Each of us has encountered some family member or friend who finds it extremely difficult to dispose of stuff. Eventually, it piles up, taking the form of clutter, resulting in chaotic living spaces and messy living conditions.
Ironically, many of us will not identify it as a disorder or mental health condition that may require help. We call it ‘hoarding disorder’ when people become too vested to let go despite serving no current purpose or even in the future.
If we delve deep, the reasons that pop out could be multiple building up this disorder. In some cases, the person has never learned organisation skills during childhood or was brought up under chaotic living conditions.
While, largely, the person has some sentimental value attached to the object regardless of having no monetary value or any other usage further. Then, sometimes, a person finds it painful to let go of the stuff of a loved one who passed away or were separated.
Commonly hoarded items include clothes that no longer fit, or are outdated, newspapers, magazines, school books, bills, receipts, obsolete and non-valuable jewellery, broken toys, household stuff, kitchen Tupperware, or used boxes, top the list of hoarded items.
The predominant notion attached is they may need it at some point in their life. As a consequence of which they won't let others touch their stuff or let them discard making the cleaning or refurbishing of that space impossible. The stuff is lying in the way or on the kitchen counters and limiting the spaces that could be otherwise used more efficiently.
In addition, it is essential to understand that hoarding cannot be equated to ‘collecting’ where in the latter case; one has a limited edition of collectibles that are kept in an organised way for referral as and when needed. Whereas, in hoarding, there is no structure, the stuff is accumulating, gulping up the habitable spaces and causing terrible hindrance in the execution of daily tasks; thus, hampering mental functioning.
Psychology experts put hoarding disorder as a subtype of ‘obsessive-compulsive disorder’ (OCD) or a sequel of mental health conditions such as depression or schizophrenia. The concerning part is people with hoarding disorders don’t realise that there is an issue with them and it is interfering with their behavioural health and work performance as well as impacting the lives of others around.
When we look up management strategies, the founding principle is to talk and convince them that it is not normal to store bulk quantities of stuff. It would be much better if they could be persuaded to visit a professional so that the issue can be handled in a proficient way. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a form of talking therapy, is largely used by professionals to deal with the problem.
If we could reach out to the root cause of what is causing the problem, that can assist better in tackling the disorder like it was habitual or is the outcome of some traumatic incident that took place in the recent past.
Likewise, we need to keep a keen eye on our kids if they are developing such habits as usually hoarding pattern stems from teenage and spreads roots at the later age.
Dr Nisma Haris
The writer is general physician and content creator
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