Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding

According to Layton (2013), “…the best way to increase the chances of overcoming a hoarding problem is to catch it in its early stages” (para. 19). It is ideal for a loved one of a hoarder to detect the problem. In worse situations, it may be a landlord finding the problem. There are many ways for hoarders to get help. Therapy is one option. Frost and Steketee (2010), both professors of psychology, did a therapy outcome study for hoarders. After only twelve of their therapy sessions, hoarders significantly improved and by the end of twenty-six treatment sessions, more than two-thirds had responded to treatment and 80 percent described themselves as much or very much improved. This shows that simple therapy can cause a great outcome Hoarding can be described as keeping items that have little to no value and not being able to get rid of them because of an attachment. This can get way out of the hand. Hoarding can get very dangerous. People have become aware of hoarding from TV. It is argued whether hoarding is a mental disorder. People are not hoarders from the day they are born, although, it is proven to have a brain abnormality. Hoarding can ruin someone’s life but overcoming it can also save many lives. Compulsive hoarding not only affects the hoarder’s mental, emotional, and physical health, but also their loved ones’. Hoarding is a devastating disorder but can be overcome. Hoarding has really become popular in only the past few years. Stekette (2010) explains, “Before 1996, fewer than 10 studies had been published on the topic. By 2009, more than 20 articles per year were being published about hoarding” (para. 8). The subject has been brought into the light lately. The only information most people know about hoarding is based on reality TV shows. It is a lot more common than people believe. According to Mapes, (2012) “…data suggests between 2.5 to 6 percent of the U.S. adult population, or up to a 15 million people, may have hoarding disorder” (para. 14).