Imagine walking into a friend’s home and finding that you can’t make it far past the front door. Shopping bags, discarded appliances, and piles of unopened mail and old magazines are piled precariously on the floor and every available surface, making it look more like a neglected storage space than a home. You try not to show your dismay, but when she sees your face, it’s clear what you’re thinking.
It might be shocking, but this scenario is a reality for millions of people affected by hoarding disorder. In fact, according to the International OCD Foundation, hoarding affects an estimated 2-6% of the population. But what causes hoarding and what can you do to help?
Understanding the triggers and early signs of this complex disorder can help in recognizing and addressing it before it becomes overwhelming. In this blog, we take a closer look at what causes hoarding and the early signs that your loved one might have a problem.
Understanding Hoarding
Hoarding is the persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. This behavior often results in several issues:
- Accumulation of Possessions: People who hoard tend to acquire and keep a large number of items, including things that most would consider unnecessary or worthless.
- Cluttered Living Spaces: The excessive accumulation leads to cluttered and disorganized living areas, making it hard to find essential items or even access entire rooms in the home.
- Inability to Enjoy Normal Use of the Home: The clutter often takes over key living areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, making it difficult to cook, bathe, or sleep comfortably. This can impact daily routines and overall quality of life.
We want to note that hoarding is distinct from collecting. While collectors typically organize and display their items in a systematic way, hoarders accumulate things in a disorganized manner. This disorganization can reach a point where it becomes challenging to move through their home or apartment. For example, hallways may be blocked by stacks of newspapers, rooms may be filled with bags of clothes, and surfaces covered with miscellaneous items, leaving little to no space for regular activities.
What Causes Hoarding?
To understand what causes hoarding, you need to look at a combination of psychological, biological, and environmental influences. By examining these various factors, you can gain a clearer picture of why hoarding occurs and how it can be managed.
Mental Health Conditions
Mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often linked to hoarding. Individuals with OCD may hoard due to obsessive fears of losing important items or contamination while those with ADHD might struggle with organization and decision-making, leading to hoarding behaviours.
Emotional Attachments
Many hoarders develop strong emotional attachments to their possessions. Items may symbolize memories, relationships, or personal achievements, making it difficult to discard them. This emotional connection can lead to compulsive hoarding, where the fear of losing these sentimental items outweighs the practical need to declutter.
Trauma and Loss
Childhood trauma and loss can play a role in developing hoarding behaviours. Experiences such as the death of a loved one, neglect, or abuse can trigger hoarding as a coping mechanism. These traumatic events can instill a fear of loss, leading a person to accumulate possessions as a form of security.
Family Dynamics
Family history and habits also contribute to hoarding. Growing up in an environment where hoarding behaviours are normalized can influence one’s attitude towards possessions. If parents or close family members were hoarders, children might adopt similar behaviours.
Biological and Genetic Factors
Research suggests that genetics may play a role in hoarding behaviour. Studies have shown that hoarding tendencies can run in families, indicating a possible hereditary component. Investigating what causes hoarding disorder at a genetic level can help in identifying individuals at risk and developing targeted interventions.
Brain Function and Structure
Abnormalities in brain function and structure have been linked to hoarding. Studies have found differences in the brain regions responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation in individuals with hoarding disorder. Imbalances in serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation, may also contribute to hoarding behaviours.
Life Events and Stressors
Stressful life events such as divorce, job loss, or the death of a loved one can trigger hoarding behaviours. These events can create a sense of instability and insecurity, leading a person to hoard items as a way to regain control.
Environmental Deprivation
Early deprivation, such as growing up in poverty, can lead to hoarding as a coping mechanism. Those who have experienced scarcity may develop a tendency to hoard items to prevent future deprivation. This behaviour can persist into adulthood, even when the threat of scarcity is no longer present.
Perfectionism and Decision-Making
Perfectionism and difficulty in decision-making are common traits among hoarders. The fear of making the wrong decision can lead to procrastination and an inability to discard items. Hoarders may believe that they need to keep everything just in case it becomes useful in the future. This perfectionist mindset can exacerbate hoarding behaviours.
Executive Dysfunction
Executive dysfunction, which involves problems with planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks, can contribute to hoarding behaviours. Individuals with executive dysfunction may struggle to sort and discard items, leading to clutter accumulation.
Early Intervention and Treatment
Recognizing the early signs and triggers of hoarding can prevent the disorder from escalating. Early intervention can also reduce the impact on an individual’s quality of life and make it easier for them to maintain a safe and functional home.
Treatment Options
Various treatment options are available for hoarding disorder:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches because it helps individuals change their thought patterns and behaviours related to hoarding. CBT can address the emotional attachments and decision-making difficulties that contribute to hoarding.
- Medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may also be prescribed to manage underlying mental health conditions like OCD and depression. These medications can help reduce the anxiety and compulsive behaviours associated with hoarding.
- Support groups offer a sense of community and encouragement, while professional organizers can help individuals develop strategies to declutter and maintain an organized home.
It’s Never Too Late to Get Help For Hoarding
Recognizing the triggers and early signs of hoarding can help address the disorder before it becomes too severe. Even in advanced cases, treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications can greatly improve the lives of those affected. If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, seeking professional help is a key step toward managing the behavior and maintaining a healthy and safer living space. At WeMove-It.com, we offer compassionate, respectful, and award-winning hoarding cleaning services in Hamilton and Toronto to help declutter and organize homes. For more information, please contact us to schedule a free estimate. We look forward to helping you build a safer and more comfortable future.
