What are the stages of hoarding?

The 5 Stages of Hoarding: What are They?
  • Clutter, but no concern. ...
  • Deteriorating hygiene, possible hoarder. ...
  • Extreme disorganization, likely disorder. ...
  • Excessive clutter & behavior, contact professionals. ...
  • Severe unsanitary conditions, hoarding diagnosis.


What are the first signs of hoarding?

Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.

What is level 3 hoarding?

Hoarding Level Three: One bedroom or bathroom is unusable, Excessive dust, heavily soiled food preparation areas, strong odors throughout the home, excessive amount of pets, and visible clutter outdoors.


What does a Level 1 hoard look like?

Level 1: The Least Severe Level with Few Indicators

The individual that is a level 1 hoarder finds throwing items away difficult and does an unreasonable amount of shopping for items that are not needed. A level 1 situation may appear as follows: Light clutter. No noticeable odors.

What are three signs of compulsive hoarding?

What are the symptoms of hoarding disorder?
  • Inability to get rid of possessions.
  • Experiencing extreme stress when attempting to throw out items.
  • Anxiety about needing items in the future.
  • Uncertainty about where to put things.
  • Distrust of other people touching possessions.
  • Living in unusable spaces due to clutter.


The Complex Bond Between Hoarders and Their Stuff



What does hoarding say about a person?

Difficult feelings. Hoarding can be related to difficult experiences and painful feelings. You may find these hard to express, face or resolve. Some people say hoarding helps them cope with other mental health problems, or distracts them from feeling very anxious, upset or afraid.

What mental illness do hoarders have?

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

How do you break a hoarding cycle?

12 Tips to Overcome Hoarding
  1. Not being able to think of a use for an object doesn't mean you need to keep it. ...
  2. More is not necessarily better. ...
  3. Categorize items into piles. ...
  4. Don't overthink. ...
  5. Learn to get past some of the imperfections—it's okay to make mistakes. ...
  6. Follow the "OHIO" rule: Only handle it once. ...
  7. Be brave.


What personality type is a hoard?

Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression.

What does the Bible say about hoarding?

Ecclesiastes 5:13 tells us wealth hoarded does so to the harm of the owner; Isaiah 23:18 tells us that those who don't hoard their wealth, their profits will go toward abundant food and fine clothes; and James 5:3 tells us if you hoarded wealth in the last days your gold or silver will be corroded and eat your flesh ...

Why can't hoarders throw anything away?

They're under-stimulated when confronting the vast amounts of junk and clutter that fill their homes. But when faced with a decision that matters to them, these brain regions go into overdrive, overwhelming them to the point where they can't make a choice at all. "They avoid it because it's too painful," Tolin said.


What is the biggest risk factor for hoarding?

People may begin to hoard when they are dealing with the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce, being evicted or losing one's possessions in a fire or flood. Other risk factors include social isolation, withdrawal from society and family, and being lonely and wanting to keep personal items around them.

Is hoarding a form of dementia?

As the hoarding increases over time, their living areas become unsafe and the behavior may lead to health risks and financial strain. Hoarding for a person with dementia may be more likely to happen in the early and middle stages of dementia and often stems from trying to have some control in their lives.

What trauma causes hoarding?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

One of the most common causes of hoarding is PTSD, "Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.


Does hoarding get worse with age?

Compulsive hoarding starts in childhood and adolescence. Compulsive hoarding severity increases with age. Compulsive hoarding is a distinct variant of OCD. Compulsive hoarding is often undetected and untreated in older adults.

What is the average age of a hoarder?

Hoarding behaviors can begin as early as the teenage years, although the average age of a person seeking treatment for hoarding is about 50. Hoarders often endure a lifelong struggle with hoarding. They tend to live alone and may have a family member with the problem.

Do hoarders ever recover?

While a hoarding disorder can be difficult to treat, hoarding recovery statistics are promising for people who receive evidence-based hoarding treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown the most success, with 70 percent of patients experiencing positive results.


Is hoarding a symptom of bipolar?

Indeed, hoarding turns out to be is highly prevalent across a broad span of psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder. Compulsive hoarding traditionally has been considered virtually synonymous with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but its reach actually extends far beyond.

Is hoarding hereditary?

Does hoarding disorder run in families? Yes, hoarding disorder is more common among people who have a family member who has hoarding disorder.

What the first step in helping a hoarder?

The first step in helping a hoarder clean their house is to start a conversation. When talking about your plans to help, emphasize the ideas of safety and confidentiality. Discuss how decluttering will make their home safer to live in, and communicate that you're only there for support, not to judge.


How do you get a hoarder to let go?

You can, however, provide a supportive environment that encourages your loved one to seek help and makes recovery possible.
  1. Don't Take Their Possessions. ...
  2. Don't Enable the Behavior. ...
  3. Educate Yourself. ...
  4. Recognize Small Victories. ...
  5. Help Them Sort Their Belongings. ...
  6. Don't Clean Up for Them. ...
  7. Help Your Loved One Find Treatment.


How do you get someone to stop hoarding?

If you are supporting someone who is hoarding, whether they agree or not, you should try to keep these important points in mind:
  1. Use respectful language. ...
  2. Don't focus on a total clean-up. ...
  3. Listen to what they want. ...
  4. Think carefully about gifts. ...
  5. Don't pressure them to let you into their space. ...
  6. Let them know you are there.


What are the two types of hoarding?

Types of Hoarding Disorders
  • Trash hoarding. Trash hoarding can best be described as the hoarding of things that no longer have any use or value. ...
  • Food hoarding. Of all the hoarding behaviors, food hoarders seem to have the best reason for their hoarding. ...
  • Compulsive shopping and hoarding. ...
  • Animal hoarding. ...
  • Sentimental hoarding.


What is the difference between clutter and hoarding?

Clutter: Possessions are disorganized and may accumulate around living areas. Collecting: Possessions are part of a larger set of items. Display does not impede active living areas in home. Hoarding: Possessions become unorganized piles preventing rooms from being used for their intended purpose.

Is hoarding part of anxiety?

Hoarding is an anxiety disorder. A person with this disorder is unable to get rid of things, even things of no value. These could include newspaper clippings, old receipts, containers, even trash. A person diagnosed with this disorder goes to an extreme to save things.