Hoarding disorder is something many people first hear about through reality TV, where extreme cases of clutter and chaos are put on full display. But behind the dramatic footage is a real and serious mental health condition that affects daily life for millions of people.
Hoarding disorder isn’t just about being messy or liking to collect things. It’s a deep struggle with letting go of items, even ones that may seem useless or unimportant to others. People with hoarding disorder often feel strong emotional attachments to their belongings and experience stress or anxiety when asked to get rid of them.
What Exactly Is Hoarding Disorder?
Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition where a person has great difficulty throwing things away, no matter their actual value. This leads to a buildup of items that can clutter living spaces, block walkways, and even become a health or safety risk.
Unlike collecting, which is usually well-organized and focused on specific types of items, hoarding is often disorganized, random, and overwhelming.
People with this disorder often don’t see their behavior as a problem, even when it affects their daily life, relationships, or health. Many experience shame or embarrassment, making it even harder to seek help.
Why Do Some People Develop Hoarding Disorder?
There’s no single cause, but scientists believe it comes from a mix of genetics, brain function, and life experiences. Let’s take a closer look at each.
- Genetics: A Family Link
Hoarding disorder often runs in families. A 2014 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that people with close relatives who hoard are more likely to develop the condition themselves. This suggests a genetic link — something in the genes may make a person more likely to struggle with hoarding.
But having a family member with hoarding disorder doesn’t mean someone will automatically develop it too. It simply means their risk is higher, like having a greater chance of developing allergies or diabetes if others in the family have them.
- The Brain’s Role: Trouble with Decisions
Brain imaging studies have given scientists more clues. When people with hoarding disorder are asked to throw away items, certain areas of the brain become very active — especially those involved in decision-making, emotional control, and fear.
One 2013 study in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry showed that people with hoarding disorder have more trouble deciding what to keep and what to toss. They also have a hard time organizing their things into categories. This brain-based difficulty helps explain why letting go of items can feel so overwhelming and upsetting for them.
- Life Experiences: Trauma and Loss
Hoarding can also be linked to past life experiences. Some people begin hoarding after a major loss, like the death of a loved one, divorce, or even a house fire. Holding onto things can feel like a way to protect themselves or keep memories alive.
For others, hoarding may begin in childhood — especially if they grew up in a home where clutter was common or where items were rarely thrown away.
A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2011 found that people raised in cluttered homes were more likely to develop hoarding behaviors later in life.
Putting the Pieces Together
Hoarding disorder is complex. It’s not just about being untidy or overly sentimental. It’s a mental health issue involving how the brain works, how someone was raised, and what they’ve been through in life.
Imagine trying to solve a puzzle with pieces missing — that’s what it’s like trying to fully understand hoarding. We know that some people are more likely to develop it because of their genes. Others may have brain differences that make decision-making harder. And still others may start hoarding as a way to cope with stress, trauma, or loss.
Getting Help
The good news is that hoarding disorder can be treated. Mental health professionals can help people understand their behavior and learn tools to manage it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one treatment that has helped many people with hoarding disorder. Support from friends and family also makes a big difference.
If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, know that help is available — and it’s okay to reach out. Like many mental health conditions, hoarding disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. With the right support, people can begin to let go of what’s holding them back and start making space for a healthier life.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
