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

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Safeguarding Adults Week | Day Seven

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Safeguarding Adults Week | Day Five