Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding Disorder is a complicated issue with many factors.

We diagnose Hoarding Disorder when a person has difficulty discarding posessions (regardless of value), acquires more items than they can use, and when the exess of items in their living area causes problems with safety and comfort. 

In some people it begins as early as in childhood, whereas for others it gradually becomes worse over a lifetime. It can be brought on by grief or other trauma. It can cause people to isolate themselves from their family and friends.

It's typical for people with this disorder to not realize they have a problem and to feel reluctance about getting treatment for it. There can be a lot of shame about showing anyone else, even a therapist, a living space that is dirty or cluttered. 

I treat Hoarding Disorder because I see in myself the tendencies that under different circumstances could easily have become it. I understand how having lots of things can feel like a form of safety, and making decisions about what to keep and how to keep it can feel overwhelming and even scary. 

Perfectionism, oddly enough, often goes hand in hand with Hoarding Disorder because wanting things to be "just right" can get in the way of things being fuctional. Treatment involves gently but steadily facing fears, including the fear of making mistakes, and learning new skills and habits that help you live a fuller and more functional life.