3 Steps That Will Help You If Moving With a Hoarder
At The Betty Brigade, we often deal with hoarding situations of varying degrees. Most often, we are left to clear out homes that have been left by hoarders who have passed away, but what do you do when you have to work alongside a hoarder? One of our bloggers has some great insight on what it’s like when dealing & moving with a hoarder. Enjoy!
Moving from one house to another is never easy, but the situation gets really complicated when you need to deal with a hoarder. It’s important to understand the severity of this condition and approach it with kindness and consideration. Hoarders tend to become extremely attached to their possessions, finding it hard--and even painful--to let go of items that might seem irrelevant to you. You need to assist them to decide what’s worth keeping and what needs to go.
Understand the Problem
Often, the moving process causes a clash between hoarders and their family. This is due to the fact that many people don’t think of the problem as a serious psychological disease. Hoarding is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The condition is usually associated with other symptoms like attention deficit and difficulty in processing information. Hoarding is different from collecting. Collectors have a variety of items kept in a well–organized fashion. Their primary purpose is to display an object in a way that allows others to enjoy it. People who hoard acquire many things, and as a result, they have difficulties organizing them.
Have the Right Attitude
Hoarding can be caused by a fear of losing important item or information or because of an emotional attachment. Some hoarders keep an object only because they appreciate its appearance. You need to know that your family member cannot control their hoarding habits. Furthermore, they might resist any change in their lifestyle because they feel shame or denial.That is why you should avoid judgments at any cost. Show compassion and respect. You can also seek a professional help from a psychiatrist or therapist. They can give you an adequate advice and tips. Of course, you should first ask your family member. Excluding them from the process will only make them more hostile towards the idea of decluttering.
The Moving
The first thing you need to do when preparing to move into a new home with a hoarder is to start sorting. Allow enough time to decide what things you are taking with you. Leave the hoarder to take the final decisions. Let them do the packaging on their own. Then you can discuss their decisions. In this way, they will feel like they are in control of the situation. You can assist them by asking the following questions:
When was the last time you used or needed this?
Do you plan to use it in the future?
What will be the impact of keeping this item?
If the hoarder shows resistance, talk with them calmly about the benefits of decluttering. Explain to them that they will feel freer and better once they get rid of the unnecessary. If they are still unable to let go, make sure they know that you will preserve their possessions in a storage facility. To reduce stress, work in one room at a time. Take advantage of a third-party opinion by hiring an expert organizer. Although these tips will help you manage the moving process, we recommend thinking of long-term help. You can trust London Removals Ltd. – an expert removal company that can help you with every aspect of your packing and moving. Sometimes letting go is something that a hoarder just can’t do. It doesn’t mean it will never happen; it just means they can’t make that decision right now. In order to work past what is causing the underlying issues, we always recommend that they see a certified therapist who is familiar with hoarding and compulsive behavior disorders. If the situation is severe enough, we sometimes have to step back from our jobs and wait for them to be ready to let us help. By seeing a therapist and working together, this process often gets easier, but it really depends on the individual person. Were you ever in such a situation? Please, feel free to comment and share. And if we can help you with moving and organizing, please get in touch with us via our website or give us a call Toll-free at 1-888-742-3889. Until next time – Keep It Simple!
