Full Answer
What is the best treatment for a hoarder?
If you are unable to find help in your area, we can assist you. We have not only a database of hoarding remediation companies, but we can also refer you to counselors, therapists, support groups, etc. We can also answer many questions you 1-800-HOARDERS (800-462-7337) may have. The best advice is to start by calling our 24 hour helpline so that ...
Can CBT help with hoarding disorder?
Nov 09, 2021 · Support groups can help hoarders share their own stories and connect with people who have similar experiences. One good source of information and hoarding resources is the International OCD Foundation, Available from the International OCD Foundation are tools to find therapists and support programs.
Should you clean up after someone with hoarding disorder?
Find Hoarding Treatment Centers in New York, New York County, New York, get help from New York Hoarding Rehab for Hoarding Treatment in New York, get help with Hoarding Disorder in …
What is the hoarding help service?
We offer understanding, trust and hope in a caring, compassionate and discreet environment, while providing the quality of care our clients expect and deserve. From the initial contact, through cleanup and on-going support, our desire is to help our clients live …
Are there people who help hoarders?
Support groups can help hoarders share their own stories and connect with people who have similar experiences. One good source of information and hoarding resources is the International OCD Foundation, Available from the International OCD Foundation are tools to find therapists and support programs.Nov 9, 2021
Can hoarders be rehabilitated?
Although hoarding task forces aren't focused on mental health treatment, there is evidence that psychotherapy is helpful in treating the disorder. So far, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most well-studied intervention for hoarding.Apr 1, 2020
What type of therapy do hoarders need?
Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is the primary treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy used to treat hoarding disorder.Feb 3, 2018
How do professionals get help for hoarders?
Encourage the hoarder to seek professional help. You can help by offering to research therapists, support groups, and treatment programs in your area. Talk to them about the options available—and offer to accompany your loved one on appointments if that will help to keep them on track.
Are hoarders mentally ill?
Hoarding disorder is a mental health disorder in which people save a large number of items whether they have worth or not. Typical hoarded items include newspapers, magazines, paper products, household goods, and clothing. Sometimes people with hoarding disorder collect a large number of animals.Jan 23, 2018
How do you help a hoarder who doesn't want help?
Hoarding Cleanup: How to Help a Hoarder in DenialUse Love – First of all, let them know that you care about them. ... Listen – Don't start an argument or become confrontational. ... Ask Questions – During this conversation, don't tell the hoarder what the problem is with their behavior.More items...
What percentage of hoarders recover?
“Between 60 and 80 percent of people are improved after treatment, with an average decrease in symptoms of about 30 percent.”Apr 11, 2016
Who are the therapists on hoarders?
TherapistsProfessionalCredential(s)Dr. Renae ReinardyPsy.D.Dr. David TolinPh.D., A.B.P.P.Dr. Michael TompkinsPh.D.Dr. Robin ZasioPsy.D. L.C.S.W.4 more rows
What is the root cause of hoarding?
Some people develop hoarding disorder after experiencing a stressful life event that they had difficulty coping with, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, eviction or losing possessions in a fire.Feb 3, 2018
How do you help hoarders let go?
You can, however, provide a supportive environment that encourages your loved one to seek help and makes recovery possible.Don't Take Their Possessions. ... Don't Enable the Behavior. ... Educate Yourself. ... Recognize Small Victories. ... Help Them Sort Their Belongings. ... Don't Clean Up for Them. ... Help Your Loved One Find Treatment.Jun 21, 2014
What is the fastest way to clean a hoarder's house?
6 Easy Steps For Cleaning A Hoarder HouseSTEP 1: Clear out the Trash. ... STEP 2: Clean and sanitize your floors. ... STEP 3: Disinfect everything. ... STEP 4: Scrub down the bathroom. ... STEP 5: Deodorize. ... STEP 6: Don't forget the small stuff.
How do you break a hoarding cycle?
How to Overcome Hoarding: 6 Helpful TipsClean Up Clutter Immediately. ... Declutter for 15 Minutes Each Day. ... Throw Away Anything You Haven't Used in the Past Year. ... Use the OHIO Rule for Mail and Emails. ... Request Help From Friends and Family. ... Seek Treatment.Nov 17, 2021
How to stop someone from hoarding?
To truly stop someone from hoarding that has not sought help, they will need therapy/counselling, oftentimes they may need medication, a cleanup of their residence by a company that specializes in working with hoarders, and good follow up care. If you are unable to find help in your area, we can assist you.
Is hoarding a disorder?
Hoarding is a complex disorder that requires much more than a good house cleaning. One thing that holds true is that unless the individual hoarder is facing eviction or city action, a forced cleanout will not “fix” the issue of hoarding.
What to do when someone is struggling with hoarding?
