Hoarders often exhibit traits like perfectionism, indecisiveness, procrastination, and difficulty organizing, driven by intense emotional attachment to possessions, fear of waste, and anxiety about discarding items, often stemming from stressful life events or underlying conditions like OCD, ADHD, or depression. Key personality characteristics include avoidant behaviors, anxious attachment, and low insight into the problem, leading to a cycle of acquiring and difficulty discarding.
Personality. Many people who have hoarding disorder have a behavior style that includes trouble making decisions and problems with attention, organization and problem-solving. Family history. There is a strong association between having a family member who has hoarding disorder and having the disorder yourself.
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Difficult feelings
Hoarding can be related to difficult experiences and painful feelings. You may find these hard to express, face or resolve. Some people say hoarding helps them cope with other mental health problems. Or that it distracts them from feeling very anxious, upset or afraid.
The 5 stages of hoarding describe a progressive scale from minor clutter (Level 1) to uninhabitable conditions (Level 5), where homes become unusable, safety is compromised (hazards, pests, biohazards), personal hygiene declines, and severe social isolation occurs, reflecting increasing difficulty discarding items and significant disruption to daily life.
These are key signs of hoarding behavior to look for to recognize when someone may need support.
The prognosis (outlook) for hoarding disorder is often poor. While some people with the condition greatly improve after treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy, many people still have symptoms after treatment that impact their day-to-day life.
In many cases, hoarding disorder is closely linked to Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). C-PTSD develops in response to prolonged, repeated trauma, particularly in situations where escape or relief is not possible—such as in cases of chronic childhood abuse or neglect.
Don't say “If we don't clean up this apartment and get rid of all these things, I'm going to leave.” Don't say “We have too much stuff! We have got to get rid of some or else we'll never be able to move again!” Don't say “I can only stay here if we start throwing away all our junk.”
The medicines most commonly used are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research continues on the most effective ways to use medicines in the treatment of hoarding disorder.
People who hoard animals typically show limited insight regarding the problem. Many people with hoarding disorder also experience other mental disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or alcohol use disorder.
In fact, if it's done without their consent, discarding the hoarder's possessions usually does more harm than good. The hoarder will likely be angry and resentful—damaging the relationship between you—and their process of accumulation will simply begin all over again.
Hoarding is more common in older age groups than younger age groups. Below are some early signs that an individual may have hoarding behaviors. These behaviors are typically mild and progress over years. They may develop into a severe problem in adults around their 50s.
Personality disorders involve pervasive patterns of distorted thinking, feeling, and behaving, leading to significant distress and functional problems, often seen as intense mood swings, unstable relationships, difficulty with self-image, impulsive/risky actions, extreme suspicion, emotional detachment or drama, difficulty controlling anger, sensitivity to criticism, trouble with boundaries, and issues with empathy or morality. These signs manifest differently across the various types, such as Borderline, Narcissistic, or Avoidant Personality Disorders, but generally impact how a person sees themselves, interacts with others, and manages emotions.
Yet some people take their keepsakes to the extreme, holding onto decades' worth of receipts, newspapers, and other seemingly useless items. They have hoarding disorder—a mental health condition characterized by a compulsive need to acquire and keep possessions, even when they're not needed.
Discussing the hoarding problem in an open and accepting way is an important first step. Respecting the hoarding loved one's attachments to possessions is critical to being able to hold such discussions. This can help to establish respect for the rights of each member of the household as well.
If the 5x5 method is as new to you as it was to me, allow me to explain. Coined by Steph of The Secret Slob, this technique requires nothing but a timer and twenty-five free minutes. Pick five rooms or zones and dedicate five minutes per area. In twenty-five minutes, Steph promises a cleaner, less cluttered home.
The 5 stages of hoarding describe a progressive scale from minor clutter (Level 1) to uninhabitable conditions (Level 5), where homes become unusable, safety is compromised (hazards, pests, biohazards), personal hygiene declines, and severe social isolation occurs, reflecting increasing difficulty discarding items and significant disruption to daily life.
The International OCD Foundation reports the following common reasons for hoarding items: not wasting things, fear of losing important information, emotional meaning of objects, and the characteristics of objects.
The constant building of clutter in the house of hoarders makes it impossible for family members to live a healthy life. It can have appalling effects on their mental health and can lead to severe depression and suicidal ideation.
Decluttering Tips For Hoarders With Checklist
Complex trauma disrupts a person's sense of safety, self-worth, and ability to form healthy relationships. These disruptions often manifest in behaviors like hoarding, which serve as coping mechanisms for unresolved pain.
The emotional impact can be profound. Stress, shame, and anxiety are common experiences, and hoarding disorder often co-occurs with other mental health conditions. The accumulation of items can interfere with daily routines. It can also create serious safety and health risks, making everyday life more difficult.
The Bible warns against placing too much importance on material wealth, and this principle goes hand in hand with hoarding. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
The main talking therapy used to treat hoarding disorder is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This focuses on how your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and behaviour. Evidence suggests that both individual and group CBT can help.