HOARDING: THOUGHTS and VALUES

Thoughts and Values that Fuel Hoarding Behavior
Guest post written by Renae M. Reinardy, Psy.D., LP
www.lakesidecenter.org

In all areas of our life we hold concepts about the way that we think things should be, and how people should behave. These concepts are maintained by our day-to-day thoughts and general values. Unfortunately, few of us have a crystal clear view of the way that things actually are. Our misconceptions can produce behaviors that may not serve us well, despite our best intentions.

Hoarding is just another example of when our thoughts and values can be misguided and get us into a pickle. There are a number of researchers that are now looking at hoarding and we are starting to get a better understanding of some commonly held misconceptions that contribute to this behavior. It is important to remember that hoarding is very complex and these are just a few factors to consider when analyzing this behavior and working toward change.

Values:

Reasons for saving and purchasing items can be classified into three types of values that individuals place on possessions. First, items are believed to have instrumental value and are saved or purchased because they are viewed as practical items that are useful. Example: I am going to save this butter container because it will be great to store leftovers.

Secondly, possessions are seen as having sentimental value. This is when the individual attributes emotional meaning and attachment to the item, and their possessions are seen as extensions of the self, or a representation of others. Example: I am going to save all of my old college papers, because if I get rid of them I might never remember the information that I learned and thus lose my knowledge. Or, if I through away this artwork that my child made, it means that I am throwing a piece of them away.

Third, possessions can have intrinsic value, where the item may not necessarily be useful or meaningful, but rather these items are saved because they are believed to have some characteristic that makes them too valuable to be thrown away. Example: This shirt doesn’t fit and it isn’t very meaningful, but I really like the color….and it still has the tags on it.

It is important to remember that most of us experience these values when it involves possessions, however in hoarders these values are applied more generally and felt more intensely. These values tend to then over-repeat themselves and result in hundreds of butter containers, papers, art projects, and unused items. The attributions of these values occur on a continuum and when hoarding is severe almost anything can have attributed value. This is where we might see squalor conditions.

Thoughts:

Thoughts may include erroneous beliefs about the nature and meaning of one’s possessions. The following is a list of commonly held beliefs that maintain hoarding and compulsive acquisition. For more information on these beliefs look at research written by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee:

1. Thoughts about excessive perfectionism

• So concerned about making a mistake that they avoid discarding and organizing behaviors.

2. Beliefs about memory

• Belief that objects need to remain in sight or they will be forgotten or lost. Can lead to empty file cabinets and everything in the open.
• Belief that they need to remember written information and leads to saving magazines, newspapers, etc.

3. The opportunities possessions provide

• Belief that possession may contain information or opportunities to improve their lives or the lives of others. By discarding items, opportunities are lost.

4. The importance of items

• The belief that everything has a purpose and use.
• Objects may be worth saving simply because there must have been some reason to have saved it all these years.

5. Responsibility and control of possessions

• Belief that they must be prepared for the future.
• Acquire and keep many "just in case" items because of their possible utility to themselves or others.
• May feel responsible for making a mistake or harm occurring as a result of not having a needed possession, and have catastrophic thoughts about not having a needed item.
• Sense of moral responsibility and feel responsible for the appropriate use of possessions, and are careful not to be wasteful.
• Belief that possessions are a source of safety and control. A person who hoards often feels comforted by acquiring new possessions or just being around the possessions they already have in their home.
• May have excessive concern over controlling their possessions and feel vulnerable without them. Hoarders are less willing to share their possessions or allow them to be touched by others. Unauthorized touching or discarding of possession by others can prompt hoarders to feel violated and often evoke strong feelings of anger. This often occurs when family members or friends attempt to help a hoarder clean and organize their home.

6. Emotional Attachment

• They may bestow human-like qualities to possessions and feel like they need to protect possessions from harm. They often view possessions as extensions of themselves that need to be taken care of.

In order to successfully treat hoarding it is important to determine what thoughts and values need to be addressed and tweaked. Therapists use a strategy called- Cognitive restructuring. Cognitive restructuring includes helping the client think about their possessions in a different way. This involves recognizing hoarding beliefs (I need this), challenging them (I already have 5 of these), and replacing them with more adaptive thoughts (I do not need this because I have 5 of them, and saving this will not help my hoarding problem).

As was mentioned, hoarding is a multifaceted condition and it is very helpful to gain knowledge in order to produce lasting change. You are encouraged to keep learning more and set realistic goals to declutter inside and out. Best wishes.

Dr. Reinardy has created a video for those interested in learning more about the common characteristics and contributing variables found in hoarding behavior. In this educational video she demonstrates techniques that can be used to effectively declutter a home. The information and strategies will be helpful for those who hoard, their family members, and professionals who work with this population. A special price of $35.00, plus shipping + handling, is offered for readers of this blog. To receive your discount, enter, “Metro Blog” next to your name, on the order form.