Hoarding has received much more attention in recent years than it ever has. Television shows about hoarding disorder such as Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive are successful and popular. Studies reveal new trends and treatments every few months, as opposed to every few years, in the past.
What is Hoarding?
The definition of compulsive hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. Discarding means that the person can’t seem to give away, throw away, recycle, or sell the things they no longer need, or sometimes, even want. Hoarding is currently thought to be maintained by a pattern of maladaptive beliefs, avoidant and impulsive behavior patterns, and cognitive impairments. It can also be related to compulsive buying, the compulsory acquisition of free items, or the compulsive search for perfect or unique items.
Who is considered a Hoarder?
Hoarding has several risk factors, which include: age, personality, family history, stressful life events, and social isolation. The very earliest signs of hoarding can occur as young as 3 years old. The typical age of onset for hoarding behavior is around age 13. At that time the behavior is usually mild and would not be considered a disorder.It occurs more frequently in men than women, although the onset appears to be earlier for women. People with extremely disorganized thinking may not be able to take proper care of their possessions. It seems likely that serious hoarding problems are present in at least 1 of 50 people, but they may be present in as many as 1 in 20.
Why does Hoarding matter?
Hoarding can have negative economic and social impacts. A hoarder may continue to purchase items even though they are already in debt. It can also lead to awkward social confrontations with family and friends. For hoarders, sorting, deciding, and discarding becomes such an overwhelming and unpleasant experience that they choose to avoid it all together. People who hoard frequently report problems sustaining attention and memory.
How is Hoarding treated?
There are two main types of treatment: psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the primary treatment. This can involve family or group therapy, learning to organize and categorize possessions to help you decide which ones to discard. Medication is an alternative treatment for hoarding disorder. Alone, it does not appear to reduce hoarding behavior, but it may help reduce the symptoms. The medications most commonly used are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Medicine can be used to treat conditions that may make hoarding worse, like depression and anxiety.
