Safeguarding Adults Week | Day Six
Day Six
What is Hoarding?
Members of Bringing Hoarders Together (BHT) were asked the question, what is hoarding? These were their answers:
A coping mechanism
Helped by peer groups!
Seeing a use/purpose for something
Hoarding gives you a choice!
It’s a comfort thing - going back to the womb (feeling safe and secure)
It is often triggered by trauma or pain
Hoarding engulfs you
Hoarding is isolating - but it’s not always a bad thing
Being at home surrounded by our stuff!
Misunderstood!
A mental health disorder
Losing friendships
Lack of support and help
Having no suitable support services
About gaining or maintaining control back in your home
A label!
Facing stigma, even when you are doing all you can to improve yourself and the situation
Looking after other’s needs, not your own
Putting up with people treating you badly
About self-sacrifice – giving things away to make people/housing/friends happy
Often impacted by poor mobility or health
Creates anxiety and or depression
Losing confidence in yourself
Overwhelming
De-humanising the person behind the hoarding
Made worse by the media
Forcing you to part with memories
Distressing and exhausting