I would like to be able to exerpt with credit your hoarding quiz and article in a live pdf format for use on our resource page on hoarding. The Caregiver Foundation of America provides a unique cleaning service to the families of hoarders. The process requires sensitivity and efficiency and a visual result that helps alleviate the anxiety of clean up. For instance, most paper items (outside of of trash, newspaers, magazines etc.) are boxed and stored floor to ceiling in a modified closet. The closet doors are removed so the hoarder can see that he/she still has ownership of their “things”. This seems to help resolve a lot of the upheaval felt by these individuals. A monthly maintenance program is recommended following an initial restoration cleanng. By doing this, families are able to keep loved ones in their own homes for a much longer period of time.

I have a husband who is a hoarder of several interests: car magazines dating back to the 70’s. Piles of “stuff.” He is also disorganized, which is also a hallmark of ADD. I have approached him about this issue because we have so much stuff in our house that it’s so hard for me to do housekeeping. I have tripped over things. It is a hazard and he just brushes the safety issue off. He has car parts and tools everywhere in the basement/garage. I feel like I’m getting so crowded out. It’s a wonder why I wanted a separate bedroom. LOL. That way I can have my own space that is organized. We don’t any more space for more magazines or car parts and stuff. He’s even put a few car parts in the towel/storage closet! Grrrrrr. It’s annoying because I have to move them to get into the closet.

Gary: It’s fine with us if you excerpt the blog as long as you provide the credit. Sounds like you may have a useful strategy for providing some of what those with Hoarding OCD need.

Donia: Actually, disorganization often goes along with Hoarding OCD so an additional diagnosis of ADD wouldn’t usually need to be made on that basis alone. See if you can get him to read that book we recommended. But I’m guessing he may have little interest in getting help because he may not see that he has a problem.

In my experience, hoarding behavior ultimately leads to homelessness. It is virtually untreatable with the standard programs and services available in most communities. Hoarders will not be able to comply with the requirements of shelters, section 8 housing, etc. A creative specialized treatment protocol is long overdue. As a (non attorney) social security representative, I know that people wth this condition are often approved for disability benefits IF they are willing to disclose the state of their home or the consequences of their behavior. This is one of the hardest subsets of the homeless/mentally ill population to serve.

@Melissa You’re right; hoarding OCD is absolutely the most difficult type and does easily lead to homelessness. The fact that they typically don’t want treatment is a major part of why it’s so difficult. The Compulsive Hoarding & Acquiring Workbook program developed by Steketee and Frost is the best thing out there, but relatively few practitioners know much about it.

I hoard and I want help. So I was surprised to read that a symptom is a lot of hoarders don’t want help. I mean it’s pretty clear when you’ve got junk piled up that something is wrong. I’m getting better, but still it’s an issue and a fear that I’ll slip because I’ve not learned how to manage my living space.

@Anon: Well, it helps that you do know it’s a problem. Unfortunately, as you know, that’s just the first step. Do consider reading that book I hyperlinked in the blog–it’s really helpful. And see a professional for additional help. You can beat this thing, but you want to throw everything you can at it.

My husband’s brother was recently hospitalized with a broken hip and is currently in a rehabilitation facility. He has never married, lives alone. When we went to his home to get some items to take to him, we were appalled at the state of the home. All rooms are filled with paper, trash, even empty peanut cans piled up to the ceiling. He will be using a walker when he is dismissed, but we know he will not be able to havigate around the home, or if he should even go home. Should we just clean out the house? What are first steps to have him evaluated for help? Can we even do that? He doesn’t think he has a problem. He exhibits other OCD behaviors and hands are almost black from excessive washing. We truly don’t know where to start.

Hello Martha, I would start with talking this over with his physician and the discharge planner. Often there is an assessment about safety issues prior to being discharged from rehab. Most rehab hospitals have access to psychological assessment to look at issues such as competency. Start there and good luck.

You mention: “Many people have trouble throwing things away. Actually, to a degree that’s me! But, most of us aren’t considered true hoarders.”

Well, Charles, thats me too! Over the years I have collected too many things of interest and not gotten rid of enough. In the last year I really have come to realize that I have a problem that is bigger or worse than I thought. I want to change, and am getting rid of things, but I feel it takes me too long. I want to get to the point where I can put things in the recycle bin or take to Goodwill EASIER and with less stress. I have a couple of friends who have helped, but do you have any other advice? is there an exceptional podcast or biik or list of good questions to ask oneself when trying to get rid of things (like excess paper information) that for some reason have power over me when deep down I know things have to go? Thanks?

