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The Potential Effects of Hoarding Disorder on Families

April 19, 2020 By Richard Farrell

A report in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Volume 21, Issue 6 brought the impact on families into sharp relief. The research team spent a year collecting data before they revealed three underlying themes of deteriorating quality of life, shattered families, and rallying around to help.

Seven Years Further On Little Has Changed

Gail Skeketee, PHD and Licenced Independent Clinical Social Worker describes the stress family members feel on the International OCD Foundation website. She explains how difficult life is for children, partners, siblings, and aged grandparents living among the clutter.

Family members visiting a hoarder may also experience physical and emotional difficulties even though they do not live there. Friction and tensions abound as no doubt frustration does too.

Increased Conflict Among Family Members

Compulsive hoarding encroaches on shared space, especially the living room and kitchen. Purchases of additional sheds may occur without discussion, and result in less money available for essentials.

The hoarder may also max their cards when adding to their collection, and incur penalties when they can’t keep up with their payments.

Emotions can come to a boil when the compulsive hoarder spreads their collection into other people’s bedrooms, and adopts a dictatorial approach whereby they refuse to negotiate with the other people living in the house.

The Helplessness of Young Children Trapped in the Situation

Young children often have no option but to adapt. However, they may be too embarrassed to invite their friends to visit and this could damage their social networks. Having no space to play cramps their style, and they may become trouble-makers at school.

They may eventually conclude their compulsive-hoarder parent loves their piles of junk higher than them. In an extreme case, they may run away and fall into deep trouble that scars them for life.

Strained Relationships Develop With Adult Children Too

Those frustrations linger after children grow up and leave home. Their estrangement from the parents may continue as they bicker over what to do about the hoard. They may become extremely resentful about the conditions under which they grew up.

The core family may fall apart when the adult children refuse to bring their own children when they visit. When they finally part company, their hoarder parent may be left deeply depressed and unable to cope. Their self-esteem collapses as they turn to their clutter as their only friend.

What About the Life Partners of These Compulsive Hoarders?

Spouses and lifetime companions have an even tougher call. Their finances, even their lives may be hopelessly entwined with each other, their only true friend. Tension and hospitality build to breaking point as the hoarder is unable to change.

However, any minor children take the hardest knocks as their parents argue about custody. This is a cruel end to a once happy family, especially if the aggrieved one shows photos of the disorganized home in court.

Much of this might have been avoided if the couple agreed to family counseling. However, these steps should be taken long before the relationship fractures in the ways we described.

Further Reading

Royal College of Psychiatrists Info for Hoarder Friends

Dementia and Hoarding We Explore Sporadic Links

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding, House Clearance Tagged With: children, compulsive hoarding, effects, family, impacts, parent, spouse

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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About Richard Farrell

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Client Reviews

Oct 6, 2020
by Edward Harvey on Avery Associates
Probate Contents Valuation London

Dear Jeffrey, Following your recent valuations, one for the property and the other for personal belongings etc, at the property in Lower Road London... Read More

Oct 5, 2020
by Mr Wood on Avery Associates
House Clearance In Oxford

Dear Jeff. I can not thank you enough . The house clearance wen like clock work. What a great team you sent me. Mr Wood

Oct 5, 2020
by Michael Hasning on Avery Associates
House Clearance Abingdon

“Avery Associates have supported me as the Executor to my late mother’s estate. In the first instance I found their website an excellent source of information... Read More

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