When someone is struggling with hoarding, the last thing they need or want is to feel judged. You can be supportive and even encourage a person to seek help without being judgmental. As difficult as it can be, remain empathetic.
Why do people avoid friends with hoarding disorder?
People may avoid friends and loved ones because of fear of judgment. Be there as someone who will listen empathetically to help your friend avoid that spiral into isolation.
How to tell if you have a hoarding problem?
Hoarding warning signs can include: 1 Problems giving away or throwing away possessions, regardless of the value 2 Experiencing distress when giving away items or even considering giving them away 3 Feeling safe when surrounded by possessions 4 Living space may be filled or blocked by items to the point that they are unusable.
What is recovery village?
The Recovery Village offers teletherapy treatment for those who are struggling from substance abuse and mental health issues.
What is hoarding disorder?
The American Psychiatric Association recognizes hoarding disorder as a condition where someone saves items that other people may see as having no value. Someone with hoarding disorder will typically have problems getting rid of possessions.
Can you touch someone's hoarding without permission?
Wanting to help someone you care about natural, however, when that person has hoarding disorder, you want to be careful not to cause them distress or worsen the problem. Touching their items without permission or attempting to get rid of anything without consent could upset or damage your relationship with a hoarder.
Why is celebrating victories important?
Celebrating victories, no matter how small, is important to help someone with hoarding disorder. Even the tiniest step in a positive direction is something to be recognized, which will help encourage further and more significant changes.
About Hoarders.com
Hoarding Cleanup is not something any cleaning company can do. Yes, anyone can carry an object out of a home and take it away. But, how many companies are trained in the psychology behind hoarding? Working alongside our customers, Steri-Clean builds trust, shows empathy, and delivers on our promises.
SERVICES WE OFFER
Our mission is to help those afflicted with this disorder and to provide them with the tools and skills needed to live a clutter free life. We offer understanding, trust and hope in a caring, compassionate and discreet environment, while providing the quality of care our clients expect and deserve.
TESTIMONIALS
What a wonderful experience. My dad needed a lot of help cleaning up his house. Steri-Clean to the rescue. Stephanie is such a delight, thank you for being so understanding in the process. Steve and the crew were very patient, efficient and amazingly quick. Thanks so much! You are all amazing.
How to overcome hoarding?
Whatever your struggles, though, there are steps you can take to overcome hoarding symptoms, rid your life of the clutter, and develop new, healthier attitudes to maintain your recovery. The first step is to understand all you can about hoarding disorder and the hold it has over your life.
What is hoarding disorder?
Hoarding disorder is a chronic difficulty with discarding possessions—even those without any monetary value—accompanied by a dysfunctional attachment to often worthless or unusable items. It results in excessive accumulation of belongings, often making for a cramped, unmanageable, or unhealthy living space.
Why is clutter bad for you?
The clutter can lead to an increased risk of falls or tripping.
What are the symptoms of hoarding?
Common symptoms of hoarding disorder include: Having persistent difficulty discarding possessions, even those without any actual use or value, such as old newspapers, clothes, receipts, junk mail, food containers, broken nails, or plastic bags, for example.
How many people have hoarding disorder?
In fact, up to 25 percent of us exhibit some hoarding symptoms, with about two percent of adults actually meeting the diagnostic requirements of hoarding disorder. Hoarding disorder often runs in families and while it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 55, symptoms can surface in early adolescence.
Is it easier to throw away old bills or plastic bags?
We all have some items that we find much harder to discard than others. Old bills or plastic bags, for example, are probably easier to throw away than photographs, greeting cards, or gifts that conjure up lots of memories or emotions.
What percentage of people with hoarding disorder have OCD?
Estimates suggest that up to 20 percent of people with hoarding disorder also suffer with OCD. However, people with OCD tend not to accumulate so many possessions that their homes become unmanageable.
How to help someone with hoarding?
All intentions may come from a good place, but that doesn’t make them right for the person struggling with hoarding. There are some key points to remember to help the intervention process run as smoothly as possible. Being realistic and knowing that there will be struggles along the way can help family members keep their confidence with the intervention and treatment process. With hoarding, knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to do.
What is hoarding intervention?
Hoarding intervention strategies and hoarding intervention tips are based on knowledge of the condition and the experience of those who have overcome or helped others overcome this debilitating mental health disorder.
How to stop hoarding?
Here are some ways to stop enabling a hoarder: 1 Don’t avoid conversations about hoarding just because they are uncomfortable 2 Speak truthfully about the negative effects hoarding has on the person and related family members 3 Stick to agreed-upon decisions concerning clutter clean-up 4 Don’t treat the clutter like it’s a permanent fixture 5 Don’t keep adjusting your routine to accommodate hoarding behavior
Why do people get overwhelmed with organizing?
