What Is Hoarding Disorder?
Have you ever watched a TV show about someone who can’t stop collecting things, even trash, until their house is so full they can hardly move?
That’s a mental health condition called hoarding disorder. People with this disorder have a hard time getting rid of things because they feel they need to save them.
Over time, the amount of clutter can cause stress and harm their quality of life.
Understanding Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is more than just being a bit messy or liking to collect things. It’s when the desire to keep stuff turns into an irresistible need, even for items that others might see as junk.
This might seem strange, but for someone with hoarding disorder, throwing things away can cause intense distress.
This condition can lead to serious problems. For example, the clutter can make it hard to use parts of the home, like the kitchen or bathroom.
It can also cause problems with family members or landlords, and sometimes it can even be dangerous, like if it blocks exits in case of a fire.
Hoarding disorder can affect anyone, but it’s more common in older adults. People with this disorder often have other mental health conditions too, like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Research on Treating Hoarding Disorder
So, how can hoarding disorder be treated? The good news is that scientists have found several ways that can help. They’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t through studies and research.
One of the best ways to treat hoarding disorder is through a type of talking therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
In this treatment, a therapist helps the person understand why they feel the need to hoard, and they work together to change this behavior.
CBT can be very effective. In a large study published in 2014, researchers found that nearly 70% of people who had CBT for hoarding disorder improved a lot.
They reported having less desire to save things and found it easier to throw stuff away.
Tips from the Experts: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
In CBT, the therapist will often visit the person’s home to see the problem first-hand. They will then set small goals, like clearing out a small area of the house.
They will help the person sort items into categories, like things to keep, things to throw away, and things to donate. They’ll also teach skills like how to organize and make decisions, which can make it easier to manage the clutter.
An important part of CBT is learning to cope with the distress that comes from throwing things away.
The therapist might ask the person to practice getting rid of small things and then slowly work up to larger items. This helps the person get used to the idea of letting go of possessions.
The Role of Medication
Medication can also sometimes help treat hoarding disorder, although it’s usually not as effective as CBT. Some antidepressants, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), might help.
SSRIs are often used to treat depression and OCD, and they can also reduce the urge to hoard in some people.
However, a large study published in 2016 found that CBT was more effective than medication for hoarding disorder.
People who had CBT improved more than those who took medication, and they were less likely to still have hoarding problems six months later.
The Takeaway: There’s Hope for Hoarding
Living with hoarding disorder can be tough, not just for the person with the condition but also for their loved ones. But there’s hope.
Research shows that with the right treatment, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, people with hoarding disorder can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
It’s not always an easy journey, but with support and understanding, it’s definitely possible.
If you care about mental health, please read studies that a walk in the woods may reduce anxiety and depression, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
