How CBT can treat obsessive hoarding
Hoarding is an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where the hoarder struggles to dispose of any possessions, no matter how small or unimportant the object may seem.
The results of a hoarding obsession are evident in the number of items the hoarder stores, which can create an uncontrollable amount of chaotic clutter. In very extreme cases the sheer number of items a hoarder owns can interfere with everyday life. A person may become unable to use certain rooms in their house, which can cause high levels of stress for them.
They can also experience distress if another person tries to remove or tidy the clutter, which can have a negative effect on the hoarder’s relationship with family members.
Using CBT techniques for hoarding disorders
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy that aims to adapt the way that hoarders think about their possessions and establish the reasons behind their inability to discard items, even the ones that have little or no monetary value.
A qualified and experience CBT practitioner will work with the client to help them understand and eliminate the reasons they feel to compelled to keep items.
Many feel anxious that if they throw a possession away, they will need it at some point in the future. Some may struggle with decisions as to which items to keep and to avoid making a choice, they simply store everything.
CBT therapists will ask questions to help the hoarder make more rational decisions about which items should be kept and which they can let go. By challenging hoarders to think about what the worst possible outcome could be by throwing away an item of no value, the therapist can help the client reassess their unhealthy attitudes towards the amount of possessions they have chosen to hold on to.
The hoarder will also be taught to think about how they can use and store the items they do chose to keep, giving them important tools to rationalise the decision-making process towards items of no use or value to them.
Hoarding OCD can be a challenging condition to live with and to treat, as there are so many reasons a person chooses to keep clutter, but by working with a CBT therapist they can begin to understand the reasons why it has become so difficult to part with the clutter and chaos that they have surrounded themselves with.
By changing the negative behavioural patterns of a hoarder, the person can slowly begin to move on with their lives. They will have with a clear plan and thought process that will allow them to declutter and take back control of their surroundings and the relationships they have with their possessions in a more healthy and positive manner. Contact Jamie Dempsey M.A. BABCP accredited CBT therapist (About me link) will help you to take the first steps to break free from an OCD disorder.
