When someone is unable to throw away everyday items that most people would classify as rubbish, they are likely to be a hoarder. While many of us may find it difficult to get rid of sentimental items, a hoarder has lost all ability to manage what they keep, leading to such chaos in their home that life becomes almost unlivable.
What is hoarding disorder?
The NHS classifies hoarding disorder as when someone has an excessive amount of stuff which they store in a chaotic way, resulting in a great deal of clutter. Often the items have little to no monetary value.
When the amount of stuff gets in the way of day-to-day living, such as impeding access to a room or to facilities, or it is causing lots of distress, hoarding is considered to be a significant problem. The hoarder may become very upset if someone attempts to clear the clutter, even if it is affecting their quality of life.
What can be done?
Although difficult to treat, there is help and support for those with hoarding disorder. Many sufferers may not think they have a problem or can be reluctant to get help because they feel ashamed. It is important that they are supported and encouraged to seek help from someone with experience of mental health issues.
There are many ways in which they can be treated and if you are looking for mental health training courses Plymouth, several training providers such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/plymouth can help you.
What causes hoarding disorder?
There are several reasons why someone may hoard and often it is a symptom of a different condition such as mobility issues, dementia or learning disabilities. However, there are several mental health problems which are associated with hoarding disorder, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), severe depression and psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia.
It can also occur due to self-neglect, with sufferers more likely to live alone and be unmarried, have a family history of hoarding or have grown up in a disordered home and never been shown how to sort items.
