For the month of April I am participating in the annual A-Z Blogging Challenge. The Challenge was started by author/blogger, Arlee Byrd. http://tossingitout.blogspot.com

Each day of the month (except Sundays) we will post something based on that days correlating letter. Some of us chose a theme and others are winging it. My theme is the A-to-Z’s of Mental Health, Raising Awareness. It is a topic that is very close to my heart. I hope you find the posts interesting and you will comment and share the posts everywhere. To see a list of all of the participants or for more information-click on the badge over there to the right>

Today’s letter is H

Hoarding Disorder

Prior to being defined as a mental disorder in 2013, Hoarding was considered a symptom of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. (OCPD)

Hoarding is the excessive collection of items or animals with the inability to discard them.

The disorder can cause dangerous living conditions due to narrow walkways amid piles of clutter. Most hoarders refuse or are unable to realize the condition is a problem. They are impaired when it comes to emotions, their own as well as those of others. They prefer to have relationships with stuff or animals instead of with people.

The symptoms most often first occur in childhood. Someone with this disorder may also have depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, paranoia, avoidance traits and alcohol or drug addiction.

A study done in 2008 determined a link between hoarding and the lack of insight when it comes to occupational and social functioning. The hoarder is most likely unable to keep employment or friends and will have strained family relationships.

Symptoms of Hoarding Disorder

*Tends to collect junk mail, cooking equipment, catalogues, news papers, magazines and craft supplies.

* Saves clothing that ‘may’ fit one day or ‘may’ come back in style.

* Collects broken things

* Keeps obsolete, unusable items such as old records, tapes, cassettes, tools, machinery and auto parts or supplies.

* Parts of the home cannot be used for the intended use. Beds cannot be slept on because they have stuff piled on them, tables cannot be used for eating because they are covered with mail and or newspapers, out dated food is kept in the cabinets and refrigerator.

In extreme cases the hoarder can collect dozens or even hundreds of animals that they cannot possibly care for. Often dead animals are found under the clutter.

The clutter can become so bad that it causes illness, distress and impairment. The person will no longer allow:

• Visitors and maintenance professionals in the home
• They keep the shades drawn so no one can see inside
• They are at risk of falling, fire, infestation and eviction
• They start to feel depressed and /or anxious all the time

Treatment

Because hoarders tend to have low emotional intelligence, are unable to organize their thinking and do not see their behavior as problematic for themselves the disorder is extremely difficult to treat.

Symptoms can be controlled but not cured with anti-depressants.  Cognitive Behavior Therapy can help the patient discover why they hoard.

Therapy can also help:

*Teach the patient to organize and decide what to discard

* Develop decision making skills

* De-clutter the home using professional organizers

* Learn relaxation skills * Attend family therapy

* Be open to hospitalization if hoarding is dangerous

* Have periodic visits and consultations from professionals to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Addiction Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and or group therapy seems to be helpful for hoarders who are ambivalent towards treatment and those that are at risk of bodily harm.

Only 1/3 of patients will respond to treatment causing mental health professionals to become frustrated with the hoarders lack of effort.

I don’t know about you but I want to de-clutter and scrub my house right now…

I would love to hang out with you here too…

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For more on Hoarding Disorder watch TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive

 *Hoarding photo credit TLC Hoarding Buried Alive*