Hoarding Disorder

Excessive Collecting and Saving

People with Hoarding Disorder compulsively acquire things that often seem to be of little use to the average person. Patients who hoard have great difficulty discarding these objects. This compulsive acquisition results in major problems to the sufferer due to the massive amount of clutter that physically builds up around them in their home, office, or car. Hoarding can even take over a person's ability to function normally with computer and other media equipment (e.g. ten drives of storage on a home computer).It is common for sufferers to use places like showers, bathtubs, or ovens as extra storage space.

Common things that may be hoarded

• stacks of newspaper
• old magazines
• used food containers
• expired food
• mail
• phone and email messages
• text messages, computer files, digital pictures
• animals

Common difficulties faced by people who hoard

• fear of losing items which may be needed later
• beliefs about the importance of material possessions
• difficulties with decision making and organization
• procrastination and avoidance
• perfectionism

Hoarding Is a Real Disorder

Hoarding Disorder used to be considered a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, but researchers have since recognized it as a separate disorder. Hoarders tend to have fewer intrusive thoughts and fewer urges to perform rituals than OCD sufferers. They are typically content with living with their hoarded possessions until family and friends attempt to intervene. They may only become anxious when faced with the possibility of losing their things.

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