We’re all familiar with the ceiling-high piles of trash, blocked exits, and pungent odors featured on the TV show Hoarders. But if you think hoarding disorder is rare, think again. Experts estimate anywhere between 2%-6% of the population has this disorder. So, you’re likely to meet at least a handful of people with this condition.
While not everyone with hoarding disorder lives in conditions as extreme as those on the TV show, 5 different stages of hoarding exist. Sometimes, people move through these stages progressively. However, accessing professional care helps these people live in sanitary and safe conditions. As such, knowing the stages is absolutely crucial.
What Is Hoarding Disorder?
According to the American Psychological Association, hoarding disorder occurs when a person has an emotional reaction to getting rid of possessions, causing the items to accumulate. Over time, the clutter may become more and more severe. As such, this condition may lead to dangerous or unsanitary conditions.
The APA notes that these individuals differ from collectors, who purchase specific items and keep them organized. Rather, a person with hoarding disorder tends to gain so many possessions that their home becomes filled with them.
5 Stages of Hoarding
Hoarding rarely happens overnight. Instead, hoarders typically follow the following pattern:
Stage 1
During this stage, the condition presents in a barely noticeable fashion. In fact, most people may not even recognize it as hoarding. During this stage, none of the items block doorways, windows, or stairs. No smells permeate the place, and the home is rather sanitary. However, light levels of clutter exist.
If this sounds like your home, ask yourself why your home is cluttered. Do you have an emotional reaction when you think of getting rid of items you don’t use anymore? If you answered “No,” you likely don’t need to be concerned.
However, if you answered, “Yes,” you might want to seek out the help of a professional to assess your potential for hoarding disorder. Talkspace will match you with accessible, affordable counselors trained to address your needs. Plus, the platform allows you to connect with your counselor via phone, text, or video call. So, if you don’t want your therapist to see the inside of your home while you’re talking, you just need to choose the appropriate communication style!
Stage 2
Once someone enters phase 2 of hoarding disorder, their living conditions start to deteriorate. Now, someone entering their home might notice odors and/or animal waste. At this point, clutter congests hallways and stairs and blocks at least one exit. The house may also begin to show signs of pests living there.
This stage also has behavioral symptoms. The person struggling with this disorder may develop depression or anxiety. Likewise, they might withdraw from social interactions and avoid having people come to their homes.
Stage 3
By this stage, the owner cannot use at least one room in the home due to excessive amounts of clutter. Overflowing garbage cans, along with dirt and debris, make the home unsanitary. The house may have spiders or feature a bug infestation, and possessions have made their way into the yard.
Sometimes, the house starts to accrue structural damage at this point. Likewise, some household appliances may have stopped working.
Stage 4
At this point, the house has 6 months or more of structural damage. Clutter now consumes and blocks off the stairs and hallways. People with this disorder may also have too many pets, and at this stage, the pets’ living conditions are not sanitary.
Further, the person may have rotting food.
Those who live in the house may start to notice their health declining. The unhygienic conditions may lead to diseases and infections. The person’s mental health may continue to worsen.
Stage 5
The fifth of the 5 stages of hoarding disorder involves severe clutter and damage to the home. The person may have rotting food both on the counters and in the refrigerator, and any pets may now pose a danger to people due to their exposure to disease.
At this stage, pest and rodent infestation becomes severe, and human waste may cause odors in the home.
As hoarding disorder progresses into the more severe stages, the person may even become embroiled in legal proceedings. Landlords may evict the individual from their home, or a spouse may choose to leave the situation. In fact, severed relationships and getting kicked out of the house due to cleanliness might serve as a symptom of hoarding disorder.
What to Do If You Have Hoarding Disorder
If you recognize yourself or a loved one within these 5 stages of hoarding disorder, you might wonder if any hope exists. After all, people with hoarding disorder often keep to themselves for a reason; they’re afraid of what people will think of them if they know the truth.
However, non-judgemental help is out there. Professionally-trained therapists help the person identify the source of the hoarding issue and deal with the difficult emotions around it. As such, getting out of the clutter might seem a bit more manageable!
Sometimes, finding supportive communities helps, too. MindValley matches people with groups of like-minded individuals to seek out support and put you on the path to help!
More Resources
When you or someone you love has a hoarding disorder, you need all the resources available to you. At Vitality Views, we’re dedicated to providing you with up-to-date articles on mental health. Of course, these articles can’t be a substitute for professional care. After all, we don’t know your individual situation and can’t make reliable personalized care recommendations.
However, we have researched the latest public advice for self-care. If you want to apply some of this to your life, take a look at this article!
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