Compulsive hoarding is a psychological issue that causes the hoarder persistent difficulties in throwing away items or severe anxiety when forced to throw away possessions. They might also experience difficulty organizing or categorizing their possessions and find themselves embarrassed by all they’ve acquired. A hoarder’s behavior might result in loss of living space and isolation.
The behaviour usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members.
For those who hoard, the quantity of their collected items sets them apart from other people. Commonly hoarded items may be newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, household supplies, food, and clothing.
To most, the idea of hoarding and clutter can cause anxiety, and we simply cannot understand the psychological attachment to seemingly useless possessions, items and in some instances, plain rubbish.
When considering the nature and mindset of a compulsive hoarder, the story of Rita Wolfensohn, a Midwood, Brooklyn, resident who lived with her son’s skeletal remains for as long as 20 years, doesn’t seem so incomprehensible. Mrs. Wolfensohn’s sister-in-law, Josette Buchman, made the startling discovery when she arrived at the house to pick up some of her belongings and bring them to her in the hospital.
Read the full story here.
Cleaning and remedying a hoarders home can be an overwhelming task for the hoarder and their family and loved ones. When undertaking a hoarder clean up, Brisbane Crime Scene Cleaning trained and experienced technicians are compassionate to the hoarder and understand the psychological and physical pain this process can have. We work closely with the hoarder to ensure valuables and special items are not disposed off so the hoarder or client can feel relaxed and be confident that their possessions are being dealt with in the correct manor.