Hoarding Defined

Hypnosis is a powerful tool to change hoarding habits and the emotions connected to hoarding. We work with clients in-office and from anywhere via online hypnosis sessions.

Hoarding is the excessive accumulation of items, often to the point where it creates clutter or disruption in one’s living space. It typically involves difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. This behavior can extend to items that may appear to be useless, unnecessary, or even trash to others, but the person who hoards may feel a strong emotional attachment to them or have a fear of losing something that could potentially be needed later.

In extreme cases, hoarding can lead to dangerous living conditions, including fire hazards, unsanitary environments, or physical health problems.

Hoarding is different from simple clutter or collecting because it is driven by emotional attachment, anxiety, and difficulty with decision-making, rather than a conscious choice to maintain or organize possessions.

Different Levels of Hoarding

Mild Hoarding

At this stage, hoarding may not be immediately apparent to others. The person may accumulate items that are not essential or useful, but their behavior does not yet cause significant disruptions in daily life.

Characteristics:
- A slight buildup of clutter, perhaps in one room or area of the home.
- Items may include papers, clothing, or things that have sentimental value.
- The person may have difficulty letting go of certain items, but it doesn’t yet interfere with functionality.
- The home is still relatively organized, but there is an awareness of growing clutter.
Impact:
- Little to no impact on social, work, or personal relationships.
- People may not perceive the individual as a hoarder, or the hoarding behavior may be dismissed as “being a bit messy.”
- The person may feel some mild distress about the clutter but still manage to perform everyday activities.

Moderate Hoarding

At this level, hoarding becomes more noticeable, and it begins to interfere with daily routines. There may be a sense of discomfort or shame about the clutter, but the individual may not yet acknowledge the severity of the issue.

Characteristics:
- Clutter is more widespread, possibly covering multiple areas of the home.
- Items include a variety of unnecessary or unused items (e.g., old newspapers, clothing, broken electronics, or containers).
- Difficulty making decisions about what to keep or discard is evident.
- The accumulation of items starts to impact mobility or functionality of certain spaces (e.g., difficulty using a kitchen or bathroom).
Impact:
- Noticeable problems with organization, which may cause inconvenience.
- There may be social isolation due to embarrassment or fear of others seeing the clutter.
- The person may start to feel overwhelmed or stressed by the clutter but may resist seeking help or letting go of items.

Severe Hoarding

At this stage, hoarding is having a clear and significant impact on the person’s quality of life. It can cause considerable physical and emotional distress, and the living conditions may become hazardous.

Characteristics:
- Rooms or entire areas of the home are filled with piles of items, which can obstruct walkways or make it difficult to use key areas like the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom.
- The accumulation may include trash, rotting food, or unsanitary materials.
- Items often have little value, but the person struggles intensely with parting with them, even when they pose clear dangers or inconveniences.
- There may be a strong sense of distress or anxiety when attempting to discard items.
Impact:
- Major safety hazards, including fire risks, tripping hazards, and unsanitary conditions.
- Social isolation due to embarrassment or shame, and difficulty hosting guests.
- Difficulty performing daily activities (e.g., cooking, cleaning, bathing) due to the overwhelming amount of clutter.
- Family members, friends, or neighbors may intervene or express concern about the living conditions.

Extreme Hoarding (Severe/Chronic)

This is the most severe stage, where hoarding becomes life-threatening and highly dysfunctional. The home may be filled to the point of being uninhabitable, and the person may be in denial about the extent of the problem.

Characteristics:
- Severe overcrowding, with little to no access to essential living spaces or services (e.g., kitchen, bathroom).
- The home is filled with extreme amounts of waste, dirt, trash, animal waste, or hazardous materials.
- The individual may live in squalid conditions, and the hoarded items may include piles of unimportant or even dangerous materials (e.g., old food, rotting items, sharp objects).
- The person may feel an intense compulsion to acquire more items and a significant resistance to throwing anything away.
Impact:
- Significant risk to physical health and safety, including injuries from falling, fire, or lack of hygiene.
- Total disruption of family and social life, with estrangement from others.
- The individual’s emotional well-being is often deeply impacted by anxiety, depression, or guilt, though they may be unwilling or unable to address the problem.
- The person may be at risk of eviction or other legal consequences due to the living conditions.

How Hypnosis Helps Change Hoarding Habits

Hoarding becomes an emotional response and habit that at some point had a positive intention in the mind but has turned into an unhealthy response and is solving nothing. Most people hoard as a way to avoid negative emotions, low confidence and anxiety/depression. The concern resides in the subconscious mind which regulates automated behaviors, actions and reactions. In other words: a hoarding response/habit is like a ‘program’ in the subconscious mind that simply is not working. Hypnosis works directly with this part of the mind to release what does not work and most importantly: replace with new feelings and habits that do work.

Through hypnosis, our practitioners help give a ‘way out’ for negative emotions, change unhealthy habits, resolve emotional wounds, and enhance self-confidence. Hypnosis provides a safe and supportive environment for transformation.

Hypnosis makes changing hoarding habits easier than you ever imagined.

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We can work with you in-office, via phone, via Google Meet or via Apple Facetime worldwide. Scheduling is fast and easy online. We are happy to answer questions at anytime by calling our office or send an e-mail to: questions@meridianpeakhypnosis.com.