If you have a loved one who is struggling with Hoarding Disorder, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to help them. With the right approach and support, you can help them clean their hoarded house and improve their living conditions. In this blog post, we will discuss some helpful tips on how to help a loved one with hoarding and their home.
Educate Yourself About Hoarding Disorder
The first step in helping a loved one with Hoarding Disorder is to educate yourself about this condition. Many people may not understand that hoarding is not just a matter of being disorganized or messy. It's a mental condition that often requires professional treatment. Do some research, read books, and articles about HD, and try to understand its causes and symptoms. Understanding the disorder will enable you to approach your loved one with empathy and provide them with the right support.
Encourage Your Loved One to Seek Professional Help
People with HD may experience overwhelming anxiety and stress when asked to throw away their possessions. As a result, trying to help them without professional support may be challenging and ineffective. Encourage them to seek professional help, like a therapist specializing in hoarding and other forms of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. Therapists can provide them with the right tools to manage their anxiety and work through their compulsions.
Offer Practical Support
Hoarding can make it challenging for people to keep their homes clean and organized. Offering practical support to help them declutter is a great way to help. You can offer to help them sort their belongings, suggest which items to keep or discard, or help them find the right storage solutions. This process may be slow and challenging, so be patient and respectful of your loved one's pace.
Support Your Loved One's Recovery
Cleaning a hoarded house is just one part of the recovery process. Those struggling with hoarding need ongoing emotional support during and after the cleanup process. Help them create healthy habits, encourage them to stick with their therapy appointments, and offer to check in on them regularly!
As for their homes, they can become unsanitary and dangerous, with hazards like mold growth, pest infestations, or fire hazards. In some cases, the home may require professional cleaning to restore it to a safe and healthy condition. Hiring a professional hoarding cleanup company like Bio-One can ensure that the cleaning process is done safely, respectfully, and with discretion.
Bio-One of Pittsburgh Can Help
Hoarding can be challenging to manage, and helping a loved one can be overwhelming. However, armed with knowledge, empathy, and the right resources, you can assist your loved one in cleaning their hoarded home and transforming their environment into a clean, safe, and healthy space. Remember, every step towards recovery is a positive change.
If the home requires professional cleaning, Bio-One of Pittsburgh can help provide discreet, mindful, and respectful home restoration services.
