Hoarders: Mentally Ill or Poor, Unsanitary Housekeepers?

Hoarding has become a hot topic since the premiere of the TV show, Hoarders, on A&E. There is now a debate on whether hoarding is really a mental illness, a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

When I was a home health nurse, I met many hoarders. One patient's entire living room and hallway contained stacks of newspapers up to the ceiling. Another patient only had use of his kitchen and bedroom out of his three-bedroom farmhouse. Then there was the birdman; he transformed his porch into a screened cage for at least a hundred chirping wrens and other birds.

Definition of Hoarding

To hoard is to collect and store a large amount of items in anticipation of future use. Some people initially consider themselves collectors (attempting to develop a hobby) but eventually they turn into "pack rats". Surprisingly, there are also animal hoarders, one source citing a woman with 600 animals.

According to Trubo (Feb., 2003), "When your junkaholic behaviors involve acquiring and keeping objects that appear to have limited if any value, and they begin to take over your living space, you meet the definition of a hoarder."

The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Debate

"Hoarding, also called compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome, can be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But many people who hoard don't have other OCD-related symptoms, and researchers are working to better understand hoarding as a distinct mental health problem" (Mayo Clinic, 5/2009).

"Many psychologists believe that hoarding is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while others argue that it may be a variant of attention deficit disorder (ADD), which leaves people having difficulty with decision making, procrastination, and staying on task long enough to organize their surroundings" (Trubo).

When I watched the TV show "Hoarders", I was appalled at the amount of trash one woman had throughout her home. The workers removed over 8,000 pounds of debris. There were even a couple of long dead and decomposed flattened cats. On several shows, workers have had to use shovels to scoop up the trash. Her entire house was in disrepair with gaping holes in the ceilings and walls. It appeared, based on the layers of trash, as if she failed to do housework for years. Because of the unsanitary conditions of her bathroom, the first work crew refused to assist with its cleaning. During the show, this woman can be seen taking almost empty trash bags to the curb for pickup!

On another Hoarders show, a man apparently started using his floor in the bathroom as a toilet. Stool and toilet paper was everywhere. This is not hoarding by definition; it is plain laziness, poor housekeeping, and very unsanitary. Instead of discarding trash properly, beer cans and other debris was discovered under his bed.

Who Hoards?

People who hoard have usually lost something, a person, or possessions, in the past. Statistics are not as accurate because of "closet" hoarders but many hoarders are over 50. People who have lived through times of strife, the Depression, even fire and theft; and have lost everything. They tend to hold on to possessions longer.

We have seen TV shows of people who hoard food and other items in bunkers, fearing the end of the world. These are true hoarders. Some of those portrayed on the TV show, Hoarders, are not truly hoarders; many are very poor housekeepers who procrastinate to the point that cleaning up can be very overwhelming. They become so depressed that nothing matters anymore.

My Story

I was raised on the saying "waste not, want not". Therefore, it was difficult to throw things that were still useful, i.e. magazines, away. I recognized myself as a potential hoarder (pack rat) because it runs in the family. I was always afraid of needing an item in the future but I noticed I would never take a second look at the item, even after having it for over 10 years. That is one of the characteristics of a hoarder; they rarely take a second look at the items they so desperately think they will need in the future.

I liked to call myself a collector, hating to throw certain things away for fear the item may become a valuable collectible in the future. I still cringe when I think of my 8mm movie camera and my old projector that someone discarded without my consent. My mother bought it for my 16^th birthday, more than 30 years ago. Unfortunately, I still have a problem with hoarding mail. I say that I want to shred it before discarding but after months, that has yet to happen.

I, also, have the potential to be lazy if I do not force myself to do certain chores. That is what I see when I watch the Hoarders TV show. I see people who may begin as hoarders or pack rats then discover they are also collecting trash then things get to the "point of no return". They eventually become depressed and too embarrassed to allow anyone in the house to perform repairs. Things go downhill from there. Unfortunately, true hoarders are being associated with those who are lazy, and unsanitary.

Is There a Cure?

Trubo states, "The goal of therapy is to help people understand why they save items, teach them organizational and decision-making skills, and help them acquire the fortitude to drive past garage sales and thrift stores"

I have to drive past garage and yard sales with the belief that one man's garbage will become my garbage. I had to stop all magazine and book subscriptions too. I do make use of old newspapers for my seven dogs litter box. In addition, since I have had to move a couple of times during the last 20 years, it was easier to discard some things. People tended to help without asking.

Hoarders hate others to make decisions to throw their belongings away but some did it anyway. The TV show portrayed it well, a family member who take it upon themselves to throw a person's things away. Now, when I clean house, if it is something, even clothing, I have not used, looked at, or picked up in the last 6 months; I try to discard it.

There are those who have some success with anti-depressants, medications used to treat OCD and ADD, but research continues. Before any research for treatment continues, there need to be a distinction between what is and what is not true hoarding. Many hoarders are not as unsanitary as those on A&E's show, Hoarders.

References

Hoarding. Mayo Clinic Staff (2003, May 30). Retrieved 11/30/2009 @ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hoarding/DS00966

Trubo, Richard. When People Hoards. (2003, Feb. 24). Retrieved 11/30/2009 @ http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52017