Recognizing Compulsive Hoarding
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matt_Murren]Matt Murren

Compulsive hoarding is a mental disorder. It often isn't recognized and goes untreated for years. If someone one you know has this disorder, it is important that it be treated as soon as possible. You can help along the way by being aware of the symptoms, having compassion and concern for the person and by being ready to offer support wherever it is needed.

Hoarding becomes compulsive when the person is unable to stop acquiring things and is unwilling and unable to dispose of any of his possessions. The hoarder thinks that everything he has is valuable now and will continue to be worth something in the future. Hoarders keep everything, including garbage and completely worthless papers and so on. They stack all of their possessions haphazardly in and outside their homes, thrown on countertops, in corners, in hallways and anywhere they can find some empty space.

If you know someone who is a hoarder, take the time to find out all you can about the disorder. Being knowledgeable about what to look for and how to handle the situation is very important. A hoarder has a mental illness that he probably doesn't recognize and, as such, feels there is no need for him to seek help. If you have some real health and safety concerns about the hoarder and his residence, you may need to contact the proper authorities such as your local health department.

Once a person is identified as a hoarder, he can start forward on the road to recovery. Intervention by you or others will help the hoarder finally become aware that what he is doing is not normal and that his actions need to be changed. He may be referred for therapy, where he is likely to be put on medications that will help him deal with his life in a more productive way.

Compulsive hoarding by a person you know can be confusing and stressful and often leads to isolation and anti-social behavior by the hoarder. Your responsibility, as their friend, is to offer as much of yourself as you can to help them along a sometimes long road to recovery.

Matt writes more about compulsive hoarding at [http://www.hoarding-advisor.com/]http://www.hoarding-advisor.com/compulsivehoarding.html

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Recognizing-Compulsive-Hoarding&id=4010996] Recognizing Compulsive Hoarding