It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to live with a mental disorder that causes you to hoard. For many people, the idea of collecting things and refusing to let them go seems totally foreign. However, this is a very real challenge for the more than 3 million Americans who suffer from hoarding disorder.
If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, it’s important to get help. In this blog post, we’ll provide a general guide of what hoarding is, its symptoms, and how to treat it. We’ll also discuss the importance of getting help from professionals when necessary.
What Is Hoarding?
Hoarding is a type of mental disorder characterized by the persistent difficulty of discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.
People who hoard often feel a strong emotional attachment to their belongings and experience anxiety at the thought of getting rid of them. This can lead to severe problems in one’s life, including financial difficulties, health hazards, social isolation, and even eviction.
Symptoms Of Hoarding Disorder
- Excessive acquisition of items, even if they are not needed or will never be used.
- Difficulty throwing away items, even if they are no longer useful.
- Cluttered living spaces that make it difficult to use rooms for their intended purpose.
- Severe distress at the thought of discarding items and hoarding cleanup
- Hoarder’s homes are often in disrepair and may be unsanitary
If you or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, it’s essential to seek help. Hoarding can profoundly negatively impact one’s life, so getting treatment is essential.
Treatment For Hoarding Disorder
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This type of therapy helps people to change the way they think about their belongings and learn new ways to deal with anxiety and stress.
Exposure therapy: This therapy involves gradually exposing the person to situations that trigger their hoarding behavior. Through this process, they can learn to manage their anxiety and eventually overcome their disorder.
Medication: In some cases, doctors may prescribe medication to help reduce the symptoms of hoarding disorder.
Get Our Hoarding Cleaning Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, we at USA BioCare are here to help. We understand hoarding can be a very difficult condition to live with, but there is hope for recovery.
With the proper treatment, people with hoarding disorder can learn to manage their symptoms and live happier and healthier lives. In addition, we at USA BioCare have a biohazard waste disposal that allows us to comply with all the protocols to prevent cross-contamination and avoid disease spread.
We’ll take the time to declutter by making our clients feel comfortable during an excellent and discreet hoarding cleaning process. USA BioCare wants to make a livable space again!
