What Sort of Things Are Typically Hoarded in Hoarding Disorder?

Hoarding Disorder is a mental health condition which involves a person hoarding items to the extent where they can get into a dangerous situation.

In terms of mental health, Hoarding Disorder is a condition that is classed as an Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder.

Hoarding itself refers to the practice of accumulating certain goods, items, or resources. It is intended for times when a war or a natural disaster is deemed imminent.

However, hoarding can become an everyday problem, when someone holds on and hoards items. In this article, we look at the items typically hoarded.

What is Hoarding Disorder?

Hoarding Disorder: This is a condition that is closely related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is characterised by an individual struggling to discard possessions, often causing them to excessively hoard items. This often leads to an unhealthy living environment, and often becomes a fire hazard. It also commonly affects an individual’s social life.

Typical items that are hoarded:

Those with Hoarding Disorder will typically hold onto a large number of items that many people would consider to be useless, or perhaps even pointless.

The reasons behind this can be complex. But the items may hold emotional or symbolic meaning to the individual.

Typical items include:

• Old newspapers, magazines, or catalogues
• Carboard boxes
• Plastic bags
• Scraps of paper or card that could be used for making crafts one day
• Receipts
• Containers
• Envelopes
• Promotional products
• Old clothes
• Car parts
• Broken tools
• Extra chairs
• Broken items
• Trash
• Junk mail
• Expired food
• Expired medications

It should be noted too that hoarding can extend to electronic hoarding – such as holding onto masses of worthless emails.

While hoarding may seem like a trivial matter or a ‘quirk’ that some people have, it can cause issues in the long-term – even to the extent where a dangerous situation can occur.

Items that are hoarded can accumulate to the extent where sleeping, preparing food, bathing/showering, or even moving around, can be difficult.

Mobility issues can run the risk of falls. Additionally, hoarding also frequently becomes a fire risk. Therefore, there are a range of problems associated with Hoarding Disorder.

Seeking treatment

It is important for anyone with Hoarding Disorder to seek help. Problems can worsen and create a dangerous situation.

Talking therapy is used to treat Hoarding Disorder – and can help a person to let go of their hoard and change their behaviour.

If there are underlying reasons behind their hoarding, such as childhood trauma, these can also be explored in therapy.

There are many types of talking therapy that can help. For more information on this, you can see our dedicated Therapy section.

Medication can also be used, but talking therapy is preferred. However, if medication is prescribed, then antidepressants are generally prescribed.

Summary

As seen above, there is no shortage of items that can be hoarded. When it becomes problematic, it can extend to a person developing Hoarding Disorder.

Seeking treatment is important and can result in improved overall wellbeing and a healthier living environment.

See Also

• Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Section
• Hoarding Disorder: Information, Symptoms, Treatment and More
• What Are The Complications of Hoarding Disorder?
• Is it Clutter or Hoarding? What are the Key Differences?