Hoarding Disorders: Importance of Keeping A Clutter-Free Home

People who find it difficult to part with or throw away things, believing that they need to save them, may suffer from a condition known as hoarding disorder. They keep many items, whether valuable or trash, inside their homes until their living spaces become cramped, disorganised, and unlivable.

According to UNSW Sydney, hoarding affects 2.5% of the working age group and 7% of older people. This is about 715,000 Australians in 2023. UNSW also described hoarding as a serious but unrecognised condition that may worsen with age.

Hoarding can be mild, seemingly unaffecting a person’s daily life. But in some cases, this behaviour can be severe, seriously impacting a person’s health and safety.

Also, in many cases, hoarders don’t see their behaviour as a problem. Thus, it can be challenging to help them overcome hoarding issues and improve their living conditions. When this happens, a healthcare professional and an expert junk removal company can help.

Hoarding vs. Collecting

Sometimes hoarding may be mistaken for collecting but the two are very much different. Collecting involves gathering specific items such as stamps, artwork, comic books, bags or anything of monetary value, and keeping or arranging them in an organised manner. This activity does not negatively affect one’s life. In fact, it contributes to relaxation, stress reduction, and social interaction.

On the other hand, hoarding does not involve any organisation or preservation. People hoard all kinds of items usually with little to no value such as broken plates, pieces of paper, etc. Because of accumulating clutter, hoarding behaviour can negatively impact a person’s life.

Hoarding is An Anxiety Disorder

Hoarding is considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder but with distinct behaviours. People with this condition may or may not have mental health issues. If you suspect you or any family member have hoarding disorders, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor or consult a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Early Signs of Hoarding

According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding disorder mostly appears during a person’s teenage or early adult years. The urge to gather and save stuff continues as you become older, overtime, clutter is everywhere: in your home, garage, vehicle and yard.

It may be difficult to spot the early signs of hoarding but there are classic symptoms like:

• Keeping items that you don’t need now even if you don’t have space for them
• Feeling emotionally attached to things that seem unique, or stuff that remind you of something or someone
• Having difficulty throwing out things no matter what their value may be
• Feeling upset when you need to throw things away, especially when others suggest it
• Sensing safety and comfort in the middle of clutter
• Experiencing issues with organising and planning
• Avoiding decisions to clear clutter or organise

As clutter builds and you continue to avoid help, hoarding behaviour becomes too much to handle. This results in:

• Piles of clutter or stacks of things that can occupy rooms and spaces
• Uninhabitable rooms, tight walking spaces and distressing living conditions
• Build-up of trash, rotting food and unsanitary conditions indoors and outdoors

Hoarding disorders can also lead to serious conflicts within families and relationships. Family members may try to offer their help but you refuse despite your worsening condition. You may also avoid social connections because of hoarding which can lead to employment problems. 

Causes of Hoarding Behaviour

It is still unclear what started hoarding, but some people are more at risk of developing this issue than others. Hoarding starts early but is more common in older people. You are more at risk when you have the following:

• Experienced stressful life events such as the death of a family member or loved one, loss of a job, marriage failure, or losing things in a fire or disaster
• Have a family history of hoarding disorder
• Exhibit behaviours such as poor decision-making, organising and problem-solving
• Issues with cognitive functioning include procrastination, perfectionism, distractibility, and disorganisation.

Some experts also believe that hoarding can be due to childhood experiences. Those who have lost things or have not owned possessions due to poverty or financial worries are more likely to hoard than others. Those who had no one to care for them when they were little are also more likely to develop this behaviour.

