Hoarding Cleanup: How To Help A Hoarder In Denial
Finding the right way to help a hoarder in denial is challenging but not impossible. Though the problem starts with a simple collection of items, the hoarders aren't able to acknowledge that it is an issue, and soon, the stuff will eat up the whole living space. Here lies the first issue: acknowledgment. Hoarders never accept that hoarding is an issue and causes big troubles for them, such as health issues and fire. Even after being confronted by loved ones, they wouldn't realize that they are facing a psychological disorder and in utter need of help.
Collecting valuable things isn't bad, but collecting stuff of no use, like garbage, interferes and disrupts your and your loved ones' lives. Thus, proper treatment is essential, but the real problem is how to help a hoarder in denial. Let's explore 12 tips about helping a hoarder who doesn't want help.
12 Things to Do to Help a Hoarder in Denial
Let's see how to help a hoarder in denial through 12 different ways.
Force isn't Good
Hoarders have an emotional attachment to their stuff or have some trauma associated with it. They may deal with anxiety or depression, or decluttering can worsen the situation. There might be some underlying reason that they may feel difficult to express or explain. So, don't confront them without knowledge or force them to declutter homes.
Discussion Solves Things
Please don't argue with hoarders; instead, listen to them non-judgmentally and allow them to open up to you. As they are in strong denial, you have to be patient during conversations.
Show Love
Hoarders may interpret your words as a personal attack. So, in the initial conversation, show them that you understand their emotions and care for them. Even if they deny the need for your help, show them that you still love and support them without any reason.
Seek Professional Help
Professional help is important, whether related to hoarding behavior or clutter cleaning. So, cognitive behavioral therapy or local support groups will play a positive but crucial role in the lives of those suffering from hoarding disorder.
Moreover, you can also ask professional hoarding and biohazard material removal services for efficient and safe cleanup of the hoarders' homes.
Questions
During your conversations, you can ask questions about their feelings about their home and living conditions. Ask them their viewpoint, whether their collection affects people in their home or their friends.
Don't Try To Clean Their Area
It doesn't matter how much you feel irritated about the hoarders' hoard; don't try to start cleaning on your own without their permission. The things you think of as junk are valuable to them, and if you don't ask for permission, they might feel betrayed.
Education
Hoarding is a mental disorder and may be associated with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and other psychotic disorders. In order to deal with the hoarder, it's necessary to know about hoarding, its underlying causes, and its effects.
Make Hoarder Accepted
You have to make hoarders accept the reality and prepare them for change before doing so. If you can't address the issue, the hoarder might start hoarding junk stuff again.
Volunteer
Volunteer your help so much that hoarders think you are also a part of their recovery. Go for therapy sessions together, get involved in healthy conversation, start cleaning together, build healthy habits, etc.
Avoid Hoarding
You can also help a hoarder with your actions. Don't go shopping with them, especially the things they hoard, don't make areas clear for more storage, and don't give them anything as presents that can be a part of their junk stuff.
Shower Empathy
Hoarders' behaviors are sometimes too complex to endure, but if you leave them at such a crucial point, they will never recover from this mental illness. So, continue to shower your support and empathy and help them in their recovery.
Celebrate and Appreciate Their Small Wins
Hoarding disorder needs a lot of time to recover as it is a complex behavior. So, don't underestimate their efforts for recovery and the small victories they win. It's time to celebrate your encouragement and their struggles for recovery from this mental disorder.
10 Things You Should Not Do To Hoarders
We have already listed things you should do to help a hoarder, but here are some things you should not do to anyone with a hoarding disorder. So, you don't
make fun of their situation
question their hoarding habit in a disrespectful tone
suggest them to remove all the stuff and dishearten them
show frustration or get angry
touch the hoard without permission in the beginning
talk about reason and suggest them to be sensible
treat them like a child
treat them like criminals
suggest what they should do to clean their homes
be stressed out or panic
Why does Hoarder's Deny Help?
When it comes to the topic of denial, hoarders deny many things like
● deny the reality of hoarding as a disorder
● deny the reality of junk stuff as harmful to health and cause damage to property
● deny the need to declutter homes
● deny the need for loved ones help
● deny the need for a therapist
● deny the need for a hoarding cleaning company
But the question is, why do they deny all these things? Don't they want a healthy and happy life? The answer is they will want it if they can understand that they are facing a mental disorder. Hoarders usually deny it because of
● embarrassment and shame
● social anxiety
● emotional attachment to hoarded stuff, which may cause emotional pain while cleaning
● Fear of loss, which causes intense anxiety and grief
● Overwhelming situation
● Control issues
● social stigma
● lack of understanding
● lack of support
In most cases, hoarders deny the help from others in three ways
● By saying and showing that their living conditions are okay.
● By not accepting that they have any mental health disorder. They show that they have an understanding of everything and they can clean their homes by themselves.
● They try to hide their condition and create distance from their close family members and friends. They become introverts and don't allow people to enter their homes, visit other people, or involve themselves in conversation, especially related to hoarding.
How To Help a Hoarder in Denial by Hiring 911 Bio & Trauma Cleaners
People who don't want help are more challenging to assist. Decluttering homes isn't only emotionally difficult but also causes many health and cleaning hazards. So, cleaning The homes yourself is not recommended. Instead, hiring a professional cleaning service like 911 Bio & Trauma Cleaners is a wise decision.
With our 15 years of experience and a properly trained and experienced team, we use OSHA-approved equipment, safety gear, and cleaning chemicals to remediate and sanitize the hoarder areas. In addition, we also prioritize your safety and health, and we do everything efficiently without damaging your accessories and property.
No mess too big, no detail too small. We handle everything with expertise and respect, restoring order and tranquility. Just hire us to make your home again the living space that you have always wished for.