In its 10th anniversary, National Hoarding Awareness Week took place
in May with a theme focusing on ‘Then and Now’ regarding education and
awareness of the disorder.
The week is a stakeholder awareness campaign across the
political, health and social care communities to raise awareness of the risks
associated with hoarding.
It aims to spread more widely an awareness of hoarding
facts, promote greater understanding and acceptance across those who can
influence change through education, and encourage a stronger tendency for key
influencers to support and promote at key moments.
In conversation with BBC Radio Newcastle, Professor Nick
Neaves gave insight into the possible causes of hoarding and deriving from his
research, he discusses the effects of living with hoarding on individuals and
their friends and family.
The full interview is available online here,
but here are some of the key takeaways.
Hoarding
Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition, associated
with anxiety and depression which can ruin people’s lives.
The definition of hoarding is someone who accumulates too
much stuff and attaches sentimental labels to these objects. This makes it
difficult for them to disregard things they no longer need which results in
clutter affecting their quality of life.
There are also different types of hoarding, including digital
hoarders and animal hoarding.
Hoarder or collector?
Hoarders tend to be different from collectors, collectors accumulate
specific ‘sets of things’ and their motivations are different from people who
hoard who tend to treat possessions as a kind of ‘comfort blanket’.
Collecting also tends to be “finite” and there is a clear end,
whereas the items that people can hoard tend to be unlimited.
Causes
The exact cause of hoarding requires more research, however
people who
hoard have incredibly strong attachment to every item and associate it with
emotion, significance, memory.
In some cases, hoarders transfer their need for security,
certainty and reassurance onto objects where they have lacked to get these
things from other people. In fact some people who hoard come to associate
people with trauma, stress, abuse and uncertainty.
These behaviours that have been there for many years become
ingrained. In many cases hoarders have
experienced some kind of trauma in their past, typically childhood. The loss of
a parent/parents, abuse, lack of certainty over basic needs such as food,
shelter or affection.
There can also be very close links with conditions such as autism,
OCD, anxiety, depression, poor working memory. How they all interact we don’t
yet fully understand.
Effects
Hoarders end up with clutter, most of which will take over their
living quarters and make it difficult for them to lead normal lives. Due to the
stigma surrounding hoarding they may feel ashamed of the way they live and hide
it from friends/family/colleagues by isolating themselves and withdrawing from
others.
People who hoard also may experience depression, anxiety, and
helplessness from feeling overwhelmed and/or not knowing how to improve their
lives or where to get help.
Support available for hoarders
There are many options available for people to get help with their
hoarding disorder. This can be through more “traditional” routes such as going
to their GP and getting a diagnosis. Whilst this may be beneficial to some,
other may prefer accessing help from charities and local organisations.
Some organisation mentioned by Professor Neave include Hoarding UK, Hoarding Disorders UK and Clouds End. These
organisations have resources, support services and people available to talk.
Additional resources:
National Hoarding Awareness Week
What is hoarding? - Mind
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/hoarding-disorder/
Dr Nick Neave is a Professor within the Department
of Psychology. He is Director of the Hoarding Research Group, and Chair of the UK Hoarding Partnership. With his
colleague Claire Murphy-Morgan he runs a support group for people who hoard,
which meets at Bensham Grove Community Centre on the first Monday of the month
from 11am-1pm.
*Image Credit: gettyimages/trekandshoot.
