Compulsive hoarding means excessively collecting items that are of little or no value and not being able to throw them away, resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter.
It is considered to be a significant problem when:
- the amount of clutter in the person's home is increasing
- they bring in more things each day and discard very little
- the amount of clutter interferes with everyday living - for example, they are unable to use the kitchen or bathroom and cannot access rooms
People with hoarding difficulties often suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which may or may not be directly connected to their clutter problem. Hoarding is also often associated with anxiety and depression.
Compulsive hoarding is challenging to treat because many people who hoard don't see it as a problem, or have little awareness of their disorder and how it's impacting on their life.
However, it's really important to encourage a hoarder to seek help, as their obsession can not only cause loneliness and mental health problems, but poses a health and safety risk, too. If not tackled, it is a problem that will most likely never go away.
This page explains:
- Why someone may become a hoarder
- Typical profile of a compulsive hoarder
- Why compulsive hoarding is a problem
- What you can do if you suspect someone is a hoarder
- How compulsive hoarding is treated
You can also watch a video in which Diana Wilson talks about how she dealt with her obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the support available.