Hoarding OCD: Examining the Facts

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental condition distinguished by two specific symptoms: compulsive behaviors and obsessive thoughts. Moreover, people diagnosed with this mental condition share either one or both symptoms. Not only that, but these symptoms must cause distress or significant impairment that disrupts their lives.

Specifically, hoarding OCD is characterized by consistent compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts surrounding acquired possessions. People who struggle with this subtype have difficulty discarding their possessions. For instance, these people may have numerous intrusive thoughts that something bad may happen to them or the giver if they throw their possessions away.

Hoarding OCD and Hoarding Disorder

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Despite the similar names, hoarding OCD isn’t the same as hoarding disorder. Mainly, the differences between the two mental disorders are the reason why they hoard in the first place. Whereas people with hoarding disorder keep possessions for their perceived value, people with hoarding OCD keep possessions because of their obsessive thoughts.

Typically, this mental illness leads people to develop unwanted stress and anxiety surrounding their collected belongings. Conversely, the stress caused by hoarding disorder, in particular, comes from discarding their possessions, which usually happens by force.

Exploring Hoarding OCD

Generally, hoarding OCD tends to focus on items that could be central to someone’s identity, such as personal letters and souvenirs. Due to the personal connection, a person who struggles with this condition may feel a loss of identity from discarding their possessions. Furthermore, these people may have rituals around purchasing or having a specific number of possessions that they keep.

For example, someone may have piles of clothes crowding their closets simply because they feel something bad may happen if they discard them. Comparatively, people may struggle with persistent compulsions surrounding their belongings as well. These compulsions may include sorting their possessions into certain patterns or needing to sort a certain number of times.

Likewise, this mental condition can be motivated by a fear of contamination. To illustrate, some people may struggle to throw away trash because they fear touching it. In contrast, others may avoid giving things away as they fear that they may become contaminated. This fear may also lead people to purchase every item they touch in a store as they feel these items could contaminate other shoppers.

Therapy for Hoarding OCD

Ultimately, hoarding OCD is best treated with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP therapy). By repeatedly exposing people to their obsessive thoughts, ERP therapy teaches new ways to treat their compulsions without engaging them. As a result of this therapy, people can reduce their anxiety amid their intrusive thoughts and compulsions as they’ll have better tools to confront them.

Overall, ERP therapy is 80% effective with most patients seeing results between 12 to 20 sessions. During the sessions, people track their compulsions and obsessions around hoarding possessions while noting their stress levels around each thought. By putting them in environments that activate their triggers, these people can get the most out of therapy to address and cope with their mental condition.

Final Thoughts

Living with any type of OCD is very difficult. The person suffering from this disorder often feels helpless and alone. OCD can be debilitating and put a great strain on your everyday life. If you or anyone you know is suffering from OCD or any type of mental disorder, please seek help. There are treatments available that may help.

Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician or other medical professional. Please speak with your doctor or therapist if you have any questions or concerns.

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Article originally written by David Gilbert