Glimpsing into the home of a hoarder, one may find piles of yogurt cartons, newspapers from years past, old rusted electronics and many more seemingly useless items known to most as garbage. However, a hoarder may cherish these items and have similar difficulty discarding them as one would something of intrinsic value. There is often a misconception about hoarders, they are considered as lazy or unable to clean up after themselves. However, hoarders have little control over their hoarding, hoarding may present itself on its own or as a symptom of other disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, anxiety and trauma (“Hoarding the Basics”).
One of the leading causes of hoarding, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [OCD] causes a person to think …show more content…
In order to feel shielded from the world, some may turn to hoarding, accumulating items to help deal with, or avoid their feelings. However, the more they hoard the more isolated they become from the world and their friends. Social isolation may cause them to hoard more, causing a vicious hoarding cycle. This cycle causes a continuation of hoarders ignoring their feelings, causing the piles to keep growing, while their anxiety causes the feeling of inability to discard of items (Jantz).
Many hoarders often have experienced trauma or stress that leads them to hoard as a way of coping (Jantz). For instance, if one loses a loved one, they may hold on to all of their possessions, even those that are insignificant. As not only do they feel that they hold some sort of sentimental value, the hoarder may feel that this item will help jog their memory, and if the item were to be discarded they may begin to forget about the person who had passed (“Hoarding the Basics”).
Although hoarders are often seen as lazy or careless about their possessions, hoarding goes much deeper. Although hoarding may present itself on its own there are other factors that come into play such as OCD, anxiety and trauma. So before judging, look deeper than the
One of the leading causes of hoarding, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [OCD] causes a person to think …show more content…
In order to feel shielded from the world, some may turn to hoarding, accumulating items to help deal with, or avoid their feelings. However, the more they hoard the more isolated they become from the world and their friends. Social isolation may cause them to hoard more, causing a vicious hoarding cycle. This cycle causes a continuation of hoarders ignoring their feelings, causing the piles to keep growing, while their anxiety causes the feeling of inability to discard of items (Jantz).
Many hoarders often have experienced trauma or stress that leads them to hoard as a way of coping (Jantz). For instance, if one loses a loved one, they may hold on to all of their possessions, even those that are insignificant. As not only do they feel that they hold some sort of sentimental value, the hoarder may feel that this item will help jog their memory, and if the item were to be discarded they may begin to forget about the person who had passed (“Hoarding the Basics”).
Although hoarders are often seen as lazy or careless about their possessions, hoarding goes much deeper. Although hoarding may present itself on its own there are other factors that come into play such as OCD, anxiety and trauma. So before judging, look deeper than the