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How Do I Know I Have a Hoarder on My Hands?

December 3, 2019 By Richard Farrell

Some hoarding situations are pretty obvious. Social services have to break a window to get in because of stuff piled up against the doors inside. Chaos reigns as they battle to reach the room where an elderly person lies bedridden. The neighbours gather in the street outside saying ‘if only we had known’.

They are not to blame of course: although if they knew the signs to watch for, they may have been able to do something sooner. Today we share hoarding diagnosis tips from 25 NEWS that you may find useful at some time in the future.

Hoarding Defined in Simple Terms

A person with hoarding disorder has difficulty throwing things away. The American Psychiatric Society thinks this may be because they believe the items have a future use. Somewhere between 2% and 5% of people in England and Wales are affected. The 2% is a proven fact, however researchers believe there are at least that many more.

Most hoarders have one or more of these symptoms

  • Their living space is cluttered with things
  • Hoarders have difficulty throwing these things away
  • Therefore they move the piles around instead
  • They have stacks of printed matter including junk mail
  • Some hoarders also have difficulty making decisions
  • They may withdraw and have no social interaction
  • Hoarding people are possessive and protective
  • They seem to have emotional attachment to their stuff

Why do some people hoard and not others?

Hoarding seems to run in families. People are more likely to hoard if they have a family member with the disorder. However, some brain injuries relate to hoarding as a secondary symptom. Moreover, hoarders have different brain neuro-psychological patterns compared to people with obsessive compulsive disorders.

Hoarding can start in the early teens, although it is commonest among the over-fifties. A traumatic event – such as losing a spouse or child – or a stressful life can trigger it, although the underlying signs were often there before.

Therefore, it is important to note that people don’t wake up one morning and decide to hoard. Hoarding happens to them. There is often little they can do about it without help from a skilled adviser.

Are there treatments for hoarding that work?

Cognitive behavioural therapy can help people discard unnecessary things with less emotional pain, by reducing their need to keep them. There are also medicines available that may ease the symptoms.

Questions to ask if you want to self-diagnose

Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. What follows is for general information only and it may not apply to you.

  • Do you have difficulty getting rid of things, even for recycling
  • Do your possessions make it difficult to use some of your rooms
  • Do you find yourself acquiring or buying things you don’t need
  • Do you think these behaviours affect your daily functioning
  • Does this go as far as impacting school, work or social life
  • How do you feel about your answers: do they distress you at all

Things to Remember While Mulling Over This Information

There is nothing wrong with being a hoarder, although taking it too far may become a nuisance, and then more. Don’t ignore it; take advice from somebody who understands what is happening to you. Life is too short to become bogged down collecting thigs we don’t really need.

Related

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: cognitive behavioural therapy, hoarded house clearance service, hoarder dies in home, Hoarding people are possessive, Hoarding people are protective

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

Jenny Schon
Dec 3, 2021
 by Jenny Schon on Avery Associates
Well done

This truly is a 'one stop shop' for all things relating to Probate valuations and clearance. Jeffrey is a 'facilitator' and full marks to him for finding... Read More

Kevin Anderson
Oct 26, 2021
 by Kevin Anderson on Avery Associates
Fantastic and Reliable

Our aunt was a recluse and hoarder. She died leaving two properties in London that were dilapidated and completely hoarded. Unfortunately, because everything... Read More

It was a pleasure to assist Kevin

T. Hackett
Aug 26, 2021
 by T. Hackett on Avery Associates
1st Class Service

Avery Associates Appraisal I have just moved house after almost 30 years of occupation. My initial choice of movers, Pickfords, decided at the last... Read More

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