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Home Health How To Help A Hoarder: Do’s & Don’ts To Keep In Mind
Health

How To Help A Hoarder: Do’s & Don’ts To Keep In Mind

hoarder

If you have a relative or a close friend who is a hoarder then you already know that it can be a real challenge.

Hoarding, the constant acquiring and difficulty of parting with objects and possessions, affects at least 2%-6% of Americans according to the American Psychiatric Association. But that isn’t the whole story.

For every person who has a hoarding disorder, there are parents, children, and other loved ones who are concerned and carry the load along with them every day.

If you are one of them and want to know how to help a hoarder then we hope our Do’s and Don’ts will prove useful.

Don’t Take Things Into Your Own Hands

Mounting frustration often can lead to drastic action. In this case, it may mean that you could decide to either clean up or remove items from their home.

The danger in doing so is that you could be driving a permanent wedge between the very person you are trying to help and yourself.

Items to someone with a hoarding disorder have an emotional value, so stepping into their world and changing things will only lead to emotional distress, as they are likely to view it as a betrayal of trust. Additionally, by taking on the responsibility of cleaning up, it doesn’t allow them to develop this vital skill for themselves.

Do Learn About the Condition and Ask Questions

While there are no definitive reasons why someone may start to hoard, taking the time to learn about the mindset of someone with the condition can do wonders.

Why is this such an effective way how to help a hoarder?

Because understanding the challenges they face will prevent you from viewing them as an enemy should you constantly receive pushback when trying to help. Think of doing research such as reading this guide as a demonstration of your love.

At times, the best person to help you understand is them. If they are open to it, ask why certain objects hold so much value in their eyes and if you can help them in any way, always at their pace.

Don’t Enable Their Behaviour

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Birthdays, anniversaries, holiday souvenirs or even thinking that something would be just perfect for someone are good enough reasons to buy objects for loved ones in most cases.

But if you don’t know how to help a hoarder, the best thing you can do is prevent them from acquiring more things. Even with good intentions, you may be adding fuel to the fire, so resist the urge.

Do Assist Them in Getting the Help They Need

Even before you reach your wit’s end, it would be wise to bring up the idea of seeing a specialist as early as possible.

A professional therapist knows best how to help a hoarder, so enlisting their help can aid in bringing relief to you and more importantly help them on their way to recovery.

While the idea could be met with some resistance, one way to keep it light is to involve them in the process. In a relaxed setting, you can let them know about the different avenues and resources available to them without them feeling forced into it.

Now You Know How to Help a Hoarder

As mentioned knowing how to help a hoarder can seem like a mystery. But we hope by applying some of our suggestions you will be able to note some change and help them on the road to a better life.

If you found this article useful, then you will love the other great content on our site. Be sure to check it out!

Written by
Suza Anjleena

Suza Anjleena is a Blogger, Tech Geek, SEO Expert, and Designer. Loves to buy books online, read and write about Technology, Gadgets, Gaming, LifeStyle, Education, Business, and more category articles that are liked by most of her audience. You can contact me via Email to: Beautyanjleena@gmail.com Thanks

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