How To Help Someone With Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding is a mental illness that affects more than 10 million people in the United States. Hoarding disorder, as it is called by professionals, can be hard to live with and even harder for family members to live with.
The hoarding causes big problems including over-crowding of homes and apartments, health hazards from piles of clutter, and fire risks from having too much stuff.
Hoarding is a serious problem. In this article, we’ll discuss what a hoarding problem is and what you can do to help.
Educate Yourself About the Problem
The first step in helping someone with a hoarding problem is to educate yourself about the problem.
Learn what hoarding is, what causes it, and how it affects people’s lives. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to help your loved one.
You can find lots of information online or from professionals who work in the field of hoarding disorder.
There are also many books on the subject that can provide you with more detail than you’ll find online, according to Rubbish Works Junk Removal.
Talk to Family Members and Friends
The next step is to talk with family members and friends about what you’re learning. Don’t keep it a secret your loved one hoards. They need help, but everyone around them needs support too.
Talking with others will help you gain perspective on the problem and see if anyone else’s family member or friend may be dealing with this issue as well.
It can also provide you insight into how best to approach the person who hoards when discussing treatment options for their disorder.
Focus on the Safety Aspects of Hoarding
Focus on the safety aspects of hoarding. This means that you need to step in if your loved one is at risk for health and fire hazards due to their hoarding problem.
If they’re living with too much stuff and it’s affecting other members of the household or putting them at risk, then action should be taken quickly.
You don’t want a situation where someone gets hurt because items are blocking access to exits, electricity sources such as outlets and switches, and sprinklers systems (in case there’s a fire).
You can do this by making suggestions about how best to organize things so people can move around comfortably without tripping over piles of clutter or digging through boxes.
Encourage Someone Who Hoards to Seek Help
The most important thing you can do is encourage someone who hoards to seek help. This means that they need to see a professional who can diagnose and treat the disorder.
There are many ways to get help, but the best way is usually through therapy. therapy helps people understand why they hoard, how to deal with urges to acquire things, and how to change their behavior.
It’s not an easy process, but it can be very effective in helping people live happier and healthier lives.
Don’t Be Judgemental
Don’t be judgemental of someone who hoards. Remember that this is a mental disorder and it’s not their fault they have the problem.
Reassure them that you still love them, but stress the need to seek treatment for this condition so other people won’t suffer.
This is because your loved one can’t control his or her behavior around acquiring things he/she doesn’t need and discarding items others may find useful.
Don’t Argue With the Person Who Hoards
It’s important not to argue with the person who hoards. This will only make them defensive and less likely to seek help.
Approach the situation in a calm and understanding manner so they know you’re there to help, not judge.
Be Patient
Being patient is also important. It’s a long process to work with someone who hoards to overcome this disorder, but it can be incredibly rewarding if they’re willing to put in the effort.
If your loved one decides that he/she wants to seek treatment for their hoarding problem, then there are many resources online and offline you can use as guides or go-to people for advice during this time of change.
There are support groups where others going through similar struggles will understand what you’re going through and have useful tips on how best to deal with the situation at hand.
Don’t Touch Their Possessions Without Consent
Don’t touch their possessions without consent. Many people who hoard can become very defensive about the things they own and will get upset if you go through their stuff without permission.
If you find something that appears to be valuable or could help someone else with a hoarding problem (e.g., books on the subject), then it’s best to set those items aside so your loved one doesn’t see them as stolen goods when he/she is ready for treatment.
Don’t Enable Their Behavior
Don’t enable their behavior. This means that you should not give in to their demands for more and more stuff, or do things for them that they’re capable of doing themselves.
This includes cleaning up after them or taking care of the items they’ve acquired. If your loved one knows that he/she can continue to live comfortably without changing his/her ways, then chances are treatment won’t be successful.
Don’t Clean Up After Them
Don’t clean up after them. This will only enable their behavior and make it more difficult for them to seek treatment in the future.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out by the situation, then it’s best to reach out for help from friends, family members, or professionals who can give you guidance on how to deal with this type of problem.
Help Them Manage Their Stress
Stress can be a big trigger for hoarding behavior, so it’s important to help them manage their stress.
If they’re stressed out because of money problems or work concerns, then you should encourage your loved one to seek treatment before these issues get worse and cause more damage than good.
Learn More About Their Hoarding Problem
As you can see, it’s not difficult to help a person deal with their hoarding problem. Following these tips will help you provide the best support for a friend or loved one.
Do you want to learn more about a hoarding disorder? If so, check out more of our helpful articles on the subject.
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