Compulsive Hoarding Disorder

A person with compulsive hoarding disorder finds it very difficult to get rid of their possessions, even if they make a mess. Truth be told, we are all emotionally attached to some things and possessions of material or emotional value and we are proud to neglect them. But what if we keep all the things we have, no matter how important they are, and we might even be afraid of losing them?

Specialists consider this disorder a serious psychological condition, which has its own causes, symptoms, and treatment. This is what we will learn about in this article.

What is Compulsive Hoarding Disorder?

Compulsive hoarding disorder is a mental disorder that leads a person to keep all his belongings. He has a hard time giving it up because he thinks he desperately needs to keep those things.¹ ² Moreover, The person with the disorder usually thinks he is normal and does not notice any problem, which makes it difficult to convince him to undergo treatment.

The overall prevalence of compulsive hoarding disorder is about 2.6%. Rates also increase in people over sixty years of age or who have been diagnosed with other mental disorders.² In addition, the severity of the injury ranges from mild to severe.

Let’s explain the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the disorder.

Symptoms of Compulsive Hoarding Disorder

Symptoms often appear from adolescence to the early years of puberty. Some of the symptoms:

Buying things that we may not need and that we do not have space for, and having great difficulty getting rid of them.
Try to be ideal, avoid, or postpone decisions.
In addition to planning and organization problems.
Feeling sad, having trouble performing tasks, or locking yourself and others and pets in your home.
Accumulation of chaos and struggle with others trying to reduce clutter.
Problems with our romantic relationships, work, and avoidance of social activities.¹

Causes

The exact causes are still unknown. However, genetic characteristics, brain function, and stressful life events are possible causes of the disorder.

The patient keeps items for several reasons, including:

Believing that these things are special or will be of need in the future.
Emotionally attached to these things, reminding them of happy times, people, or their pets.
Feels safe and comfortable when these things are present.¹

Treatment for this disorder

The primary treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is a treatment based on the development of skills and behaviors to train the injured person to cope and deal with various problems that he may face. Doctors may prescribe certain medications, especially when you have anxiety or depression along with compulsive hoarding disorder.²

Any abnormal behavior that controls you without being able to control it, and hinders your daily life, is a psychological problem that is supposed to be solved and cannot be treated as a normal condition. This includes compulsive hoarding disorder that throws you into a vicious circle of attachment to things followed by chaos and malaise.

Therefore, recognizing the psychological problem, identifying it, then dealing with it seriously, resorting to appropriate treatment methods for it, and breaking the spiral of the situation.

Stay well with a more peaceful and organized space at all levels. From the Uplifting Syrian Women team, we wish you comfortable days, less crowding, and greater relief.

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