Hoarding as you may already know is when a person has a hard time letting go of items they have. Unlike collecting, hoarding often has no central theme (stamps, vases, etc) and often includes waste items and objects of no value. Also unlike collecting, hoarded items are often stacked or stored poorly, damaging both the item and the homeowner. In many extreme cases, hoarding can make it very difficult to navigate parts of the home and can even block off entire rooms.
The risks associated with hoarding are many. There is the health and safety risk of stacked objects falling down and hurting or trapping the hoarder. Hoarding also makes cleaning and hygiene difficult, as a result mold and pest infestations are very common in hoarder homes. There is often a strong sense of shame with hoarders, meaning they are unlikely to call in Pest Control Experts (https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/california/chico/) and other services to help them even though they clearly need it.
The hoarder’s journey can be a long one from start to finish – it takes years for a house to fill up: it doesn’t simply take a weekend clear-out to solve the issue. People may need a long time to sort through what they have and begin the process of throwing things away, and when they are ready that is when they can hire some cheap skip bins sydney, or other locations, have to offer. For several years I have run two hoarding support groups. The meetings are held monthly and many people have been attending since the beginning. Those who come tell us that it helps to reduce the shame they feel, and makes them feel less alone with their challenges and less overwhelmed.
Without a doubt, support groups are key to helping hoarders accept themselves and move on.
Hoarding is very complex, and its triggers are diverse and usually sit alongside other mental health issues. Trauma, depression, brain injury, PTSD and loss are some of the major contributors. Cognitive behavioural therapy, emotional freedom technique, mindfulness, counselling, brainspotting, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and compassion-focused therapy are a few of the treatments that can help.
It takes a range of approaches to help people to achieve a mindset where the desire to clear overcomes the need to keep. Motivation and mindset can be key to long-lasting success.