What Makes Hoarding a Mental Health Issue?
Hoarding disorder is the inability to discard or part with goods due to a felt urge to keep them. Excessive collection of objects takes place, regardless of their actual value. Residences can be full, with only narrow routes twisting among mounds of debris.
People with hoarding disorder may be oblivious to acknowledging the disease as a problem, making therapy challenging. Therapy can assist persons struggling with hoarding disease to understand how their beliefs and actions can be altered to live safer, more satisfying lives.
The Dangers of Hoarding
Uncontrollable hoarding is commonly a symptom of some underlying psychological problem. Hoarders have difficulty eliminating objects that many consider rubbish, which accumulate over time to pose a fire risk. Hoarding cleaning may necessitate personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the extent of the hoard.
The Five Levels of Hoarding
The moment you understand the five degrees of hoarding, you will be able to build a strategy specific to your loved one’s needs, just as our highly trained specialists do every day in the field.
Level One: Low-Risk Green
This level is a typical household atmosphere that is a little dirty. Clutter is not excessive, all doors and stairways are accessible, and there are no scents. The physical health of the hoarder is low risk; however, the person’s psychological health is a crucial indicator.
Level Two: Guarded Blue
This home is habitually disorderly. Mess and smells will remain relatively minimal at Level Two Hoarding. There might also be indicators of mold and mildew growth and a rodent infestation developing. The risk is still slightly lower but higher than in a Level One hoard. A competent organizer and a property restoration company are recommended to deal with water damage concerns. Visit websites like puroclean.com to learn more about water mitigation.
Level Three: Elevated Yellow
Level Three Hoarding will exhibit much of the same symptoms as Level Two, except that scents will become noticeable. The mounds of goods and clothing spills and unhygienic conditions will represent health risks in this stage. A hoarding treatment service is an absolute necessity.
Level Four: High-Risk Orange
Sewer backup, defective electrical wiring, flea infestation, decomposing food on counters, lice on beds, and pet damage to the home are common symptoms of unsanctioned hoarding. Level Four is exceedingly hazardous to one’s health. A coordinated team of service providers is needed primarily to check for any fire risks; visit their website here.
Level Five: Severe-Risk Red
Level Five has the most challenging hoarding circumstances. Houses will undergo structural damage and become exceedingly unsafe. Rodent infestation is apparent, and the kitchen and bathroom are unusable because of clutter. Hoarders might gather urine in bottles that are not thrown, and human excrement may pile on the flooring.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one is manifesting symptoms of hoarding disorder, seek advice from a physician or a mental health specialist immediately. Suppose their hoarding condition endangers their health or safety. You might need to alert local authorities such as public health, child or elder protective services, police, fire, or animal welfare organizations.
There is no known treatment to avoid hoarding disorder because little is known about what triggers it. Nevertheless, like with many mental health problems, seeking treatment as soon as a problem arises might help prevent hoarding from worsening.
