Have a hoarder in the family?

                                                                            

I was listening to a hoarding webinar from the Mental Health Association of San Fransisco, and learned so much! Did you know that hoarding is also known as  "collecting behavior"?

Interesting - but what does this have to do with asthma?

Mental Health Association of San Fransisco lists problems with having too much clutter:

Safety Hazards

 It can be hard to navigate around piles of belongings and can cause tripping and falling. This can be even harder if someone is disabled or elderly.

Health Hazards

Piles of belongings means people won't be able to clean well. That can lead to rotting food (and can also lead to mold growth.) Reduced cleaning can also make allergies and asthma worse. 

Fire Hazards

Clutter can block doors and windows, which could make it dangerous to try to get out of a house. Boxes, papers, etc can quickly go up in flames

Worried that you or someone you love may have a problem? You can assess yourself by looking at the "clutter image rating scale" for your living room, kitchen, and bedroom.  

Like depression and anxiety, hoarding can also be classified as a mental health problem. The International OCD Foundation says:

Compulsive Hoarding includes all 3 of the following:

1. A person collects and keeps a lot of items, even things that appear useless or of little value to most people

2. These items clutter the living spaces and keep the person from using their rooms as they were intended 

 3. These items cause distress or problems in day-to-day activities. 

 The International OCD Foundation has "Clutter Image Rating Scale" for 3 rooms. You can look and see how you or a loved one is doing.

For Living Room:

For Kitchen:

And Bedroom:

 

 So, how what do you do if you or a family member is hoarding?

Can't you just clean out their home for them? The International OCD Foundation says"

" Attempts to “clean out” the homes of people who hoard without treating the underlying problem usually fail. Families and community agencies may spend many hours and thousands of dollars clearing a home only to find that the problem recurs, often within just a few months."

You may want to help, but it's important to do it the right way!

"Hoarders whose homes are cleared without their consent often experience extreme distress and may become further attached to their possessions. This may lead to their refusal of future help."

 So, what to do? 

I learned several things during the webinar. Here are the notes I jotted down on my phone:

• "Inch by inch it's a cinch. Yard by yard, it's hard"
• Don't touch or move something without permission
  
• It's best to go slowly. If you do a mass clean out of someone's home, "collectors" will just fill it up again
• They may not know where everything is, but if they can't find something, they may blame you and say that  you stole it
  
• Notice progress, such as "Hey - you took the recycling out. That's great! How does that make you feel?"

The International OCD Foundation (link is above) has a list of ideas for families and friends. From how to have a conversation with a loved one to ideas of how to help them. 

The American Psychiatric Association also has information on helping someone with hoarding or collective behaviors. 

Life can be hard sometimes and it's okay to ask for help!