Compulsive Hoarding - Symptoms

Symptoms

Compulsive hoarding in its worst forms can cause fires, unclean conditions (e.g. rat and roach infestations), injuries from tripping on clutter, and other health and safety hazards.

A few symptoms a hoarder might experience are:

1. Tend to hold onto a large number of items that most people would consider not useful or valuable. For example:

• Junk mail
• Old catalogues and newspapers
• Things that might be useful for making crafts
• Clothes that "might" be worn one day
• Broken things/trash
• "Freebies" picked up

2. The home is so cluttered that many parts are inaccessible and can no longer be used for intended purpose. For example:

• Beds that cannot be slept in
• Kitchens that cannot be used for food preparation, refrigerators filled to the brim with rotting food, stovetops with combustibles such as junk mail as well as old food piled on top of burners.
• Tables that cannot be used for dining
• Chairs or sofas that cannot be used
• Filthy unsanitary bathrooms; piles of human feces collected in areas of the home, sometimes there are animal feces over the floors of the home, giant bags of dirty diapers hoarded for many years.
• Some hoard animals they cannot even marginally care for; often dead pets cannibalized by other pets are found under the heaps.

3. The clutter and mess is so bad it causes illness, distress, and impairment. For example:

• Does not allow visitors such as family and friends, or repair and maintenance professionals because the clutter embarrasses them.
• Keep the shades drawn so no one can see inside
• Get into a lot of arguments with family members about the clutter
• Are at risk of fire, falling, infestation or eviction
• Feel depressed or anxious much of the time because of the clutter