Posted on Monday, October 6, 2025
|
by AMAC, D.J. Wilson
|
0 Comments
|
Hoarders, people who accumulate over and above the necessary amount of material goods needed to live successfully, can create home health hazards that pose physical danger. For instance, a hoarder may clutter their home, leading to fire and tripping hazards or unsanitary places to live. This inability to manage things can be tied to mental unwellness.
Hoarding & mental health
Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition that makes it challenging for people to throw things away. Per WebMD, “Researchers aren’t sure why some people form hoarding disorder, but certain things raise your odds of getting it. For instance, you’re much more likely to have hoarding disorder if another family member has it or you grew up in a hoarding environment.” They point out that age is another factor. Hoarding is three times more common in adults over 55, as compared to young adults and kids. Research shows that people who hoard are likely to have experienced trauma, particularly in childhood. This may include death of a loved one, divorce, home robbery, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or a disaster. Hoarders frequently find comfort in having things around them and fear making the wrong choice by donating goods or tossing junk.
Clutter vs. hoarding
Having some clutter is different than hoarding. Clutter refers to collections of things lying around in an untidy mess. Clutter is sometimes defined as a less severe form of hoarding. However, someone with clutter might be willing to physically part with items they have accumulated. Whereas someone who hoards is generally unwilling to let things go. WebMD describes that “Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition that makes it hard to throw things away. You save things regardless of how much they’re worth.” They specify that hoarding disorder is “a subtype of obsessive-compulsive hoarding” and is a unique condition “separate from general obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
People who hoard are likely to experience some negative consequences which may include these examples:
- Increased physical danger due to crowded and unsafe conditions.
- An unhealthy emotional attachment to possessions.
- Higher levels of stress, depression, or anxiety.
- Cleanliness and personal hygiene problems.
- Embarrassment and strained relationships due to hoarding.
- Workplace challenges.
- Financial troubles.
- Declining property values.
First-hand experience
67-year-old Louise from New Jersey was increasingly becoming socially isolated due to hoarding. She also lived in discomfort, unable to sleep in her own bed due to clutter. She could not cook because she used her stove and oven for canned food storage. Her countertops were piled high with mail and old newspapers. She could no longer take a bath or shower because her tub was filled with clothes. Her house began to smell because she couldn’t clean it. Her son refused to visit her. He threatened to end their relationship because he couldn’t stand to see her living in such poor conditions. Louise reluctantly decided to get counseling to work through the traumatic events of her past that likely prompted her hoarding behavior. She also began working with a professional organizer to get the clutter under control and hopes to save her relationship with her son.
Mental health help
In Louise’s case, the help of a licensed mental health professional was required. In the old days, people assumed that hoarders were just lazy people who lacked motivation. We now know that hoarding is more than someone being lazy – and the act of hoarding ties into one’s mental state. People with hoarding disorders have a mental health condition that requires treatment. Hoarders rarely seek professional help by their own desire. Rather, concerned family members are typically the ones to contact a licensed mental health professional to help the person in distress. While therapy can serve as a standalone treatment for hoarding, doctors sometimes use a combination of therapy and drugs, depending upon the patient’s condition.
The negative impact of clutter
It’s been well established that a connection between mental health and hoarding exists. Experts say that around 2% to 5% of adults may have hoarding disorder. Despite this 2024 statistic, WebMD reports that the condition is likely undiagnosed in many people. Experts in the organizing field suggest that a connection also exists between an organized home and happy, positive people. The Alliance for Health Equity shares, “Research has demonstrated the negative impact of clutter and the positive impact of cleaning on mental health.” They cite several studies which conclude that clutter may contribute to anxiety, depression, and higher levels of stress hormone (cortisol) in the body. According to Verywell Mind, “If you’ve ever felt stressed out, frustrated, or just plain overwhelmed when your house is a mess, you probably recognize the connection between cleanliness and mental health. That’s why cleaning up and decluttering can sometimes feel so good – and even a bit therapeutic.”
Clutter equals stress
It’s easy to prove that a clean and organized home creates a safer and healthier physical environment. But can people benefit mentally from home organization? Experts say yes. Verywell Mind shares that cluttered environments can have a negative impact on the mind. In one study, young women cared for an infant in either a normal or cluttered environment. The findings showed that chaos didn’t affect mood or responsiveness, but that physical stress levels were higher for women in the cluttered home. They explain, “To the brain, clutter represents unfinished business and this lack of completeness can be highly stressful for some people.”
Organizing field weighs in
People in the organizing field who help clients declutter describe how joyful their clients feel once a room is restored to a calm, uncluttered state. Gaining control over their environment not only melts the stress away, but makes people feel empowered. People who have less clutter can also focus better. Psychology Today shares that clutter creates chaos which impacts one’s ability to focus. “Clutter is a form of visual distraction, which increases cognitive overload and can reduce working memory. If your place is unorganized and filled with clutter, it can be difficult to focus or concentrate.” Backed by research, they describe, people are less irritable, less distracted, more productive, and better able to process information in an organized and uncluttered workspace.
Being in control
The picture is clear; a strong correlation exists between how we live and keep our spaces and our mental health. We live in a material world where it’s easy to accumulate goods. And, we have two choices; we can let our things control us or we can control our things. People must make conscientious decisions to release (toss, donate, sell, or repurpose) things that are unwanted or no longer serve a purpose. Those who continually bring new items into the home and have an inability to get rid of things can likely benefit from professional help to reap the mental health benefits of an organized home.
Disclosure: This article is purely informational and is not intended as a medical resource or substitute for professional help.
Read full article here