Signs of a Hoarder

Hoarding is an abnormal behavior characterized by collecting excessive amounts of an item or items combined with an inability to get rid of the excess. Hoarding can be a symptom of another mental illness like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are several signs that indicate that a person might be a hoarder.

Environmental Signs

• One of the most obvious signs that a person might be a hoarder is the accumulation of things causing clutter in her home. This clutter becomes severe -- covering all available surfaces -- making it difficult to maneuver through the space. There is usually a narrow path that is used to move through the house. Hoarders are emotionally attached to their things and have an explanation for why each item is important, or might be in the future, and cannot be thrown away. Hoarders differ from people that collect things -- collectors usually keep their items organized and neatly displayed while hoarders are very disorganized.

Items Collected

• Hoarders collect a variety of items. They frequently accumulate clothes, magazines, newspapers and junk mail. Other collected items include garbage, expired food, collectibles, books and storage containers. In severe cases, people hoard feces and animals. Hoarders are often hesitant to show their collections to other people.

Personality Characteristics

• There are certain personality characteristics that most people who hoard have in common. One of the most prominent is extreme possessiveness of things -- they are not willing to let other people touch or borrow their belongings. Hoarders are usually disorganized, have difficulty making decisions and tend to procrastinate. They also isolate themselves, feel ashamed or embarrassed and avoid social interactions.

Treatment

• Many hoarders do not believe that they have a problem, which makes treatment very difficult. For people who do want help, there are two main treatment options: medication and/or psychotherapy. The SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) category of antidepressant medications are most frequently prescribed to reduce hoarding behaviors. Psychotherapy -- cognitive behavioral therapy -- aims to treat the underlying cause of the behavior. Hoarding is often driven by fear of being wasteful or losing important information. In addition, hoarders often feel guilty about getting rid of things. Therapy helps the person change the way they view things, get organized and get rid of the clutter.