By Bill Blundell, LCPC, CFC, The Antioch Group
Hoarding is a popular term in our society today and with that popularity, the term “hoarder” may be used too loosely. Some “collections” can be misconstrued as hoarding, when in fact they are not. The borderline hoarder may have items that seem rational to have, such as baseball cards or books. It is important to decipher if the borderline hoarder is truly a collector or on the verge of being a true hoarder. Some hoarders can justify the amount of their belongings if they call them collections. For instance, a person who has old and empty pizza boxes stored around the home may, in fact, feel they are “collecting” them when in all reality they are hoarding garbage. This person with the pizza boxes may also have a collection of figurines that are neatly presented in a hutch, so the lines can become blurry as to what is really occurring: collecting or hoarding.
As mentioned, the term hoarding is used loosely these days and sometimes in a joking manner. Unfortunately, this is not a topic that should be used as a joke as it is a mental health issue with many consequences, including death. Just because someone has a messy house does not mean they should be labeled a hoarder, but this happens. From a mental health perspective, it is important to know specific things when working with a person who may be a borderline hoarder.
The first thing to focus on is whether or not the person with the possessions is proud of what they have. Oftentimes, hoarders are truly embarrassed about the way their home looks and do not want people to see their home in that state. People with collections tend to want people to see (maybe not touch) their possessions as it may have taken some great lengths to acquire what they are showing off. The hoarder may feel their stack of pizza boxes is important, but knows others will not feel the same way, which leads to the embarrassment.
Those who collect buy their items for a specific purpose: to add to their collection. Hoarders, on the other hand, may not have any reason to purchase an item. They may just purchase it because they have some irrational idea as to why they may need it. Once the item is purchased and brought home, it may just be thrown in a pile of clutter. A collector, when buying the item, knows where the purchase will go and why it is being purchased.
Is it possible for a person who collects to evolve into a hoarder? It is possible, but mental health is a determining factor and so is what a person thinks is a “collection.” As mentioned, the line between hoarding and collecting can become blurry because certain traits are shared. Both the collector and the hoarder have their possessions for sentimental value, aesthetic value, or for utility value. One might ask how an empty used pizza box could hold any type of value, but for a hoarder their irrational thoughts validate whatever value they have placed on it.
The bottom line is the use of the term “hoarder” should not be used lightly or in a joking manner. It is a mental health issue that affects many people on a daily basis. If you know someone who may be a “borderline hoarder” then ask them to seek help. If their hoarding is truly on the borderline, it may not take long for them to fall completely into depths of true hoarding. If this does occur, many times it is difficult for the person to recover. It is always better to be proactive as opposed to reactive when working with someone who hoards.
Bill Blundell is a licensed clinical professional counselor at the Antioch Group. For more information or to make an appointment, please visit www.antiochgroup.com or call 309-692-6622.
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