Understanding Compulsive Hoarding

What is Compulsive Hoarding?
Why People Hoard List
Degrees of Compulsive Hoarding/Squalor

Is it an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Treatment
Understanding Treatment Options
From some professionals in the field
Books about Compulsive Hoarding
Is it genetic?
Research

For those that compulsively save:

T ools to help overcome
Online: Through O CF, Other
In-Person Support Group news/updates
Celebrating the "Good Things!"
Personal s tories from people that do this

Additional:
Animal Hoarding
Links to other sites to learn from

Understanding Compulsive Hoarding
Considered the authority on the topic, many of our links take you to this site we are not affiliated with

Do you think you have a compulsive hoarding problem?

What is Anthropomorphism?

"Along with difficulties in throwing
things away, compulsive hoarders have
severe difficulties with making
decisions, perfectionism, and avoiding
tasks.

People with compulsive hoarding
syndrome do not like to make mistakes.
In order to prevent making a mistake,
they will avoid making or postpone
decisions."
-Karron Maidment RN, M.A.
Behavior Therapist-UCLA OCD,Intensive
Treatment Program

By saving possessions, the
compulsive hoarder postpones
making the decision to discard
something and, therefore, avoids
experiencing anxiety about making a
mistake or being less than perfectly
prepared. The most commonly saved
items include newspapers,
magazines, old clothing, bags, books,
mail, notes, and lists.

(Frost & Gross, 1993; Winsberg et
al., 1999).

Categorizing and decision-making is
difficult for those with this condition.

Therefore, things are set down to decide
about...later. This avoids making a
"mistake."