What is Hoarding?

5/30/2019 (Permalink)

According to The Mayo Clinic, "Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them.  A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of items, regardless of actual value, occurs."  Many people with hoarding disorder do not find their habits to be a problem.  Hoarded items are often things others would throw away or look at as junk or garbage such as old newspapers, junk mail, or packaging.  Hoarding can lead to homes filled with extreme clutter to full capacity from years of accumulation, making living conditions unsanitary and crowded.  Bugs, fleas, rats, and other vermin may be present, at which point an exterminator would need to be called.  At times, hoarding may spread to outside the home as well, to storage facilities, or even the garage or yard.