Are YOU a secret hoarder? Expert reveals the top warning signs you're having trouble letting go – as he warns the condition is much more common than people might think
The word “hamster” gets thrown around a lot, but as a behavior disorders professional, Dr. David Tolin knows exactly what to look for – and how to fix it.
Tolin, who will appear in the upcoming season of the reality TV series Hoarders on A&E, shared that hoarding disorders are much more common than you might think.
Approximately 19 million Americans suffer from hoarding disorder, with many needing professional help to overcome the behavior disorder – sometimes to save their lives.
“Hoarding disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by extreme difficulty throwing away or otherwise letting go of possessions,” Tolin told DailyMail.com.
Dr. David Tolin (pictured), who will appear in the upcoming season of the reality TV series Hoarders on A&E, said hoarding disorders are much more common than you might think
He explained that hoarding is different from “cluttering,” and reiterated that homes can often become unlivable or unsafe.
“(This) results in clutter accumulating to the point where the living areas in the home are no longer usable for their intended purpose,” he added.
Tolin explained that hoarding is different than just “making a mess,” and reiterated that homes can often become unlivable or unsafe.
“This is the point where the person really can't let go of things and has reached the point where their home is no longer functional,” he continued.
“(Hoarders) become very attached to their belongings.”
The psychologist said there were different types of attachments related to the possessions they hoarded; with sentimental attachment, use-based attachment, and aesthetic attachment listed as some of the most common.
When it came to a sentimental attachment, Tolin said a person associated an item with a good time in their life, or with a good person, and so had difficulty letting it go.
Regarding use-based attachment, Tolin gave this example: “(Think that an item) is very important, and I will need it or someone will need it, and it is my responsibility to see that it is preserved.”
Each episode focuses on someone struggling with hoarding tendencies as he teams up with experts, friends and family in a race against time to help him declutter his house.
Some people are simply attached to possessions just for their aesthetic qualities, he added.
“The things that are usually held up are exactly the kinds of things that are probably cluttering your house and my house right now,” Tolin explained.
According to the pro, there isn't just one thing a hoarder will gravitate towards, but will generally have a hard time letting go of things.
“So it's newspapers, magazines, clothes that no longer fit and they no longer want to wear, they're things that we think someone else will need,” he summed up.
He added that while it is not common, people have been known to keep body fluids, nail clippings or even the bodies of dead cats in some very serious cases.
Tolin usually spends four months treating people for their hoarding disorder, although he noted that sometimes it takes a while to clean out a house.
“Even after they're treated, it becomes something you have to work with and something you have to deal with, maybe for the rest of your life,” he said.
Hoarding leads to clutter that accumulates to the point where living spaces in the home are no longer usable for their intended purpose
Tolin suggests thinking about each item you decide to keep and asking yourself why you want to keep it, and helping people learn ways to regulate their intense emotions related to possessions.
“So, you know, ask, 'Why do I feel like I need this? What does this actually do for me?'” he suggested.
Tolin said it also helped put it into perspective in terms of larger goals.
'What do I actually want my house to look like?' he said. 'Why is it that I actually want to function? And are these goals best served by sticking with this item? Or by letting it go?'
On the upcoming season of Hoarders, Tolin, who will consult on an upcoming episode featuring a midwife named Terri who struggles with hoarding, said there aren't many long-term studies yet on hoarding disorders manifesting in children.
“When we interview adults with hoarding disorder, they often tell us that the behavior has been present since childhood, and that it has gotten progressively worse as they get older, and probably levels off as the person reaches middle age,” he explained .
Hoarders is an Emmy-nominated and Critics Choice Television Award-winning series that focuses on some of the most extreme and challenging hoarders.
Each episode focuses on someone struggling with hoarding tendencies as they team up with experts, friends and family in a race against time to help them declutter their home and regain balance in their lives.