Hoarding
A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner. The items can be of little or no monetary value and usually result in unmanageable amounts of clutter.
It's considered to be a significant problem if:
- The amount of clutter interferes with everyday living – the person may be unable to use their kitchen or bathroom
- The clutter is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the person's quality of life or their family's – the person may become upset if someone tries to clear the clutter and their relationships with others suffer.
Hoarding can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to function independently and can carry a high level of risk for themselves and others. It can cause high levels of distress for those sharing a home with or living close to the person who hoards.