Hoarding and obsessive-compulsive disorder are linked. But are they the same? Let’s discuss all that and more.
You may think hoarding is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) if you’ve never dealt with it before. But there is a lot more to it than that.
Hoarding Disorder is a common condition. People of all ages and lifestyles can be diagnosed with it. An estimated 2-5% of the population suffers from hoarding disorder.
Experts believe this number may actually be much higher. Many hoarders live in isolation since they do not want to talk about their struggles with loved ones or health care providers. Being shut off from the world means many cases probably go unreported.
Hoarders tend to suffer from other forms of mental illness, like OCD. But are they the same?
We address questions like yours during every hoarding cleaning service that we provide.
Compulsive hoarding is not considered to be a form of OCD and is instead its own separate, distinct condition.
While the symptoms are similar in some ways, there are marked differences between the two.
While compulsive hoarding can often be a manifestation of an underlying mental health issue like depression or anxiety, it doesn’t always have such a cause.
In contrast with this, people with OCD may be unable to resist their obsessive thoughts or impulses without experiencing extreme distress. As an attempt to soothe their intrusive thoughts, some people with OCD do turn to hoarding. But they are not the same thing.
Hoarding disorder is characterized by an excessive attachment to one’s possessions, as well as an inability to organize or discard those items.
It can be triggered by OCD, but it should be treated as its own unique mental health issue.
Get Professional Help for Hoarding
If you have a hoarding disorder or have a loved one who does, it may be time for hoarding cleaning services to come in and help you get your home under control.
Hoarding is different from just being messy or disorganized because it causes significant distress to the individual. If left untreated, it can lead to health problems like respiratory infections and heart disease as well as social isolation.
If a family member or friend has serious issues with hoarding, they may not want help because their self-esteem is tied up in the items they’re compulsively collecting.
Since hoarders tend to obsess over their belongings, many people confuse its symptoms for OCD. It takes an experienced professional to spot the difference.
Hoarding is not necessarily OCD but it can be a sign of other mental health disorders.
If you know someone who is hoarding things to the point where your home is unsafe, seek help immediately. Since hoarding is linked to so many mental health issues, you want to make sure you handle the situation with the utmost care.
Please consider seeking help from our team at Hoarders911. We have almost 30 years of experience in helping people who suffer from compulsive hoarding by providing them with professional cleaning services so they can get back on track with their lives once again!
Call today for a no-obligation consultation: 718 627 5781
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