{"id":20692,"date":"2023-07-08T08:42:47","date_gmt":"2023-07-08T13:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20692"},"modified":"2023-09-08T09:07:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T14:07:41","slug":"a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoarding disorder is characterized by persistent difficulty getting rid of possessions due to a perceived need to save them. Individuals with hoarding disorder experience considerable distress when trying to part with their possessions, and will often decide to keep them as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, this pattern of behavior can cause significant amounts of clutter to accumulate, which can create safety hazards and disrupt peoples\u2019 ability to use their living spaces. This can prevent them from performing normal day-to-day tasks and put strain on their relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the American Psychiatric Association, the overall <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/patients-families\/hoarding-disorder\/what-is-hoarding-disorder\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prevalence of hoarding disorder is 2.6%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and evidence suggests that it occurs with equal frequency in men and women. The rate of hoarding disorder is higher for people over 60 years old and those with other psychiatric conditions, particularly anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoarding behavior tends to increase in severity with age, and can often become more difficult to manage if it isn\u2019t properly addressed. You can help protect yourself and your loved ones by learning all you can about how to recognize hoarding disorder and how it is treated.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing hoarding disorders\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing hoarding disorder is often the first step toward a successful recovery, but this can be difficult, as not everyone who displays hoarding symptoms will meet the criteria for diagnosis. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the specific symptoms needed to support a hoarding disorder diagnosis include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling a need to save items, and experiencing distress when trying to discard them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An accumulation of clutter in the home that compromises the intended use of active living areas, and an inability to remove clutter without third-party intervention.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other symptoms that may or may not present with hoarding disorder include indecisiveness, procrastination, perfectionism, distractibility, anxiety about running out of certain items and attributing emotion to inanimate objects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike collectors, who target specific types of items in a planned way, people with hoarding disorder select objects impulsively and don\u2019t follow any consistent theme. Additionally, they do not store or display their possessions in an organized fashion, and will often have random piles of assorted clutter throughout their living space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This clutter can create health and safety hazards, and prevent people from using the rooms in their home. As a result, people who have untreated hoarding disorders may struggle with normal daily functions like cooking, bathing and doing laundry. This can lead to serious issues like employment problems and social isolation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many cases, people with hoarding disorders will avoid having any guests in their homes to protect their privacy. This can put additional strain on personal relationships and allow the problem to progress unchecked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some individuals with hoarding disorders will acknowledge that they have a problem, while others may not seem to recognize the issue. Healthcare professionals may try to speak with a patient\u2019s friends or family in order to help with their diagnosis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes hoarding disorder?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More research is likely necessary to identify the underlying biological factors that cause hoarding disorder. However, there are some possible contributing factors to consider, such as genetics and personal history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Existing research has shown that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psychcentral.com\/lib\/the-genetics-of-compulsive-hoarding#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hoarding disorder is more common in people who have first-degree relatives with the condition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as parents or siblings. This is likely due to a combination of genetics and environmental influence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People may also develop hoarding behaviors as an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/signs-you-may-be-using-an-unhelpful-coping-mechanism\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unhelpful coping mechanism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after experiencing stressful or traumatic events, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8312593\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">particularly those that involve loss<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as the death of a loved one or the theft of a prized possession, although the exact relationship between hoarding and these types of events is not completely clear.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the most common co-occurring mental health disorders with hoarding?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While hoarding disorder can occur by itself, individuals with certain mental health conditions are at greater risk of developing hoarding behaviors. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adaa.org\/understanding-anxiety\/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd\/hoarding-basics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most common co-occurring mental health disorders with hoarding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other conditions that may be associated with hoarding include eating disorders, psychosis, dementia and pica (compulsive swallowing of non-food items), though these are not known to co-occur as frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practical strategies for overcoming hoarding disorders<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even with the right professional help, overcoming a hoarding disorder requires a significant amount of dedication and personal effort, which can be a daunting proposition. However, you can make the process more manageable and increase your chances of success by employing the right strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decluttering and organizing techniques<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decluttering your home and getting organized after living with a hoarding disorder can seem impossible, and thinking about the mess in front of you may leave you feeling discouraged. Fortunately, you can make decluttering easier on yourself by breaking the process down into smaller steps and tackling them one at a time. Some helpful techniques for doing this may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Break up the work<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Divide up your decluttering workload by planning separate cleanups for individual rooms or areas of your home. For example, you may dedicate one day to cleaning dirty dishes and removing rotten food from your kitchen, and spend the next day organizing your refrigerator and pantry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prioritize high-impact areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Start by cleaning the areas of your home where you spend the most time, such as your kitchen or bedroom. This will ensure that the work you do makes a more noticeable impact on your daily life, which can help you get motivated to keep cleaning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Divide your possessions into categories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Another way to break the cleaning process down is by sorting the items in your home into different categories based on what you want to do with them. This can be done by designating items as either \u201ckeep,\u201d \u201cdonate,\u201d or \u201cdiscard.