When most people hear about hoarding, they often think of the extreme examples shown on reality TV—homes packed with piles of junk, rooms filled to the ceiling, and narrow paths carved through the clutter.
But hoarding disorder is much more than just living in a messy space. It’s a real mental health condition that can deeply affect a person’s life, emotions, and relationships.
So, what’s really happening behind the scenes when someone struggles with hoarding? To understand it fully, we need to look at what causes it, what it feels like, and how people can find support.
Hoarding disorder is a condition where a person finds it very difficult to throw things away—even items that seem useless or worthless to others. This isn’t the same as being untidy or collecting things like stamps or figurines, where the collection is usually well organized and displayed with care.
Instead, hoarding leads to the build-up of clutter that gets in the way of normal living. Over time, it can take over entire rooms or even homes, making it hard to cook, sleep, or move around freely.
But hoarding isn’t simply a bad habit or laziness. It’s a complex condition with many possible causes. One factor seems to be genetics. Research has shown that hoarding can run in families. A 2014 study found that people with a close family member who hoards may be more likely to develop the condition themselves. It’s not a guarantee, but it does suggest that our genes may play a role.
The way the brain works is another important piece of the puzzle. Studies have found that people with hoarding disorder often have trouble making decisions, especially when they’re asked to throw something away.
Brain scans show that when they try to decide whether to keep or discard an item, certain areas of the brain become more active than usual. These parts of the brain are involved in making choices and controlling emotions, which explains why letting go of things can feel so overwhelming and stressful for people with hoarding disorder.
Life experiences can also shape this behavior. Losing a loved one, going through a traumatic event, or growing up in a home full of clutter may all increase the chance of hoarding. For some people, saving objects becomes a way to feel safe or comforted. The items might represent memories, people, or even a sense of control in an otherwise unpredictable world.
Treating hoarding disorder isn’t just about cleaning up a house. It’s about understanding the deep emotional and psychological reasons behind the behavior. Therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is one of the most common and effective treatments.
This type of therapy helps people change the way they think about their belongings and teaches practical skills for organizing, making decisions, and reducing anxiety.
It’s also important to remember that people with hoarding disorder aren’t choosing to live this way. They are often aware that their behavior is causing problems, but the emotional weight of letting go can be too heavy to carry alone. That’s why professional help is so important.
If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, know that there is support available. Reaching out to a mental health professional can be the first step toward change. Recovery takes time and patience, but with the right help, it is possible to live a healthier, less cluttered life.
Hoarding disorder is not just about the stuff. It’s about the story behind the stuff—and with compassion and care, that story can be rewritten.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
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.
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