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COMPULSIVE HOARDING
It is believed that compulsive hoarding affects up to two million
people in the United States alone. It is considered a type of
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is often found in patients
with other diseases, including dementia, mental retardation,
Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and anorexia. Compulsive hoarding involves
an individual�s uncontrollable need to acquire an excessive number
of objects that may seem useless or of no value. This includes
compulsive shopping, extreme collecting, or acquisition of free things
like free newspapers, magnets, pens, and/or junk mail.
The behavior of acquiring and saving objects is also called
"pathological collecting". It is not uncommon for people who hoard to
completely fill their homes with clutter so that the living space is
unusable. Two types of saving are seen with those who are compulsive
hoarders. One type is instrumental saving. Hoarders of this type
believe that their possessions fulfill a specific desire or purpose.
They believe that their hoarding is sensible and beneficial. For
instance, these types of hoarders might believe that the items they
are hoarding are valuable and will be sold for profit in the future.
The reality is that the items they collect are never actually sold.
The other type of hoarder is one who is a sentimental saver. They
believe that their possessions represent extensions of the self.
Regardless of the type of saver, certain compulsions lie in most
hoarders. Hoarding is an obsession that develops due to certain
excessive concerns like that certain objects cannot be discarded
because they might be needed later. Another trait of hoarders involves
severe indecisiveness over which items should be kept versus which
ones should be discarded. The individual cannot make up their mind, so
the decision is avoided and nothing is thrown out.
One of the most challenging aspects of compulsive hoarding is that
oftentimes hoarders do not recognize that they are impaired, living in
hazardous conditions, and that their obsessions are out of control. In
most cases, professional help is sought by a concerned family member,
a frustrated landlord, or the Board of Health. The most effective way
to treat compulsive hoarding syndrome is medication and/or
cognitive-behavior therapy. Compared to other individuals with other
forms of OCD, compulsive hoarders tend to experience more anxiety and
depression and greater social dysfunction.
It can be difficult for family members to deal with a compulsive
hoarder. If you have a compulsive hoarder in your family, the best
thing to do is to be understanding. Family members should help the
person recognize that their actions are inconsistent with their
greater goals or values. Ask the person valuable questions like
"What's really important to you in life?" or "How would you like your
life to be five years from now?" Do not argue, threaten, or blame the
person you are trying to help. Allow them to build trust in you. After
several conversations you might begin to notice that the person is
more open to admitting that there is a problem, and you might be on
your way to getting the individual professional help to change their
compulsive hoarding disorders.
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