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implement a decision-making strategy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Choosing what to do with possessions is often difficult for people with hoarding disorder, but you can make it easier by following a decision-making strategy. This may involve setting criteria for the items in each category, or asking yourself the same series of questions about each item (\u201cIs this a health or safety hazard? Does this have any practical uses?\u201d).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you start with good intentions, sticking with your decluttering goals can be difficult if you try to take on too much at once. Using these strategies to segment your workload can help keep you on-task and lighten the physical and emotional burden of decluttering.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time management: Set realistic goals and timelines for decluttering<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When cleaning your home, it\u2019s important not to push yourself too far in the beginning, as this may be harmful and counterproductive in the long run. To avoid burning yourself out, you should create a timeline that corresponds with your decluttering strategy and needs. Here\u2019s an example of a reasonable decluttering timeline:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 1<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Assess the situation; including the total amount of clutter, any hazards that may be present, and any areas that may take longer to clean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 2<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Gather any supplies you\u2019ll need for cleaning\/decluttering; including cleaning products, protective equipment, and waste bins\/bags.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 3 and 4<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Remove any trash and odor-producing waste from the home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 5<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Take a break.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 6<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Clean out and organize refrigerator and pantry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 7<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Clear any exits blocked by clutter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 8 and 9<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sort out any items that you want to sell or donate<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Day 10<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sort out any items that have legitimate practical uses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Throughout this process, it may be helpful to set different deadlines for different tasks, such as cleaning individual rooms or areas. Additionally, you should allow yourself more time to clean the areas of your home that have more clutter.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you may want to see major results quickly, even small steps represent progress, and working against tight deadlines can make the decluttering process even more stressful. By setting realistic goals and making incremental progress toward your recovery, you can give yourself a compounding sense of accomplishment without becoming overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a supportive living environment<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning your house is only part of overcoming a hoarding disorder. To maximize your chance of long-term success, it\u2019s also critical to make sure that your living space is a supportive environment for your recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One effective way to do this is by establishing an organizational and storage system in your home. This may involve designating particular storage areas or containers for specific items or categories of items to ensure that you always know where to put them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individuals with hoarding disorder often have great difficulty determining what to do with possessions, and may end up keeping them as a result. Establishing a uniform set of protocols for handling items can help you avoid this indecision and the stress it causes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing and maintaining healthy habits<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with modifying your home environment to support recovery, it\u2019s also important to develop and maintain habits that will help you avoid relapse. Establishing a regular cleaning routine is an effective way to do this, as it can help you adjust to the discomfort of sorting through your possessions and ensure that new clutter does not accumulate in your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the possibility of relapse<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even with proper treatment and a supportive living environment, people recovering from hoarding disorders can still experience relapses. While this can seem discouraging, it\u2019s important to recognize that recovery is a gradual process and that relapses are possible, but they can be remedied and even avoided with the right steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most effective ways to prevent relapses is to identify the factors that trigger hoarding behavior and develop healthier ways to cope with the stress of these triggers, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/using-your-senses-to-manage-anxiety\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">using sensory experiences to manage anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rather than acquiring new items.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t already know what your triggers are, it may be helpful to keep a journal of the times when you feel compelled to acquire items, and look for patterns that connect these instances. However, if identifying and\/or managing triggers becomes too difficult, it may be prudent to seek professional care, rather than trying to handle it alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeking professional help<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though it may be uncomfortable at first, seeking professional help is often critical for successful hoarding recovery. Overcoming hoarding disorder can be very difficult, and healthcare professionals who specialize in hoarding can help by providing accurate assessments of your condition and determining the best course of treatment. Healthcare professionals who can assist in hoarding treatment include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Psychologists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/psychologists\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychologists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> specialize in the study of behaviors and mental processes, including the way that people interact with their environment. Psychologists are not medical doctors, and cannot prescribe medication. However, they can use psychotherapy to help you manage the feelings and behaviors associated with hoarding.