Waunakee Library Hand Out

An Introduction to Hoarding Disorder

Stay positive. Be patient. Practice empathy and compassion.

DO NOT JUDGE. A person who hoards often experiences a lot of shame.

Possible factors in development of Hoarding Disorder: Scarcity, OCD/anxiety, depression, ADHD/Adult ADHD, grief/loss, autism, traumatic brain injury.

Hoarding Disorder can be progressive with age.

Objects are important to client so treat items with respect.

Reasons to keep objects: Utilitarian, sentimental, beauty, scarcity.

Check in on your neighbors, coworkers, friends, family members.

Remember that if it was just about the stuff, all clean outs would have successful outcomes.

Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/BeConstantlyCurious/videos/137386723594045/

“Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things” by Randy O. Frost, Gail Steketee

“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” Marie Kondo

Clutter image rating 1 to 9 http://hoardingdisordersuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/clutter-image-ratings.pdf

https://clutterersanonymous.org

https://hoardingdisordersuk.org