Level 1: The Least Severe Level with Few Indicators
Cabinets, closets, storage sheds and bookshelves are filled to the max. The individual that is a level 1 hoarder finds throwing items away difficult and does an unreasonable amount of shopping for items that are not needed.
Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression.
Hoarding level 4 is the second most severe level of hoarding, where multiple rooms are unusable, multiple exits are blocked, there are sewage issues, overpowering odors, large quantities of mold and mildew, and structural damage to the house that is at least 6 months old.
Stressful life events.
Some people develop hoarding disorder after experiencing a stressful life event that they had difficulty coping with, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or losing possessions in a fire.
Results: Hoarding symptoms were associated with greater self-reported emotional empathy, specifically emotional contagion, and less self-reported cognitive empathy.
Hoarding disorder is a mental health problem that a doctor can diagnose. But you might also experience hoarding as part of another mental or physical health problem. If you hoard, you might: Feel the need to get more things, even if you have a lot already.
Hoarding behaviour is a recognised mental health condition that can affect all types of people of any age. Prolonged or extreme hoarding may lead to squalor. Hoarding behaviour and squalid living conditions can affect many aspects of a person's life, including personal safety, child protection and animal welfare.
Hoarders often endure a lifelong struggle with hoarding. They tend to live alone and may have a family member with the problem. It seems likely that serious hoarding problems are present in at least 1in 50 people, but they may be present in as many as 1 in 20.
Offering general support. If you are supporting someone who is hoarding, whether they agree or not, you should try to keep these important points in mind: Use respectful language. Don't refer to their possessions as 'junk' or 'rubbish'.
Medicines are used to treat other conditions such as anxiety and depression that often occur along with hoarding disorder. The medicines most commonly used are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Individuals who have experienced childhood traumas such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment may also develop hoarding as a coping mechanism. They may view their possessions as a source of security and comfort and may have difficulty letting go of them.
The indicators of a Level 2 Hoard include visible clutter, difficulty in cleaning the hoarded home, messy kitchens and bathrooms, blocked exits from the home, excessive accumulation of garbage, formation of pest populations, self-isolation of the hoarder, and presence of pet dander and excrement.
Some people with hoarding disorder recognize that their hoarding-related beliefs and behaviors are problematic, but many don't. In many cases, stressful or traumatic events, such as divorce or the death of a loved one, are associated with the onset of hoarding symptoms.
It's important to note that hoarding disorder is a chronic condition, and it's unlikely that the individual will be completely cured of their hoarding tendencies. However, with proper treatment, individuals with hoarding disorder can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
“People with neat homes tend to have a cleaning schedule and routines so dirt and laundry don't have time to pile up,” says Higgins. “For example, they set a designated day to vacuum or do laundry every Monday so those big tasks don't get skipped.” Sometimes you may need to do something small every day.
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Hoarding often runs in families and can frequently accompany other mental health disorders, like depression, social anxiety, bipolar disorder, and impulse control problems. A majority of people with compulsive hoarding can identify another family member who has the problem. 8.
Hoarding is an anxiety disorder. A person with this disorder is unable to get rid of things, even things of no value. These could include newspaper clippings, old receipts, containers, even trash. A person diagnosed with this disorder goes to an extreme to save things.
If a person tries to move the possessions without the hoarder's consent, the hoarder can become emotionally upset or angry. This can potentially result in the helpful individual's expulsion from the home.
Compulsive hoarding is a progressive and chronic condition that begins early in life. Left untreated, its severity increases with age. Compulsive hoarding should be considered a distinct clinical syndrome, separate from OCD.
People with hoarding disorder have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items. Attempts to part with possessions create considerable distress and lead to decisions to save them.