Health Disorders as a Result of Hoarding

A cluttered home and failing social interactions are just the tip of the iceberg. Hoarding disorders can lead to serious health conditions such as the following:

• Injuries due to falling and shifting items - Piles of trash can shift and fall, causing cuts, bruises, and fractures.
• Fall risks—Clutter occupies rooms, hallways, and stairs, so you may trip and fall, causing serious injuries.
• Fire hazards—Clutter can become a fire hazard, especially during dry weather, when it can easily combust and burn. Also, clutter can prevent you and other family members from escaping a house fire. 
• Health risks due to poor sanitation or lack of hygiene - Rotting food and messy food containers attract pests such as rats and insects, which can cause health issues. A cluttered room has poor ventilation, which can affect indoor air quality, leading to various respiratory conditions. Meanwhile, old and dirty mattresses can lead to various health issues and may need safe mattress disposal.
• Worsening existing medical conditions - most hoarders are older people who have existing medical issues, including diabetes, heart conditions, allergies, Parkinson’s disease and issues with movement. Hoarding and a cluttered home further aggravate these conditions, making it harder for other people to care for them as well. 

How to Help a Hoarder

Most of the time, people do not get treatment for their hoarding issues but rather due to other conditions such as anxiety, stress or depression. Therefore, the best way to help hoarders is to encourage them to visit a mental health expert.

A professional will conduct mental health exams, including questions about emotional health. They may also talk to family members, partners or spouses or close friends to further understand the hoarder’s behaviour.

There are many ways to help a family member or a loved one with hoarding behaviours.

Talk To Them

It may take many attempts for a person with hoarding disorder to accept conversation about their behaviour, so don’t get discouraged. Remember, pushing them to get rid of their possessions at once or doing it behind their back will only push them away and violate their trust. The first part of the intervention is always a good talk. Here are some tips:

• Use the same language. People who hoard things do not refer to them as clutter or trash but rather as collections. Follow their language to build trust.
• Always focus on their safety
• Offer your help
• Avoid being judgmental, arguing or discouraging
• Never tell them what to throw away

Recognise Your Behaviour

It may seem impossible to control a hoarder’s behaviour but through your own actions, you can contribute to their recovery. Remember these:

• Never enable their behaviour
• Do not clean up after them
• Avoid setting high expectations
• Keep stress levels low

Focus on The Person

Hoarding is just a part of their personality, so don’t make everything about hoarding. Build conversation or bond over other activities and interests to gain their trust.

Highlight their strengths and what they do well. For example, complimenting them on their gardening skills and landscaping talent can motivate them to improve their symptoms and finally seek help.

Australian Support for Hoarders

There are several resources to help manage complex hoarding cases in Australia. Their focus is working and supporting people with hoarding issues and helping them receive mental health services.

• Head to Health - 1800 595 212 (Monday to Friday. 8:30 am to 5 pm) - This is a free phone mental health service. Anyone can call even those without Medicare cards.
• FriendLine - 1800 424 287 (7 days a week) - You can call or chat online with trained volunteers to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress or depression that lead to hoarding.
• Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 - This is a phone service if you need to talk about mental health.
• NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria - 1800 022 222 -  This is a healthcare helpline where you can talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Disability Support for Older Australians and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)—This service provides help to older people, including domestic help, transport, allied health services, home maintenance, and more. CHSP resources are available online.
• Hoarding and Advocacy Support Service (HASS) - This is a government initiative to help manage complex hoarding cases. The Wooden Community Service manages HASS and offers the following services for hoarders.

• Buried in Treasures (BIT) - This is a 16-week programme for those who are ready to start decluttering. The form to join BIT is available here.
• Family as Motivators (FAM) - A 10-week programme for people who support family members in overcoming hoarding behaviours. FAM form is available here.

If you know a person who needs help with hoarding

If your loved one or family member is ready to declutter, All Gone Rubbish Removals can help! 

We are a Sydney rubbish removal service that offers residential and household rubbish removal and deceased estate clearance and rubbish removal services. They offer same-day, quick and easy rubbish removal helping you and your loved one get rid of clutter fast.

All Gone Rubbish Removals offers a professional hoarders clean-up service and a professional clutter removal team to help you get your home and your life back on track. Call All Gone today at 0427 783 277!