How To Deal With Family Members Who Hoard

If you have family members who hoard, you know that it is not always easy to break them of this lifestyle. Although it won’t be an overnight process, it can be done. Learn more about how you can combat this disorder with a little help from outside sources.

Understand It Is Psychological

There is a psychology behind hoarding. Individuals may hoard because of the trauma they encountered in life, and they feel hoarding possessions is one way they can maintain control of a situation. Depending on how bad the hoarding is, it might be helpful to have a professional involved, so you are not trying to assist or otherwise intervene on your own. They can also provide your family member with tools to use to help their hoarding tendencies from getting out of hand again.

It Takes Time

Go in with the understanding that you might have to tackle the hoarding bit by bit. This can depend on the size of the house, how much has accumulated over time, and if the hoarder lives and acts alone, or if there are other family members who are caught up in it as well. During this time, it can be useful to rent a dumpster and clear items out bit by bit.

Know What The End Game Is

While you might want the hoarder to have a perfectly clean house, that won’t necessarily happen overnight. If they have other places on their property, such as a garage or sheds, you’ll need to go through those, too. Make a plan for bigger items, such as taking old cars to junk yards in MD.

If you are trying to help a family member with hoarding, it’s crucial to understand this is psychological. The whole process takes time, and you should develop a plan for how you want to get everything cleaned up.