What are the causes of hoarding?

When a person accumulates an unusually large number of items and stores them in an unorganised way, the consequence is frequently overwhelming levels of clutter, which is a sign of hoarding. t's possible that the items are worthless or have no value at all. If any of the following conditions are met, hoarding is regarded as a significant issue: 

 

1. The level of clutter makes daily life difficult because the person can't use their kitchen or bathroom or get into areas. 

2. The person's or their family's quality of life is greatly impacted by the clutter; for instance, they become agitated when someone tries to get rid of the clutter, which hurts their relationship. 

 

Because many hoarders do not recognise their behaviour as a problem or are unaware of how it affects their life or the lives of others, hoarding disorders are difficult to treat. Many people are aware that they have a problem, but they are afraid to ask for help because they feel a lot of shame, guilt, or humiliation. 

 

Encouragement of a hoarder to seek treatment is crucial because their inability to discard goods not only causes loneliness and mental health issues but also poses a risk to their health and safety. This is a problem that almost certainly will never be solved if it is not addressed. 

It very well may be an indication of another ailment. For instance, a person who suffers from mobility issues may be physically unable to eliminate the enormous amounts of clutter that they have amassed, while individuals who are experiencing learning difficulties or dementia may be unable to classify and dispose of objects. Extreme depression, schizophrenia, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and other psychotic illnesses are among the mental health issues associated with hoarding. 

 

Hoarding is a condition in some circumstances and is frequently related to self-neglect. These individuals are more apt to remain unmarried, have had a disadvantaged childhood, either due to a lack of material possessions or a strained connection with other family members, have a history of hoarding in my family, have grown up in a chaotic environment and never learnt to organise and prioritise their possessions. 

 

The thoughts, such as "I may need this in the future" or "If I buy this, it will make me happy," are common among hoarders. Others may be dealing with a significant life event, such as the death of a loved one. 

 

The hoarder frequently puts off or avoids making decisions about what can be discarded because attempts to remove items frequently elicit extremely strong emotions that may feel overwhelming. Most of the time, the things that are kept have little or no value and may be regarded as trash. 

 

The individual might keep the items for reasons that aren't immediately obvious to other people, like sentimental reasons or the idea that they are pretty or useful. The majority of people with hoarding disorder have a strong emotional connection to their possessions. 

The fact that a lot of people collect things like books and stamps is not viewed negatively. The way these items are arranged is what separates a "hoard" from a "collection." A collection typically has well-organized items that are easily accessible. A hoard is ordinarily really disordered, occupies a ton of room, and contains an extraordinary number of merchandise. 

 

For instance, someone who keeps a collection of newspaper reviews might cut out the ones they want and arrange them in a scrapbook or catalogue. A person who hoards may accumulate enormous stacks of newspapers, obstructing their entire home and making it impossible for them to read any reviews they had intended to save. 

 

Unsanitary living conditions can result from hoarding, which in turn will attract rodents and other animals. Contact us right away to learn more about our hoarder removal services. how we can help. 

A person who suffers from hoarding tends to: 

 

1. Keep or collect things they intend to reuse or fix, as well as things that have little or no monetary value, like carrier bags and junk mail. 

2. find it challenging to organize or classify goods. 

3. have difficulty making decisions. 

4. refuse to let anyone touch or borrow their possessions, developing an unhealthy obsession with them. 

5. have strained relationships with friends and family. 

 

Hoarding can start as early as adolescence and become more noticeable as an individual gets older. As people get older, hoarding becomes more of a problem, but by this point, the problem is usually well established. One or two people out of everyone hundred are thought to suffer from severe hoarding. 

 

Some people who have a problem with hoarding will accumulate a variety of items, while others will only accumulate certain categories of items. Newspapers, books, clothing, leaflets, letters, unsolicited mail, monetary bills and receipts, a variety of containers like plastic bags and cardboard boxes, and household supplies are among the items that are frequently hoarded. In addition, there are some people who keep animals that they are unable to properly care for in their homes. 

There are many different reasons why hoarding disorders can be problematic. It has the potential to dominate a person's life, making it extremely challenging for them to move around their house. It may have a negative impact on their relationships, personal hygiene, and professional performance.  

 

Hoarders frequently resist or are unable to receive visitors or even permit tradespeople to enter to carry out necessary repairs, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Clutter can be harmful to a person's health as well as the health of those who live in or visit their house. For instance, it may: 

 

If you believe a family member or friend may have a hoarding condition, try to convince them to accompany you to a doctor’s appointment. This may not be straightforward, as someone who hoards may not believe they require assistance. Attempt to be sympathetic to the situation and express your care for their health and well-being. 

 

We can assist with the decluttering of hoarder-occupied homes, which can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. After conducting a brief inspection of the property, our house clearance team can provide a timetable for the house's removal.