Hoarding is a complex disorder that is often associated with trauma. Research has found links between traumatic experiences and the development of hoarding behaviors later in life. In this article, we will explore what types of trauma may lead to hoarding and the psychological factors behind this connection.
What is hoarding disorder?
Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty in parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save them. People with hoarding disorder have trouble throwing away possessions, regardless of their actual value or usefulness. As things pile up, living spaces become cluttered, disorganized, and unusable.
In order to be diagnosed with hoarding disorder, the hoarding must cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. The excessive acquisition and inability to discard possessions often interferes with daily activities, work, social life, and relationships.
Hoarding vs collecting
Hoarding behaviors are different from collecting. Collectors look for specific items related to a theme or interest. Their collections are well-organized and do not take over living spaces. Hoarders amass large amounts of seemingly random items that are in disarray and prevent normal use of rooms.
Prevalence of hoarding
An estimated 2-5% of the population exhibits hoarding behavior that may lead to distress or interference in functioning. Hoarding disorder affects both males and females, but research indicates that females are more commonly affected. Hoarding can begin early in life but often intensifies in later adulthood.
Causes and risk factors
The exact causes of hoarding are unknown, but it likely involves a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors. Genetics may play a role, as hoarding tends to run in families. Abnormalities in brain functioning and information processing have been noted in people with hoarding disorder.
Certain experiences and conditions also increase the risk for hoarding, including:
- Trauma and loss
- Stressful life events
- Perfectionism
- Indecisiveness
- Social isolation
- Cognitive impairments
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
The link between trauma and hoarding
There is strong evidence that trauma and loss play a significant role in hoarding disorder for many individuals. Studies have found high rates of trauma among people who hoard, especially interpersonal trauma such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, and neglect experienced in childhood.
Other types of trauma commonly reported by people with hoarding disorder include:
- Death of a loved one
- Divorce or end of an important relationship
- Serious medical problems
- War trauma
- Natural disasters
- House fires
- Assault
How trauma impacts hoarding
There are several ways that traumatic experiences may contribute to the development and maintenance of hoarding behaviors:
Attachment and security
Trauma, especially in childhood, can disrupt healthy attachment between a child and caregiver. This makes the child feel insecure and unsafe. Possessions may come to represent love, comfort, or security for traumatized children when human connection is lacking. The compulsive need to hoard items stems from this desire to attain safety and comfort.
Control and predictability
Trauma shatters a person’s sense of security and makes the world seem unpredictable. Hoarding may initially arise from attempts to re-establish control and order after a traumatic event. Keeping objects provides comfort because the hoarded possessions are constant and controllable.
Unresolved grief
Trauma often involves loss through death, destruction of property, or the end of relationships. Hoarding may represent unfinished grieving if trauma survivors cannot emotionally process these losses. Keeping possessions symbolically holds onto what was lost.
Self-worth and identity
Interpersonal trauma like abuse can damage self-esteem. Hoarding may develop as a maladaptive attempt to restore a positive sense of self-worth if trauma survivors measure their value through acquiring and saving possessions.
Cognitive impairments
Trauma may impact brain regions linked to decision-making, organization, and cognitive flexibility. These brain changes make it very difficult for trauma survivors to organize and discard possessions. Impaired cognitive skills reinforce hoarding behaviors.
Types of trauma linked to hoarding
Many different traumatic events have been associated with hoarding disorder, including:
Childhood trauma
Childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are strongly linked to hoarding later in life. Parental neglect, family instability, and parental loss during childhood also increase hoarding behaviors.
| Type of Childhood Trauma | Potential Impact on Hoarding |
|---|---|
| Physical abuse | Need to hoard for safety and control |
| Sexual abuse | Extreme attachment to possessions to cope |
| Emotional abuse or neglect | Hoarding for comfort and self-worth |
| Parental loss | Keeping possessions symbolically holds onto parents |
Natural disasters
Living through hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires, and other disasters increases hoarding behaviors. Material losses are traumatic, while the uncertainty of the aftermath prompts hoarding for security.
House fires
Fires damage home and destroy possessions, which can spur trauma-based hoarding. Some attempts to replace what was lost, while others start hoarding items that seem difficult to obtain again, like clothes or memorabilia.
War and violence
The trauma of living in a war zone or being a victim of violence can lead to hoarding. The lack of security and unpredictability of the environment prompt hoarding for safety and control.
| Type of Trauma | Hoarding Patterns |
|---|---|
| Natural disasters | Hoarding food, water, batteries, generators, flashlights, etc. |
| House fires | Hoarding clothes to replace lost wardrobe |
| War/violence | Hoarding money, weapons, supplies for safety |
Loss of loved ones
Bereavement after the loss of loved ones through death or relationship breakdown often precedes hoarding. Unresolved grief fuels keeping possessions as reminders of lost loved ones.
Medical trauma
Serious illness or surgery are linked to increased hoarding tendencies. Facing one’s mortality often spurs hoarding behavior driven by insecurity and desire for control.
Hoarding patterns with different trauma experiences
While all hoarding stems from underlying psychological issues, the specific items hoarded often relate to the original trauma:
- Childhood deprivation – Hoarding food, clothes, or anything perceived as essential
- Instability and chaos – Hoarding money, documentation, medications, or items that represent safety/security
- Interpersonal loss – Hoarding memorabilia, photos, gifts, or possessions of deceased/lost loved ones
- Abuse – Hoarding everything and anything possible due to extreme attachment
- Natural disasters – Hoarding emergency supplies, practical items for survival
Treatment for trauma-related hoarding
Since trauma often contributes to hoarding, treatment must address trauma-based beliefs and emotions through psychotherapy. Common approaches include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – Identifies and challenges thoughts/behaviors that maintain hoarding
- Trauma-focused CBT – Processes trauma memories and beliefs driving hoarding
- Exposure therapy – Reduces attachment to possessions through repeated discarding
- Support groups – Provides understanding from others who experienced trauma
Medications may help manage accompanying issues like depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD that exacerbate hoarding after trauma. However, psychotherapy focused on trauma is key to resolving core reasons for hoarding.
Conclusion
Hoarding is a complex disorder that is often traced back to traumatic experiences, especially early childhood trauma. Abuse, loss, disasters, and other trauma can shatter one’s sense of security. Hoarding may initially arise as a self-protective or coping response. The compulsive attachment to possessions represents an attempt to regain safety, control, identity, and emotional comfort after trauma. Treatment for trauma-based hoarding must address unresolved trauma and grief through psychotherapy. With support, trauma survivors can learn to process traumatic memories in healthy ways and develop alternative coping skills to manage trauma’s lingering effects.