Hoarding behaviors are sometimes a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There’s also a separate condition called hoarding disorder. Hoarding usually comes along with significant distress. It can affect a person’s physical health and safety, and people who have these behaviors may have difficulties in their relationships.
There are some common misconceptions about hoarding behaviors. Hoarding isn’t a choice. It’s also not quite the same as collecting things or having a messy house. It’s a mental health condition, and there are effective treatments available.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about hoarding OCD, how it’s different from hoarding disorder, and how this condition can affect a person’s mental and physical health.
Understanding hoarding OCD
When hoarding is a symptom of OCD, these behaviors are a response to obsessions or intrusive thoughts. People may have a nagging anxiety about losing things or a scarcity mindset that makes them afraid of losing financial security. Hoarding different things is a compulsion that helps them temporarily feel better. However, in the long run, it only feeds into their anxieties. People who have hoarding OCD may also have other types of OCD symptoms. For instance, they might have distressing thoughts about loved ones getting hurt and perform rituals to keep this from happening.
Hoarding disorder is slightly different in that it usually doesn’t involve repetitive unwanted thoughts. People who have hoarding disorder do have an emotional attachment to their stuff. They’re more likely to see it as truly valuable, while people with OCD may know on some level that many of the things they’re keeping would be considered junk by others.
The following are some examples of hoarding behaviors:
- Saving things that have no monetary value or use
- Feeling sentimental attachment to things that seem like junk to other people
- Accumulating things that don’t fit in one’s home and things that aren’t needed
- Feeling upset at the thought of getting rid of things
- Avoiding decisions
- Problems with planning and organizing
- Piling things up until there’s little space left to get around the house
- Saving trash and creating unsanitary conditions
Impact on mental and physical health
Hoarding things can make for unsafe living conditions and cause further strain on a person’s mental health. The most basic concerns are fire hazards and the risk of tripping and falling. Having too much stuff can make it harder to clean the house and maintain personal hygiene. This can lead to a buildup of dust and allergens and increase the risk of illness or infection. It can also make it harder to get restful sleep.
As a person accumulates too much stuff, they may start to feel more intense distress when getting rid of things. Their living conditions may make them feel depressed and impact their self-esteem. They may feel a lot of shame and withdraw from social connections. Oftentimes, relationships with family members and loved ones are strained.
Supporting someone with hoarding OCD
If you have a loved one with hoarding OCD, you can support them by showing compassion and acceptance. You can communicate that they are loved without accommodating their hoarding behaviors. For instance, don’t give them material things or allow them to keep extra stuff in your space. Taking a harm reduction approach can help you find the right balance. This begins with accepting that they’re not going to change overnight, and keeping a perfectly clean house may not be realistic. At the same time, their health and safety should be top priorities.
You can’t force someone into getting help. You can express your concern for them without passing judgment and encourage them to find treatment. Consider offering your support with finding a therapist or a treatment program. Family counseling may be helpful in addition to individual treatment.
You’re allowed to have your limits for what behavior and conditions you’ll allow in your life. Your personal boundaries can help protect your relationships by ensuring that you’re not taking on extra stress or being mistreated. To enforce your boundaries, calmly point out the behavior in a straightforward and objective way. Explore some ways your loved one might be able to respect your boundaries and see if you can come to an agreement.
Treatment approaches for hoarding OCD
Most people who have hoarding OCD will benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is one of the most effective treatments available for OCD. In ERP, people gradually approach situations that trigger their fears and anxieties, starting with the least stressful. As they gain new experiences, they retrain their brain to be less reactive. They find that their feared consequences may not happen, or they may not be as terrible as they expected.
A comprehensive treatment approach will combine ERP with cognitive restructuring and skill building. The person will work with a licensed clinician to reassess their core beliefs related to hoarding and how it affects their life. They’ll also work on skills for determining what they should keep, what to do with everything else, and how to keep their home clean and organized. They may also need some help with social skills and family therapy sessions to help them rebuild these relationships.
A person’s diagnosis is only one part of the bigger picture of their mental health. At Lightfully, we provide whole-person-centered mental health treatment. Our licensed clinicians combine evidence-based techniques to help with four core life processes: thoughts, feelings, behaviors and relationships. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) helps ensure that each person gets exactly the treatment they need.
Hoarding OCD is not about a lack of willpower or organization. It’s a mental health condition characterized by specific obsessions and compulsions. Recovery is possible with compassionate, evidence-based treatment.
Are you seeking support for a loved one who has hoarding OCD? We can help. Contact us or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team today.
