OCD and Hoarding

Happy OCD Awareness Week

The same-day junk removal crews at Junk.com perform hoarding cleanups for people who struggle with hoarding disorder. 

What is hoarding, and how is it related to obsessive compulsive disorder? Junk.com answers.

October 12^th through 18^th marks OCD Awareness Week, a time to bust myths and smash stigma around living with obsessive compulsive disorder. According to the International OCD Foundation, around 240 million people worldwide live with obsessive compulsive disorder, a serious mental health condition characterized by uncontrollable recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors. People living with severe OCD might repeatedly perform checks, wash hands, or count objects. 

OCD is linked to several other serious mental health conditions like body-focused repetitive behaviors, body dysmorphic disorder, and hoarding disorder.

The Connection Between OCD and Hoarding Disorder

Historically, hoarding has been listed as a symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in the DSM. In the DSM-5 updated in 2013, hoarding disorder became a unique diagnosis under the umbrella of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 

Hoarding disorder involves the excessive accumulation of items and difficulty getting rid of items. People who struggle with hoarding behavior experience severe distress at the thought of having to let go of items. Hoarding disorder can exist alongside many related mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and OCD.

One study found that almost 25% of their participants with diagnosed OCD also had hoarding tendencies. 

While the exact cause of hoarding behavior is likely a combination of environmental factors, traumatic life experiences, and genetics, there is a region on chromosome 14 that appears to be linked to compulsive hoarding. 

Both OCD and hoarding disorder are often treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which can be administered by a mental health professional. 

How Junk Removal Can Help in Hoarding Situations

When a person who struggles with hoarding disorder starts treatment, there’s still the problem of the excessive accumulation of items to deal with. This is where junk removal can help in hoarding situations.

If hoarding disorder has been left untreated for years then the person struggling with hoarding might have unsafe or unsanitary conditions at their home. Junk removal services are well equipped to handle any serious junk disposal job. Junk.com approaches hoarding cleanups with empathy and discretion. 

The junk removal team can perform a full cleanout and allow the former hoarder a chance to reclaim both their space and their life. All unwanted items are removed and sorted to ensure that usable items are donated, salvageable materials are recycled, and the remaining garage is responsibly disposed of. 

Once the junk removal job is complete, the team will leave the area broom-clean. 

Celebrate Freedom From Junk

This OCD Awareness Week, celebrate the loved ones in your life who struggle with hoarding disorder. While OCD and hoarding can have severe symptoms that interfere with daily living, you know your loved one is so much more than their diagnosis. The path to healing and functional living spaces is waiting. When your loved one is ready to take back their space from excess hoarding clutter, contact Junk.com

Use the online booking tool or call (844) 771-6830 to get an expert junk removal team out to appraise your hoarding cleanup job as soon as today.