Understanding hoarding behavior

 While pioneers and experts on the subject of hoarding are still unlocking the puzzle of what causes this compulsive behavior that is in today’s media spotlight, it is believed that hoarding has both genetic and socialized components (nature and nurture).

Hoarding has been related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorder, but it is distinct and will have its own classification in the forthcoming DSM-5. Hoarding involves not only an excessive accumulation of objects, but especially an excessive difficulty discarding them—to the point where this causes distress for the hoarder, problems in his/her relationships, impaired movement/use of space, and other consequences.

Theories about what causes hoarding include:

·        Getting a high from accumulating, and feeling pain/anxiety when discarding.

·        Reaction to change, trauma, loss, stress—control over little things.

·        Social anxiety/phobia; isolation/protection.

·        Shaky sense of self and over-identification with objects.

·        Problems with attention/organization.

·        Problems processing information/categorizing.

·        Problems making decisions.

·        Problems with memory (too much/too little).

·        Attempts to experience safety, security, control.

With compulsive stealing, spending and hoarding I have observed roughly 10 emotional issues that often appear at the root of the person’s compulsions, representing the fuel that drives them. These include:

1. Anger; to try to take back, to make life fair.

2. Grief; to fill the void due to a loss.

3. Depression; to distract from sadness, to get a lift.

4. Anxiety/stress; to calm fears, to comfort.

5. Acceptance/competition; to fit in.

6. Power and control; to counteract feeling lost or powerless.

7. Boredom/excitement; to live life on the edge.

8. Shame/low self-esteem; to validate shame or at least feel competent at something.

9. Entitlement/reward; to compensate oneself for over-giving or having suffered.

10. Rebellion/initiation; to break into one’s authentic identity.

Terrence Daryl Shulman, JD, LMSW, ACSW, CAADC, CPC, is a Detroit-area therapist, attorney, author and consultant. Since 2004 he has been the Founder/Director of The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft, Spending and Hoarding. He is the author of the Process Addictions column in the May/June 2012 issue of Addiction Professional, on understanding theft, overspending and hoarding. His e-mail address is terrenceshulman@theshulmancenter.com.