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Psychiatrists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/psychiatrists\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatrists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are medical doctors who specialize in the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. While they may utilize some of the same techniques as psychologists to treat hoarding, such as psychotherapy, they are also able to prescribe medication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Therapists\/Counselors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/therapist-counselors\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapists and counselors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can diagnose hoarding and help you develop a treatment plan. Like psychologists, therapists and counselors do not have the power to prescribe medication, although they may refer you to a psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While it can be difficult to find a qualified and experienced professional to treat hoarding, asking for a referral from a trusted source such as your primary care physician is often a great place to start. It may also be helpful to research <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/procedure\/hoarding-disorder-5518\"><span>doctors who specialize in hoarding disorder treatment<\/span><\/a><span> in your area.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapeutic approaches and treatment options<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health professionals have several tools at their disposal for treating hoarding disorders. These can involve behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Some of the most commonly recommended treatments for hoarding include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive behavioral therapy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/monitor\/2020\/04\/ce-corner-hoarding\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most well-studied treatment for hoarding disorder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is a type of psychotherapy based on the principle that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all closely connected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using CBT to treat hoarding disorder will likely involve identifying the unhealthy thoughts and beliefs that contribute to hoarding behavior, and using practical strategies to address them. You may also work on developing skills for organization, decision-making and coping with negative feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exposure and response prevention therapy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is a subtype of cognitive behavioral therapy that involves exposing people to their obsessive thoughts without letting them engage in compulsive behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using ERP to treat hoarding may involve removing an item from your home in the presence of a therapist, in order to trigger your compulsion, and then working to manage this compulsion with your therapist instead of acting on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ERP can allow patients with hoarding disorders to practice coping with triggering situations in a safe environment, while developing skills and learning techniques to control their compulsions during these situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication options for managing hoarding symptoms<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, there are no medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of hoarding disorder. However, doctors may prescribe medications used to manage conditions associated with hoarding, such as anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies have found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hoarding.iocdf.org\/professionals\/treatment-of-hoarding-disorder\/treatment-of-hd-medication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs may be beneficial for treating hoarding disorder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though these medicines are more commonly prescribed to patients who have co-occurring conditions like OCD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs can be prescribed for non-OCD hoarding disorder, but your doctor will want to closely monitor their effects, as existing research is so limited. After starting treatment, you and your doctor will look for side effects and\/or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/how-can-i-tell-if-my-antidepressants-are-working\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signs that your antidepressants are working<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and possibly change your medicines if no positive changes are noted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, some research has shown that stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin\u00ae), which is commonly used to treat attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4003908\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can also help reduce hoarding symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, these findings are not conclusive, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/4-people-on-taking-adhd-meds\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">different people may have different experiences when taking ADHD medication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resources for further education and assistance<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether it\u2019s you or someone you care about, managing a hoarding disorder can be a variable process, and it\u2019s important to arm yourself with the right information. Check out these resources to learn more about hoarding and find support from others who have had similar experiences:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/clutterersanonymous.org\/\"><b>Clutterers Anonymous<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: An organization that practices a 12-step program for people who have problems with clutter. On their website, you can find a variety of informational resources, connect with decluttering helplines, and join in-person or virtual recovery meetings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hoarding.iocdf.org\/\"><b>International OCD Foundation<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The International OCD Foundation offers a variety of online resources for those affected by hoarding, including articles, videos and directories that can help you locate treatment programs, therapists, support groups and professional organizers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/childrenofhoarders.com\/wordpress\/\"><b>Children of Hoarders<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A non-profit organization operated by former children of hoarders. Here, current children of hoarders can join support groups, learn management strategies and get advice from people who understand their experiences.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napo.net\/\"><b>NAPO<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) operates a massive directory of certified cleaning and organization pros. Here, you can search for service providers in your area that specialize in hoarding behavior.