13 Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Hoarding Disorder

Summary

This transcript explores the complex world of hoarding disorder, a condition that affects up to 5% of the population. Hoarding is characterized by the accumulation of possessions to the point where they impair daily life. It delves into the psychological, genetic, and neurological roots of hoarding, explaining how trauma, ADHD, and perfectionism play a role. The disorder is hard to treat, with cognitive-behavioral therapy being the most effective approach. The transcript offers 13 fascinating facts, shedding light on hoarders' unique perspectives and the emotional challenges they face.

Takeaways

• 🛑 Hoarding disorder involves an overwhelming attachment to possessions, making it difficult for individuals to discard items, even when it affects their ability to live normally.
• 📊 The true prevalence of hoarding is unknown, but studies estimate that between 1.5% to 5% of the population may be affected, translating to millions of people in the U.S.
• 🚫 Hoarding disorder disrupts daily life, making homes unusable and causing severe emotional and physical distress. Many hoarders are isolated due to embarrassment or shame.
• 🔑 Hoarding was once considered a form of OCD, but it became a distinct disorder in 2013, with key differences in the way hoarders experience joy in acquiring and keeping possessions.
• 🧠 Over one-third of hoarders have ADHD, contributing to difficulty in decision-making, prioritizing, and maintaining focus. Everything they own feels equally important.
• 👪 Hoarding can run in families and may be linked to trauma or neglect, but not all hoarders have experienced abuse. Genetics and personal history both play a role in its development.
• 📜 Some hoarders collect items for specific reasons, such as sentimental value, perceived future usefulness, or being stewards of certain objects, even if they have no practical use.
• 📰 Paper hoarding is often related to a desire to preserve information, even if the hoarder doesn’t actually use or read it, believing it may be valuable in the future.
• 🎨 Many hoarders are perfectionists, and their clutter may result from an inability to meet impossibly high standards, causing them to give up entirely rather than risk imperfection.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Hoarding is difficult to treat, with cognitive behavioral therapy being the only effective method, but success depends on the hoarder’s willingness to change and discard items.

Q & A

What is the main difference between hoarding disorder and OCD?

Hoarding disorder involves joy in collecting and keeping possessions, while OCD primarily causes anxiety through obsessions and compulsions. Hoarders often enjoy finding or buying items, which contrasts with the discomfort felt by those with OCD.

What is the estimated prevalence of hoarding disorder in the U.S.?

A 2013 study estimates that hoarding disorder affects at least 1.5% of the U.S. population, or around 4.5 million Americans. However, the International OCD Foundation suggests it could affect up to 5%, or 1 in 20 people.

What are some outward signs of hoarding disorder?

Outward signs of hoarding include a car filled with belongings, a yard filled with junk, or a person carrying multiple shopping bags. These signs can indicate a life overloaded with possessions.

Why do forced purges or storage units not solve hoarding disorder?

Forced purges or storage units provide only temporary relief and can leave the hoarder feeling traumatized or violated. The emotional attachment to items remains, making hoarding difficult to overcome without proper treatment.

How does hoarding disorder affect daily living in a home?

Hoarding can render a home unusable, with items filling spaces meant for daily activities. For example, some hoarders cannot access their refrigerator, bathtub, or toilet due to clutter, leading to an unmanageable living environment.

What are common traits of hoarders in relation to memory?

Many hoarders believe they have poor memory, which leads them to keep items visible as a way to remember them. This results in externalizing their memory through physical possessions instead of relying on their mental memory.

What psychological factors are often linked to hoarding disorder?

Hoarding is often associated with genetics, trauma, or neglect. Many hoarders have a family history of the disorder, and trauma at any point in life, such as abuse or significant loss, can trigger hoarding tendencies.

What role does ADHD play in hoarding disorder?

Over one-third of hoarders also have ADHD. These individuals struggle with decision-making, planning, and prioritizing, which contributes to the accumulation of possessions, as everything seems equally important to them.

What is clutter blindness, and how does it affect hoarders?

Clutter blindness occurs when hoarders no longer recognize the extent of the clutter in their living space. Living amidst the mess causes them to stop noticing it, to the point where they might even forget entire rooms are filled with clutter.

What is the most effective treatment for hoarding disorder?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only proven treatment for hoarding disorder, but it requires the individual to actively want to make changes, such as getting rid of items, which can be extremely distressing for them.