The tendency to become overwhelmed with organizing is part of the reason some people’s lives become so cluttered. Providing assistance to sort and organize is essential for the person struggling with hoarding. A general list can be made of items that should be discarded and items that can be kept.
How does decluttering work?
The process of decluttering will take much time and effort. Efforts during a hoarding cleanup are most often resisted and pushed away, even when they have been agreed upon. This is why it is important that therapy continues after the initial intervention to help with any personal issues along the way. Often, the decluttering process begins after the treatment process is in progress and the person is ready to take this step. Typical steps of the hoarding cleanup process usually involve the following:
Why do people need storage units?
Having a storage unit to keep and manage valuables helps to free up space in the home. Not intended to become another area for hoarding, having a storage unit allows a person to keep organized valuables that they can’t part with yet. It is a very scary and daunting process for the person facing an intervention, but knowing that they do have a place containing their possessions can be therapeutic. Many storage units can be monitored online to ensure no secret hoarding is taking place. Eventually, as the person moves through their treatment process they will be able to part with more and more items. Storage units should not be used long term, but instead serve as a step toward decluttering the home.
What happens when a hoarder returns?
When the hoarder returns they are not only in shock, but sometimes face severe anxiety and depression.
Why is hoarding important?
While the cause of hoarding is unknown, experts agree it is important for a hoarder to seek professional help as soon as possible after symptoms are identified. Symptoms.
How does hoarding affect you?
It probably affects your ability to be as close to that person as you would like. Maybe you avoid visiting your friend or family member in their home. Perhaps you have difficulty spending time together because the hoarding issue takes up space, like an elephant in a very cluttered room.
What is the difference between hoarders and collectors?
Collectors are usually proud of their items and like to talk about them or show them off. Hoarders, on the other hand, are often embarrassed about the status of their living situation. They also may avoid inviting people into their homes. Though they are different, collecting can become hoarding.
When do people start hoarding?
Very little is known in the psychology community about what causes a person to begin to hoard. Experts say hoarding tendencies often begin as young as puberty, but most people who seek professional treatment for the disorder do not do so until they are 50 or older.
Can't find time to clean?
And it’s not that they can’t find time to clean. They are experiencing an anxiety-related condition; although, there is disagreement in the medical/psychiatric community as to whether hoarding is its own issue, or that compulsive hoarding is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Why is it so hard to clean a room?
Lack of concentration, one of the symptoms of depression, can also can make the actual task of cleaning up your room almost impossible. Even if depression isn’t the cause of the forgetfulness, if you're overwhelmed or have a lot going on in your head, cleaning your room can still be a major challenge.
What is hoarding level 3?
Hoarding Level 3. Residences within hoarding level 3 have visible clutter outside of the home, including items that are usually indoors (such as televisions and furniture). At least two appliances have been broken for six months, and one area of the house has light structural damage.
Cats were the victims in this tragic Hoarders story
Terry, who was featured in Season 6, Episode 8, may have started hoarding after witnessing the death of her father as a child, according to her son, as described on IMDb. But animal lovers should be warned, her hoarding — one of the most disturbing collections on "Hoarders" — turned toward cats instead of possessions.
This doll hoarder was a convicted criminal
Patrick O'Shannahan, or Sir Colonel Dr. Patrick Donovan Flanagan O'Shannahan, as he went by during his Season 3 episode of "Hoarders," turned out to have spent time in prison after he reportedly attempted to sexually assault a young college student, The Ann Arbor News reported.
Police investigated this tragic hoarders home
Season 8, Episode 8 of "Hoarders" featured a couple, Ed and Connie, obsessed with Halloween who filled their home with all kinds of frightening and festive decorations, but it wasn't their home that scared viewers — it was Peggy's, who was also featured in the episode.
This former interior designer lost her home
Sandra Cowart, who appeared in Season 9 of "Hoarders," had a huge mansion consisted of a whopping 31 rooms, and, as noted by the show's description, she had filled the entire space.
Betty went back to hoarding fast
One of the main concerns experts have with massive clean-outs in a short period of time is the idea that the people who are forced to throw everything out quickly will go back to hoarding, according to NPR. That sadly appeared to be what happened when it came to Betty from Season 1, Episode 3.
A father whose family sought to help him died after filming
"Hoarders" Season 11 featured Carol, who surprised viewers and expert organizer Dorothy Breininger with her cold behavior and attitude about husband Dave, who'd previously shared the house with his late first wife.
Jill and the rotting pumpkin
Fans of "Hoarders" will remember that Jill hoarded food far past its expiration date, and her refrigerator got so bad that any food that was put in her fridge became contaminated. The first time we saw Jill, she had, among other messes, a pumpkin rotting in her living room, and The A.V.