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There Could Be More to Hoarding Than You Think

June 3, 2019 By Richard Farrell

There’s more to hoarding than most people think who watch television sitcoms of people clearing houses. Hoarding disorder is far from being a comedy show. It is a serious affliction that may affect people living down your street, or even the folk at work you think you know well.

Respected scientists increasingly agree that “hoarding disorder is as common as obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and autism.” Yet many of us still believe hoarders can ‘snap out of it’, while appreciating those other conditions are chronic.

Hoarding is Deeply Embedded in the Person’s Psyche

Our society has been through a long haul to discover people are entitled to be different. We have thankfully long ceased locking up people who keep black cats, and nowadays we are free to marry anybody we like as long as they are of age.

Perhaps it’s time to say, “Okay you’re a hoarder I like watching soccer vive the difference it makes the world go round”. Although we still have a way to go to reaching that level of acceptance collectively.

To be honest, the best scientists can’t agree what hoarding is, what causes it and what do about it. Until we reach that point we are hardly in a position to tell hoarders to snap out of anything.

Perhaps We Should Challenge the Psychiatric Association’s Definition

The idea of hoarding being a recognizable disorder apart from obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and autism still sticks. Although when a noted scientist compared a group of hoarders with the official definition only 19% met the criteria.

Those criteria are, and we quote “a longstanding irrational, persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value”. We note this is not age or gender bound. We wondered about the 81% of hoarders who don’t meet the standard.

The scientist discovered they were “poorer, older, more likely to live alone without a partner, and tended to suffer from additional mental and physical illnesses in addition to hoarding”. This opens the possibility of hoarding actually being a symptom of something else.

Therefore It Is Possible Hoarding is a Situational Condition

It follows that hoarding may be a situational condition like so many modern illnesses. Behavioural scientists wonder whether this links across to the stress of living in a world overcrowded by so much bad news.

However, Japanese self-styled decluttering evangelist Marie Kondo may also have the making of a solution. She has sold 11 million copies of her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’. Her advice is get rid of all the clutter that depresses us.

Only keep the bits that bring you joy, she says. Researchers at Yale University believe “throwing out objects activates a part of the brain that’s also responsible for processing pain”. If that’s the same stressful pain that causes hoarding, then we might be onto a good thing.

Related

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: hoarder down your street, hoarder house clearance, hoarding a situational condition, Hoarding Disorder, hoarding is a chronic illness

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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