The main causes of hoarding in homes include difficult life experiences, and painful feelings that are hard to put into words. Other common reasons include an inherited family history, and things that happened in childhood.
There are several other lesser reasons why someone we know might become a hoarder. However, they might equally just be untidy people, or drifting into dementia. Therefore, the first thing to determine is, are they actually a hoarder?
Recognising a Person Is a Hoarder
Many hoarders are unaware that their behaviour has changed, and how this is affecting their lifestyle. They may become stressed, even visibly annoyed if their partner, family member, or a friend tries to talk to them about it.
A visit from a council health official to discuss the main causes of hoarding can tip them into a rage. So we need to be careful how we introduce the subject, and gently reason with a hoarder on the basis of objective evidence:
- They may not notice how they have surrounded themselves with clutter.
- However they may know, but find it difficult to admit and discuss the fact.
- But even if they admit the state of their home, hoarding is hard to stop.
Hoarding may naturally begin at the top of a bedroom cupboard for example, or under a kitchen sink. From there, it may gradually spread throughout that room, and further through the house. However, hoarding can also start in the garage, a garden shed, or even in the boot of a car.
How the Causes of Hoarding Spin Out
We’ve discussed the main causes of hoarding. The next question to address is what are people likely to hoard, and here we may surprise you:
- Shoes, clothes, drawings and photographs of times past.
- Old newspapers, magazines, books, and pamphlets.
- Childhood toys, souvenirs, and keepsakes or memories.
- Things that are broken, but it might be possible to repair.
- Packets, bags, boxes, and anything else to put things in.
- Gramophone records, compact discs, and digital files.
- Food that is past its sell-by-date, even rotten left-overs.
- Even, believe it or not, large numbers of animals and birds.
What Happens in the Mind of a Hoarder
We may regard the piles stacked up in a hoarder’s home as rubbish. However, to hoarders, these are things that they preserve for a future use. Therefore, we need to understand that this is one of the main causes of hoarding. We also need to get to grips with the fact that to hoarders, they are convinced they are doing the right thing.
Main Causes of Hoarding -The Triggers
We move into complex waters here, because there are various theories concerning the triggers of hoarding. However, we can be reasonably sure that the causes include some of the following, although not necessarily all:
- Difficult experiences and painful feelings hoarders find difficult to resolve.
- Fear of making mistakes. Difficulty planning ahead and making decisions.
- Childhood experiences of losing possessions, or having neglectful parents.
- Losing someone special, health issues, or feeling very lonely or isolated.
- Family members who were hoarders, or inheriting certain dominant genes.
A Primary Cause of Hoarding – Unresolved Feelings
Some hoarders believe that hoarding helps them cope with other mental health issues. Or perhaps takes their mind off anxiety, tension or fear. Although their hoarding may also be due to inability to decide what to discard, or making decisions about which items to retain.
More Main Causes of Hoarding – Childhood Experiences
As we mentioned earlier, there is no broad consensus over a single cause of hoarding. However, some hoarders are convinced that childhood experiences play a role. A hoarder may for example have been raised in poverty, or where people did not care for them deeply, or provide them with warm support.
Trauma and Loss As a Primary Cause of Hoarding
Trauma and loss are wide terms ranging from being abused or bullied, experiencing prejudice, or breaking up with a partner. But they could also mean poor physical health, losing someone close to you, or feeling stressed and isolated. Such experiences could trigger hoarding, or make it worse.
Family History, Genes or Parental Examples
We have covered four of the main causes of hoarding. That just excludes the influences that our families bring to bear on us. The examples that our brothers, sisters and parents set, also play a role in how we ‘turn out’. Although some research also suggests that certain genes could make us more vulnerable to hoarding too.
Speak To Avery Associates for More Advice
Avery Associates can help with seeking out, and valuing possessions in hoarder’s homes. We can also assist with clearing the rest of the clutter, and scrubbing away the filth of years.
More Information
Clearing Hoarded Houses With Respect
Support for Someone with Hoarding Disorder
Great service from Jeff, he was fair with pricing, and did an amazing job with the clearance of my great uncles flat. Will definitely use again in the future. (Nathan)
