Hoarding Disorder

People with hoarding disorder rarely seek help on their own. Concerned friends or family members often reach out to a professional to help a loved one with the condition.

Contact a healthcare provider or mental health professional if hoarding makes a living situation unhealthy or unsafe for you or someone you know. If someone you know is hoarding animals, it’s important to contact the correct authorities, such as Animal Control Services, to safely acquire and care for the animals.

To diagnose hoarding disorder, your healthcare provider will ask about your collecting and saving habits. To confirm a diagnosis, the following symptoms must be present:

• Ongoing difficulty getting rid of possessions whether they have value or not.
• Feeling a strong need to save items and feelings of distress associated with discarding items.
• Living spaces that are so filled with possessions that they’re unusable and/or unsafe.