Hoarding is a complex mental health condition that can have a serious impact on the person affected, the property and the community. A person might hoard because they feel a strong need to keep things or an attachment to their possessions and find it difficult or even impossible to throw things away. This need can cause significant distress and affect their day-to-day living.
Hoarding isn’t as simple as being untidy or being passionate about collecting items. It can often be linked to other mental or physical health disorders. It’s not a case of just tidying up or throwing things away – in fact, forcing such actions could cause further emotional distress.
However, hoarding can lead to other problems and can create risks to the person and others. This can include social isolation, relationship breakdown and self-esteem issues. Hoarding can also lead to financial problems, hygiene and health risks, including blocking exits in the event of an emergency, which put both the person and their neighbours in danger.
