Are you a hoarder or think you might be?

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The MAYO Clinic defines hoarding disorder (HD) as an ongoing difficulty of throwing away or parting with possessions because you believe that you need to save them. You may experience distress at the thought of getting rid of the items.

Detailed Symptoms

Per DSM-5-TR, here’s a list of symptoms:

  • Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value
  • This difficulty is due to a perceived need to save the items and to distress associated with discarding them
  • The difficulty discarding possessions results in the accumulation of possessions that congest and clutter active living areas and substantially compromises their intended use. If living areas are uncluttered, it is only because of the intervention of third parties (e.g., family members, cleaners, authorities.)
  • The hoarding causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (including maintaining a safe environment for self and others).
  • The hoarding is not attributable to another medical condition (e.g., brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, Prader -Willi syndrome.)
  • The hoarding is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder (e.g., obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder, decreased energy in major depressive disorder, delusions in schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, cognitive deficits in major neurocognitive disorder, restricted interests in autism spectrum disorder)

Impacts of hoarding

  • Reduced social activity because of feeling ashamed 
  • Trouble with relationships if friends or family intervenes
  • Crowded rooms or hallways that become unusable
  • Health or fire safety concerns
  • Decreased concentration at the workplace

Collector or Hoarder?

There are collectors who also accumulate things. The difference between collecting and hoarding is the parting with them. Hoarders have trouble letting go for fear they might need it in the future, are sentimentally attached to it, or feel comforted by their things. Collectors are not impacted by this and can easily discard the collections.

Mindful Reminder

If you find yourself hoarding things, be gentle with yourself. Criticizing or wishing you were different will not aid your recovery. Carefully assess what you are feeling and allow yourself to process the difficult emotions. Seek help from a professional who is able to diagnose and treat you. The earlier you find treatment, the better, as hoarding may go undetected until it’s visibly noticeable to friends and family. Depression or anxiety can accompany it and it has been linked to genetics, brain function and stressful life events as possible causes. (Mayo Clinic 2023) There are support groups, mental health providers, and cleaning companies available to assist you. There is also support for your loved ones. You are not alone and you do not have to be ashamed. Would you feel shame if you broke your leg or would you criticize it? You may think this is different, but it’s not. Hoarding develops over time and it may not be as easily detectable. Asking for guidance is a stepping stone to begin the healing process.

Seeking Help

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National can provide free referrals. They are open 24/7, 365 days a year.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact 988 for help. The calls are free, confidential, and they are open 24/7 to help you navigate difficult emotions. 

Attend a Workshop

If you are interested in attending a live webinar on improving your relationship with your finances, please visit my events.

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