How Do I Know if I have a Hoarding Addiction?

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If you suspect that you may have a problem with hoarding and you need to know what your options might be, you’re in the right place. By providing answers to your hoarding 
questions, we hope you’ll  see that we can be a powerful resource when you are looking for hoarding help in Los Angeles or Orange Counties. 

First Things First: What is Hoarding Disorder?

The basic definition of hoarding is having difficulty parting with your possessions, no matter what their actual value is. 

To set hoarders apart from those who simply have lots of clutter, hoarders have large quantities of what they're keeping and usually collect items that others wouldn’t, such as food, newspapers, plastic bags, unused items, etc.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a hoarding disorder, you may notice some of the following symptoms: 
  • Inability to throw anything away
  • Difficulty organizing or sorting belongings
  • Nervousness or anxiety when someone else touches your items
  • Obsessiveness in the form of fear of running out of something or needing an item in the future, going through trash looking for something lost, etc. 
Remember this is not an exhaustive list of hoarding symptoms, and you may experience some or all of these symptoms, plus more. 

What Causes Severe Hoarding?

Unlike what some people may think, hoarding is not caused by laziness, and it is not the same as just being messy. Hoarding is a disorder or an addiction. Sometimes, it is triggered by trauma and other times the trigger can be due to psychological problems such as depression, loss of a loved one, Alzheimer’s or dementia, and post traumatic stress syndrome after a life altering event.

Some people hoard belongings because they feel that the items will be worth some money in 
the future. Some hoard everyday items such as food, clothing, toiletries, etc. because they believe that they will be useful one day or worry about having nothing in the future. 

Sometimes the items are sentimental, and other times they feel the item is so unique they can’t replace it. In addition, some people who hoard may keep things because they simply don’t want to throw them away—maybe they obtained the item for a great price (or free), and it’s just too good of a bargain to toss. 
No matter what the cause of hoarding, there is help available. 
To get hoarding help in Los Angeles, give Michelle and Clutter & Hoarding Pros 
a call at 1-844-NO-CLUTTER or email michelle@hoardingandclutterpros.com. 
We will treat your hoarding situation with a  nonjudgmental, compassionate 
approach that you won’t find elsewhere.