Hoarding Disorder Explained: Causes, Signs, and How to Help!

SunBro Health

Do you—or someone you know—struggle with extreme clutter, have trouble throwing things away, or feel overwhelmed by the idea of letting go? You might be dealing with a hoarding disorder. In this video, we break down what hoarding is, why it happens, signs to watch for, and how to get help. You’ll also learn the difference between hoarding and collecting, why it’s more than just a mess, and how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can make a real difference. Whether you’re looking for answers, support, or a better understanding of this complex issue, this video is here to help.  References: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/hoarding-disorder/

Transcript

00:00Welcome back Sunbro, we hope you all in great health and great money.

00:04Before we start, please at least subscribe so we can have little money for food and paying bills.

00:09Alright, today we are going to talk about Hoarding Disorder Explained, Causes, Signs,

00:15and How to Help. Hoarding is when you keep too many items in a disorganized way,

00:19creating clutter that gets in the way of everyday life. It's a problem if you can't use rooms

00:23properly or if it causes distress or strains your relationships. 1. Why do people hoard?

00:28It can be linked to mental health issues like depression, OCD, schizophrenia, or dementia.

00:34Sometimes it starts after a traumatic event or from growing up in a cluttered or deprived home.

00:39People often believe they'll need items later or feel emotionally attached,

00:42even if the items aren't useful or valuable. 2. Hoarding vs. Collecting.

00:47Collecting is organized and intentional. Hoarding is chaotic and makes things hard to find or use.

00:52For example, a collector might store newspaper clippings in folders.

00:55Someone who hoards might stack newspapers until they're unreadable.

00:583. Signs you might be hoarding. You may hold onto things with little value, struggle to organize or

01:04make decisions, avoid daily tasks like cooking or cleaning, get upset if others touch your stuff

01:08and feel isolated or have tense relationships. Hoarding often starts in your teens and gets worse

01:14over time. 4. Commonly hoarded items. Books, clothes, junk mail, receipts, containers, household supplies,

01:21even animals or digital files like emails. Some people hoard many types of things, others focus on one

01:27category. 5. Why it's a problem. Hoarding can make your home unsafe and impact your health,

01:32relationships and daily life. It raises risks of fire, falls and pests and can lead to isolation.

01:38It's often tied to deeper mental health issues. 6. How to help someone who's hoarding.

01:43If you're worried about someone, gently suggest they talk to a GP. Reassure them that it's about getting

01:49support, not forcing a clean up. Avoid clearing things without their consent. It usually makes things

01:54worse. 7. Treatment options. The main treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, which helps

02:00change thought patterns and build decision-making skills. A therapist works with you to understand

02:05your attachment to things and support gradual decluttering. SSRIs, antidepressants may also help.

02:118. How CBT works. You'll work on changing how you think and act around your stuff. It involves setting

02:17goals, doing practical tasks and learning that letting go is okay. Over time, you'll build confidence in

02:23organizing and keeping clutter under control.

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