@Steve: Check out the Compulsive Acquiring and Hoarding Workbook by Gail Steketee and Randy Frost. It’s full of outstanding ideas! Also consider therapy if that doesn’t get you far enough. And now I’ll admit my ignorance of social media and ask you what a biik is??

Hello: I think my sister-in-law is a hoarder. She is divorced with 3 children, and while her house isn’t as bad as the video I see, it’s pretty bad. Her bedroom is CONSTANTLY filled with boxes, stashes of clothes, papers, old newspapers, magazines, crap everywhere, and every surface in the house is completely covered (top of the fridge, kitchen window sills, counter tops, desks, etc. She seems to “collect” magazines and toys. Broken toys, out of date toys that her kids would never play with, torn and empty boxes, just stuff that when I look at it I can’t imagine any reason why shew ould have it. You can hardly walk in their basement because of all of the toys, and it breaks my heart to think of the damage being done to these children (especially her 13 year old who has severed ADHD). She is a wonderful, loving and competent teacher, but at home she just sits and sits and sits. Happy, but sits. She’s very social (on the phone and out and about) but definitely their home prevents her and her kids from having a normal social life. What can I do to help? She had a box that their last TV came in (over a year ago) that is on the floor in the TV room in the basement that is completely broken down, ripped, torn, etc., and she won’t throw it away because the kids might want it. Seriously! In a room that you can’t even walk in that would take 20 seconds to throw it in the garbage. Her magazine collection is a bit ridiculous and I sorted them out the other day and gave her the pile of outdated ones to sort through and throw away (I was helping her clean) and she became agitated and refused to do it. This is when I started to think this might be beyond just lazy, overwhelmed or whathaveyou. I suspect she has OCD because she obsesses over weird things (when will the mail come, when will the paper be delivered, why isn’t the mail here, when will my People magazine be here), etc., etc. It’s almost like she reads so she can feel like she has something important to be doing instead of cleaning her house.

It seems to have gotten worse again in the last year, and I think it has to do with anxiety over financial matters as well as the anger of a formerly verbally abusive ex-husband. He has been quite aggressive lately and I think she is shutting down in this regard and hoarding almost makes her feel better, or at the very least, she loses control over it when she is anxious.

Does any of this make sense? WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP HER AND HER CHILDREN? Does confrontation work at all? Do you recommend an intervention of sorts to force her to get help? I don’t think she’s even aware of the connections or sees it as a problem.

Thank you!

@Mary: Check out the Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Workbook by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee. It’s great; maybe, just maybe she’ll be willing to read it. Confrontations rarely work. If there’s an issue of safety concerning the kids or her (fire hazard, highly unsanitary conditions, etc.), you may wish to consider contacting the State Health Department. That would be hard to do, but necessary if safety is in jeopardy. Good luck!

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My wife has hoarding syndrome, I fear for the safety of my family, she doesn’t want help. I have put up with it for many years, now that its effecting us financialy, (I can;t have my home appraised for refi) I’m about to take matters into my own hands. I can’t afford to hire a therpist and make too much for government assistance what could potentially happen if I have a cleaning crew remove everything while she’s not home?

You’re really asking for legal advice here. It’s hard to say what could happen. However, we strongly suggest at least a brief consultation or two with a trained mental health professional who works with OCD. Sometimes community mental health centers, psychiatry departments, and psychology departments have reduced fees available.

Ryan,

From what I have read and seen, if hoarders are not actively involved in the decluttering process, they will almost certainly backfill the home with more clutter, even to the extent of reverting all the way to the previous level. From a practical standpoint, though, this would buy you a window to have a refinance appraisal.

More important, though, is that discarding the clutter in that way will likely have a very traumatic effect on her psychologically. The anxiety associated with facing and evaluating each piece of clutter is huge. Completely losing control of her things will likely make her feel completely violated and traumatized. I agree it would be almost mandatory to have a psychological professional (ideally specializing in hoarding disorders) to help her deal with the emotional issues. There are also professional organizers that specialize in hoarding. Some are good counselors. Unfortunately organizers can cost a fortune also.

If your employers(s) has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you may qualify for a certain number of free therapy sessions (my company says for a qualifying problem.