of discarding the accumulation causes then distress

Compulsive hoarders may also display signs of “indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing” according to Mayo Clinic.

What’s Going On in a Hoarder’s Mind?

Our possessions have more than just substantive value. ­That’s because they relate to the times in our lives when we happily used them. A tatty old beach towel is a souvenir of a happy summer holiday on a beach in Spain. Those old takeaway containers once contained meals we enjoyed.

Hoarders can’t throw things away because that would be wiping out those memories, and destroying part of their identity. Thoughtlessly de-cluttering a home with their knowledge can therefore cause them extreme anguish.

Many elderly people have similar difficulty moving into downsized accommodation. That’s because they are emotionally attached to their rambling homes and have filled them with an accumulation of life.

Hoarding disorder is not a topic to laugh at over reality television. It is at the very heart and soul of the afflicted person. It could happen to us too, if we don’t respond to the warning signs. Indeed, this becomes more and more likely as we live past our three score years and ten.

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: compulsive hoarders, difficulty discarding items, help for hoarders, hoarders habits, hoarders house clearance

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

Feb 1, 2021
by Sally Thompson on Avery Associates
Sensitive House Clearance

You have done an excellent job, given that you had very little time. Brenda and I do appreciate how much you have done and feel it is really kind of you... Read More

Feb 1, 2021
by Sacha Hawes on Avery Associates
Hoarded House Clearance

I would firstly like to thank everyone at Avery associates for their hard work . We called Jeff after the sudden death of my father. He was a "hoarder... Read More

Feb 1, 2021
by Jennie Adams on Avery Associates
House Clearance And Search For Valuable Items

We are very grateful to Jeff and his team for carrying out a clearance on a very cluttered relative’s house. He fitted in with our timeframe organising... Read More

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Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

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