HOARDING: Are you concerned that you or a loved one may be a hoarder?
Submitted by: Kristine Todd
Up to 5% of the people in the US meet the criteria of being a Hoarder. Over half of those people could struggle with either a panic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Dealing with a Hoarding case can cause sensory overload for the hoarder and anyone walking into the space. Seeing so much visual clutter causes stress. Or your sense of smell is assaulted when you walk in the door with the odors of mold or rotten food.
A Hoarder:
Acquires and fails to throw out items that have little or no value to others.The excessive clutter keeps a hoarder’s home from functioning as a viable living space.
Causes of Hoarding:
Our brain’s frontal lobe is where we weigh options and think rationally. A hoarder’s frontal lobe works differently than others, so a hoarder’s priorities may be different than non-hoarders.
Other causes can include past traumatic events, genetics, borderline personality disorder, and environmental factors.
A hoarder may be afraid of making mistakes, so they don’t make any decisions.
Treatment for Hoarders:
The best treatment for a hoarder is two-fold: Work with a therapist, using cognitive restructuring and exposure to challenge long-held beliefs; and use a Professional Organizer to teach and model organization and sorting skills.
If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one, Contact Kris Todd for more information about Chronic Disorganization.
By: Kristine Todd
KAT Organizing-Relocation Solution Homewood Il 60430
CRTS, A+ ACCREDITED NASMM, NAPO, ICD
www.Katorganizing.com
kris@katorganizing.com
708-516-8418