Clutter vs. Compulsion: Are you a Collector or a Hoarder?
When does too much stuff become too much?
Aren’t we all a bit of a pack rat? There’s the book lover, the wine collector, the kids’ craft projects, the photo albums, the sports memorabilia… just insert your ‘thing’ here. And, it’s very common for our homes to get messy and cluttered at times. Who doesn’t have a junk drawer (or 2) and that one room that’s off-limits to guests? Simply collecting or owning a lot of things does not mean someone has a hoarding disorder. So what is the difference between clutter, collecting, and hoarding?
CLUTTER
Items may or may not have a specific theme
Items are not acquired in a planned fashion; acquisition is not excessive
The home has disorganized areas generally located in storage spaces like attics, basements and garages, and may trickle into living spaces, but do not prevent them from being used as intended
Items may cause mild distress, but generally do not have a lasting impact on finances, work or social life
The thought of getting rid of items or not acquiring more does not cause distress
COLLECTING
Items center around a specific theme, e.g. stamps, models, figurines, etc.
Items are acquired through planned searches and are mainly purchased and are limited in number
The items are arranged, stored, and / or displayed in an organized fashion and do not take over living spaces
Items usually have a positive or pleasurable impact
Collecting usually does not cause financial distress, or impairment in work, social life, etc.
HOARDING
Items do not have a specific theme, usually different types of many items
Items are not acquired in a planned fashion; acquisition is often excessive and may be free (e.g. side of the road, giveaways, etc.) and / or purchased
The home is disorganized clutter that takes over living spaces (bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc.) and prevents them from being used as intended
Spending may be excessive, causing financial distress and can cause conflict in social / family relationships, and a withdrawal from society
The state of the home may have a broader impact on health and safety (e.g. sanitation concerns, structural issues, health and well-being of inhabitants)
Efforts to get rid of items and not acquire items causes distress
So how can you tell when the clutter and the collecting goes past normal and becomes a true hoarding disorder?
Hoarding Disorder is associated with three key features:
An ongoing and significant difficulty getting rid of possessions regardless of their value; and a strong urge to save and/or acquire new, often non-essential items (broken, limited value, or never used).
These items clutter the living spaces and keep the person from using the rooms for their intended purpose.
These items cause distress or problems in day-to-day activities including a significant impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning.
People with Hoarding Disorder typically suffer from:
Impaired physical health
Missed work and compromised employment
Financial problems
Housing instability including threat of, or actual eviction
Social isolation
Emotional distress
Family stress
What causes hoarding?
Most of us save certain things we care about, but for someone with a hoarding disorder, difficulty getting rid of things becomes more extreme and can make the home uncomfortable or unsafe. Regardless of what they hoard - anything from clothing to collections, newspapers, magazines and even animals - people hoard because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future.
It is not unusual for people who hoard to also struggle with a combination of mental health issues including: depression or anxiety, OCD, ADHD and / or bipolar disorder. Sometimes hoarding is caused by having a relative with the disorder; or a traumatic life event or a tendency towards perfectionism or other compulsive behaviours.
What are the recommended treatments for hoarding?
While there are resources that offer services to clean up and declutter homes, the underlying mental illnesses that cause the hoarding are often not addressed with these kinds of programs. The symptoms and clutter can actually increase following a service like this if the compulsion to collect and the anxiety to discard, is not addressed. Therefore addressing both the physical space and the mental health of the individual are equally important. A combination of the following treatments are typically used in the treatment of hoarding:
Behavioural therapy to gradually learn how to discard possessions with less distress, and with less desire to hold onto them, along with setting limits on acquiring
Medication, typically antidepressants for the treatment of depression and anxiety
Skills training like organizing and problem solving
So, are you a collector or a hoarder?
This short quiz, adapted from the book Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding will help you to identify whether or not you demonstrate hoarding behaviours. The responses to the questions in this quiz earn a total score ranging from 10-50 points. The higher your total score (closer to 100%), the more likely it is that you may have a hoarding disorder.
Time required: 2 minutes
Please note that this quiz is not intended to be a diagnostic tool.
HOW WE CAN HELP
No matter what form your hoarding takes or how consuming it is, it is important to us that you feel comfortable and comforted within therapy. Our counsellors and psychotherapists are here to guide you and empower you to work through your challenges - allowing you to focus on what really matters - healing. Our ultimate goal at everwell is to provide you with practical strategies and tools you need to navigate and manage your hoarding so that you are moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose and insight.
Please contact us to speak to a therapist about whether counselling for Hoarding Disorder is right for you.
References and Resources
International OCD Foundation Do I Have a Hoarding Disorder?
Psychiatry.org Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Anxiety Canada Hoarding Facts
Anxiety Canada Hoarding Disorder
International OCD Foundation Hoarding Fact Sheet
Anxiety and Depression Association of America Hoarding: The Basics
The Recovery Village The 5 Levels of Hoarding and Guidelines for Recognizing the Disorder