Hoarding Disorder

“My husband and I just moved back to the State after living abroad for over 20 years and with limited availability for return visits. We can hardly get find a place to walk in my parent’s home much less a place to sit. What is going on here?”

 Hoarding disorder is a mental illness that falls in the obsessive-compulsive disorders spectrum. It is characterized by difficulty in parting with or discarding possessions and more commonly seen in individuals who excessively save items and in whom the idea of discarding any item causes extreme mental stress. Hoarders cannot bear to be separated from any of their belongings, which results in excessive clutter to an extent that impairs every-day functioning and may create health and safety risks. They tend to live in situations with rooms that are stacked full of items, hallways may be difficult to pass through due to the amount of clutter. Sinks, tables, and chairs may be unusable. Hoarders may come to the attention of authorities because of health and safety concerns related to their living conditions.