The psychological impacts of hoarding can be tough, negatively impacting the life of the individual who is hoarding. In many hoarding situations, the individual displaying hoarding behavior is not the only one impacted, family and friends can also feel the impact. Hoarding may appear to be only an external issue, physically cluttering a property, physically taking up space that could be used for a more productive purpose and presenting safety hazards, but hoarding may also have psychological effects as well, on both the hoarder and their family and friends. Read below our summary of the psychological impacts of hoarding for both the hoarder and their family and friends.
Psychological Effects of Hoarding on Hoarders
1. Inability to Focus:
The presence of clutter can be distracting because if your environment is chaotic and unorganized, the mind can become easily sidetracked. A study listed in the National Library of Medicine found that “Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system“ (National Library of Medicine). A busy environment will take away a person’s attention because it is difficult to focus on too many things at a time. Due to the clutter, an individual who is hoarding may have difficulty focusing on specific tasks, so in the case of attempting to clean up clutter, the person may find it difficult to focus on one task at a time and become overwhelmed.
2. Embarrassment (Insecurity):
Hoarders may be embarrassed, ashamed, and insecure about their hoarding lifestyle and living environment. Hoarders may avoid letting others see their place of residence and may not reveal where they live to their friends, family, or may even isolate themselves from society to avoid close relationships and possible exposure of their secret.
3. Stress, Anxiety, Depression, & Insomnia:
Stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia are sometimes felt by hoarders because they continue their hoarding behavior, despite the negative consequences. If the hoarder keeps displaying hoarding behavior, they may feel like they cannot help themselves, resulting in more stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
- Stress and Anxiety: Stress and anxiety can also be felt by a hoarder. They may not understand why they continue their hoarding behavior despite the negative impacts that result. The hoarder may be stressed about the conditions they are residing in and/or about the inability to change their hoarding behavior. Feelings of resentment towards themselves may be experienced due to the frustration and anger about the situation. Sometimes they may feel depressed because they feel they cannot help themselves.
- Depression: Depression may be a result of hoarding in some situations. People who show hoarding behavior may cut themselves off from others, becoming isolated. The combination of isolation, stress, and feelings of defeat can lead to the individual feeling upset over their circumstances, which may lead to depression.
- Insomnia and Problems with Sleep Patterns: The mind can have difficulty relaxing, leading to lack of sleep (or insomnia) when a person has to much stress, anxiety, and or is experiencing depression. Lack of sleep, and in turn lack of energy, can play a part in increasing stress, anxiety, and depression making it difficult to be productive.
4. Social Skills of the Hoarder May be Affected:
The social skills of the hoarder may be affected by hoarding because their lifestyle may force them to choose to avoid normal social interaction to avoid cleaning their home. Not being able to socialize normally sometimes leads to withdrawing from society, unsure of how to form relationships with people without uncovering their hoarding.
5. Learned Hoarding Behavior:
If someone displays hoarding behavior, it may be the result of having been raised in a hoarding environment during their childhood. Many kids copy the habits of their parents and when these children grow up, they are more likely to also display hoarding behavior. For those who are embarrassed and/or disgusted by the hoarding environment they grew up in, they may develop minimalist behavior to deny the situation they were once in. The Bio-Behavioral Institute says that “Not only does this distance a family, but the hoarder becomes further socially isolated. Adult children often copy or oppose the behavior that they witnessed as they grew. Either hoarding behaviors are learned and repeated, despite living separately, or the adult child, embarrassed and disgusted at how they lived, become minimalists” (How Compulsive Hoarding Affects Families).
Psychological Effects of Hoarding on Family & Friends
1. Embarrassment, Shame, and Insecurity:
Children and spouses of hoarders may be embarrassed, ashamed, and insecure about their family member(s) and situation. If they are still residing within the home, they may avoid letting others see their place of residence. These individuals may not reveal where they live to their friends or may even isolate themselves from society to avoid close relationships and possible exposure of their family secret. Adult children may refuse to associate themselves with their hoarding parent(s) upon leaving the house.
2. Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Frustration:
Stress, anxiety, depression, and frustration can also be felt by family members of a hoarding individual. They may not understand how this family member can continue their hoarding behavior despite the negative impacts that result. Family members of a hoarder may be stressed about the conditions they are residing in and/or about the inability to change the hoarding circumstances. Feelings of resentment towards the hoarder may be experienced due to frustration and anger about the situation. Some situations may leave family members feeling depressed because they feel they cannot help the hoarder or themselves.
3. Social Skills May be Impaired:
Children of hoarders may have impaired social skills due to growing up in an isolated hoarding environment. Growing up in isolation, some children may become socially awkward, unsure of how to form relationships with people and avoid uncovering their family’s hoarding secret.
4. Stress and Anxiety:
Stress and anxiety over hoarding conditions is a common experience for family members of hoarders. A “messy” environment can produce pessimistic feelings. Looking around at overwhelming conditions can produce negative emotions, leaving the individual stressed and upset. If other people are criticizing the individual and his/her living situation, this may result in additional feelings of stress.
5. Depression:
Depression may be a result of growing up in a hoarding environment. People who live with a hoarder may cut themselves off from others, becoming isolated. The combination of isolation, stress, and feelings of defeat can lead to the individual feeling upset over their circumstances which can lead to depression.
6. Minimalist or Hoarding Behavior:
The children of hoarders may develop minimalist or hoarding behavior of their own, which may result from having grown up in a hoarding environment. Many kids copy the habits of their parents or may completely oppose their parents’ lifestyle. The hoarding behavior may be learned behavior, having grown up with one or more parents who are hoarders. For those who are embarrassed and/or disgusted by the hoarding environment they grew up in, they may develop minimalist behavior in reaction to the hoarding environment that they grew up in.
7. Insomnia and Problems with Sleep Patterns:
Children, family members, and friends of hoarders can develop insomnia and problems with sleep patterns because of stress put on them by hoarding behaviors of a loved one. Stress from hoarding can lead to a difficult environment to relax and fall asleep in.
Hoarding situations are difficult for everyone involved. It is important not to snap at the individual who is hoarding because that will not improve the situation, but it is just as important to make the hoarder aware of how their behavior and clutter are affecting you as a family member and or friend. Research the hoarding condition and methods of treatment that are available to be armed with the proper knowledge and ability to share it with the individual who is hoarding. Specialty cleaning companies can help resolve the matter of the physical clutter but seeking the assistance of a mental health professional and/or support group can also improve the situation. Many cities/towns also have hoarding task forces which can provide further knowledge and support.
Call 410-589-2747, email info@addressourmess.com, or use our contact us page to reach out to us for more information on our Hoarding Cleanup Service. We are here to help!