Understanding and Treating Hoarding seminar at the Pickering Center on November 13, 2014 at 9:30AM.
/Let’s talk about hoarding. It’s all over the TV. As an attorney I have dealt with it in many cases. And so many of us now are dealing with it in our loved ones, especially with our aging family members. It seems like hoarding is a greater problem among senior populations, and some academic research suggests that although hoarding behaviors can start in adolescents and young adults, symptoms can become more severe as patients age. Of course as individuals age and grow less independent, their hoarding is more likely to be detected.
When we think about hoarding, we often think about junk. The most common feature of hoarding is compulsively acquiring items that are useless or unused, and that clutter the environment to the extent that it impairs the living space. For example, overstuffed closets that can’t be opened, or filling the sink or oven so they can’t be used. Sometimes the hoarder engages in excessive shopping, so the objects don’t look like “trash,” and yet are not actually used and impinge on the quality of life in the home. And of course it's not always objects - animal hoarding can lead to especially horrific living conditions. Another common feature of hoarding is the inability to discard, sell, or otherwise let go of the hoarded items, which can be even more harrowing when we are dealing with pets.
I don’t think that there is any dispute over whether hoarding is harmful and whether loved ones should intervene when they see the signs. The real question most of us have is how to intervene before it becomes a disaster, and how to best help those who are struggling. In terms of mental illness, hoarding is most commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders, but it can be a symptom of other disorders as well. Dr. David Dia of Cordova will present the seminar at the Pickering Center, and hopefully will share some of his expertise on the clinical response to hoarding.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one is suffering because of hoarding, please take advantage of this free seminar. If you can’t make it, I would urge you to connect with resources online.
International OCD Foundation: http://hoarding.iocdf.org/fact_sheet.aspx
Tennessee 2-1-1: http://tn211.mycommunitypt.com/
Dr. Dia's page: http://www.drdaviddia.com/Home.html
National Association of Professional Organizers (Memphis Chapter): napomemphis.com