There has been a lot of media attention lately on the condition known as hoarding. We all know someone that we may describe as a “pack rat” and they do not like to throw things away or feel like the items may be necessary later on, hoarding is something different. While a person who, for example, grew up in the depression era may refuse to throw things away because they learned growing up that every little thing may literally be needed later on or could be sold for money, hoarding is an anxiety based condition that will not allow a person to throw away things, and there will not be any logical reason for it. This is the hoarding disorder definition. The problem appears to be very minor but it could take a serious form.
Hoarding is an anxiety-based condition where the person has, “persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value” and will keep doing so despite any risk or consequence, for example, losing touch with friends and family members due to hoarding behavior, or losing property due to the poor condition of their homes and yards. You must look into hoarding disorder causes. Consult with the online counselor if necessary.
The person has an irrational fear of parting with this stuff, and will keep it no matter what it is, even if it is garbage, or obviously unsanitary. It is often related to, or coincides with, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, which was likely how the anxiety disorder originated.
A person who has a hoarding disorder is often easier to see than others, as there is so much physical evidence of their condition.
Hoarding disorder symptoms often include:
• Inability to throw away possessions
• Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items
• Great difficulty categorizing or organizing possessions
• Indecision about what to keep or where to put things
• Distress, such as feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed by possessions
• Suspicion of other people touching items
• Obsessive thoughts and actions: fear of running out of an item or of needing it in the future; checking the trash for accidentally discarded objects
• Functional impairments, including loss of living space, social isolation, family or marital discord, financial difficulties, health hazards
Hoarding is an anxiety based disorder that responds well to treatment. A common issue for people suffering from this disorder is aiding them to see that they need help, and to seek it. Most anxiety-based disorders are treatable, it’s just hard to start the process, as the thing that reduces the anxiety is the hoarding, which is the problem. It may then spiral out of control as the more hoarding eases the anxiety, the more the anxiety is dependent on the hoarding behavior, and the person dependent on it as well. Please consult with the experts to learn more about hoarding disorder symptoms.
Hoarding can be a sad and dangerous condition. It can break up families, ruin homes and property, and in extreme cases put lives at risk. Help is available and out there. Taking the first step may be the hardest, which is reaching out for help, but with that call comes help and hope. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and therapists are all qualified to treat someone with anxiety disorders, such as hoarding.
