Hoarding
An individual with hoarding disorder has trouble getting rid of or otherwise parting with items, regardless of their value. Anxiety, distress, and guilt may be felt by those who have hoarding disorder concerning their things. Their imagined urge to save items and the extreme distress that comes with throwing things away could contribute to their difficulties in getting rid of things. Some people with hoarding disorder also participate in what is referred to as “excessive acquisition,” meaning they buy something they don’t need, which takes up space in their homes. The issue with getting rid of things causes living spaces to fill up with things and become unusable. Some people may live in reasonably uncluttered homes, but this is only possible because of outside help from relatives, housekeepers, or police enforcement. Some people with hoarding disorder may also have limited awareness of the negative consequences of their behavior. Hoarding disorder symptoms might differ from person to person but often include one or more of the following:
- Perceived desire to keep even purely pointless objects
- Perceived need to buy several objects despite not having enough room or a use for them.
- Strong emotional ties to things, even ones that aren’t exceptionally sentimental
- Significant difficulty deciding what to keep as possessions
- Even after forced cleanings or other comparable measures, family and friend interventions barely make a difference.
- Concern over Clutter in the home, either on the side of the individual or their loved ones. Clutter in the home poses severe health and safety dangers to the individual or others.
- Behaviors related to hoarding negatively impact one’s ability to perform in the workplace, school, social situations, or at home.
We at Connected Care Behavioral Health LLC are experts in treating this acute mental illness. We have the skills and resources required to provide evidence-based care to Hoarding Disorder patients of all ages. We treat hoarding disorder with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). By using ERP, people with hoarding disorder can gradually overcome their anxiety over getting rid of things, clean out their houses, make amends with family members, and alter how they view themselves and their possessions—all while reclaiming their lives from the disease. We also provide motivational interviewing to help those who lack understanding of how their hoarding behaviors affect others feel motivated for treatment. Please call us at 443-219-9236 if you or someone you know could benefit from our specialized hoarding disorder treatment services.