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theshulmancenter.com\/terrence-shulman.html\"><b>The Schulman Center<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A treatment center specializing in compulsive theft, spending and hoarding behaviors. On their website, you can find helpful articles and videos about hoarding, and connect with support groups in your area.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Online research is no substitute for medical care, but it can be a good way to figure out your next steps. With guidance from these resources, you can be sure that you\u2019re taking the right approach to treating and managing hoarding.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helplines for immediate assistance<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you or someone you care about is being affected by hoarding, it&#8217;s important to address the issue before it can progress, and it\u2019s often beneficial to seek firsthand help from an experienced professional. These resources can provide 24\/7 emotional support and help with hoarding cleanup:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/help\"><b>NAMI HelpLine<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Support service operated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). It is open for calls, emails and text messages Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. On their website, you can also locate support groups and access a variety of informational resources about hoarding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hoarders.com\/support-groups-help-for-families\/\"><b>1-800-HOARDERS<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A 24\/7 hoarding support hotline operated by Hoarders.com. They can provide emotional support and help connect you with support groups, counselors, therapists and hoarding remediation companies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/988lifeline.org\/\"><b>988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A free, 24\/7 hotline specializing in crisis services and suicide prevention. Here, those affected by hoarding can receive confidential support and advice during times of extreme distress.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/find-help\/national-helpline\"><b>SAMHSA National Helpline<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A free information and treatment referral service run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The hotline is open to calls and text messages 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthhotline.org\/\"><b>MentalHealthHotline<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A free, 24\/7 hotline for people with mental health concerns and their families. Here, those affected by hoarding can receive emotional support and practical guidance from trained professionals.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overcoming and managing hoarding behaviors is an ongoing struggle, but simply acknowledging the problem can be a major first step. By employing the right strategies and seeking appropriate medical care when necessary, people with hoarding disorders can develop healthy behaviors, learn to cope with triggers and gradually reverse the impact that hoarding has had on their lives.<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Need a doctor? Find one on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/\">Zocdoc<\/a>.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hoarding disorder is characterized by persistent difficulty getting rid of possessions due to a perceived need to save them. Individuals with hoarding disorder experience considerable distress when trying to part with their possessions, and will often decide to keep them as a result. Over time, this pattern of behavior can cause significant amounts of clutter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":20693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[41],"class_list":["post-20692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-mental-health"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Paper Gown\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"448\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Zocdoc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Zocdoc\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Zocdoc\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8bb9e4709af3a32602a692b67647631f\"},\"headline\":\"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\"},\"wordCount\":2860,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Mental Health\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\",\"name\":\"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00\",\"description\":\"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png\",\"width\":960,\"height\":448},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guides\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/category\/guides\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Paper Gown\",\"description\":\"Stories for and about patients\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Zocdoc\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png\",\"width\":2059,\"height\":1049,\"caption\":\"Zocdoc\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8bb9e4709af3a32602a692b67647631f\",\"name\":\"Zocdoc\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/author\/jonathan-katzzocdoc-com\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides","description":"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides","og_description":"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/","og_site_name":"The Paper Gown","article_published_time":"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":448,"url":"https:\/\/zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Zocdoc","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Zocdoc","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/"},"author":{"name":"Zocdoc","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8bb9e4709af3a32602a692b67647631f"},"headline":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders","datePublished":"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/"},"wordCount":2860,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png","keywords":["Mental Health"],"articleSection":["Guides"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/","name":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders - Guides","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png","datePublished":"2023-07-08T13:42:47+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-08T14:07:41+00:00","description":"Overcoming a hoarding disorder often requires a combination of practical self-help strategies and professional medical care. Learn what tools and techniques you can use to manage hoarding behaviors, and find out how and where to get professional help.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Papergown_Hero-21.png","width":960,"height":448},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-practical-guide-to-overcoming-hoarding-disorders\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guides","item":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/category\/guides\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"A Practical Guide To Overcoming Hoarding Disorders"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/","name":"The Paper Gown","description":"Stories for and about patients","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Zocdoc","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png","width":2059,"height":1049,"caption":"Zocdoc"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8bb9e4709af3a32602a692b67647631f","name":"Zocdoc","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/author\/jonathan-katzzocdoc-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20692"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20692\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}