Creating a hoarding recovery plan can be overwhelming. Whether it is for you or a loved one, ensuring the plan is effective yet not overly time-consuming and stressful is important. Hoarding is a real mental disorder, and there is often no root cause of it. Hoarding individuals suffer a lot during the stages of hoarding and cleanout process. It’s important to come up with a proper plan for when you may find unique challenges so you know how to overcome them. Discover below how you can create a hoarding recovery plan that will actually work.
Understand Hoarding
The first step to recovery is to understand hoarding. Often, hoarding has no root cause. But if you can unpack some stressors and recent events in your life, you may be able to get a better understanding of what is going on and why you are acting the way you are. Many people may hoard as OCD, or they are anxious about running out of something. Hoarding can provide people with safety and comfort, but it is often more dangerous than helpful for their health if you are someone helping a hoarder, it’s essential to know that you should discuss things lightly and not make any moves without their approval. For an effective recovery plan to work, hoarding must be done on the hoarder’s schedule.
Discuss Dangers
The next step is to discuss the dangers of hoarding with the hoarder. Most hoarders do not see what they are doing as an issue, but it significantly affects their emotional and physical health. A hoarder environment is extremely dangerous. There are different stages of hoarding, but hoarders commonly share similar hazards. These include insects and rodent infestations, mold, and mildew, biohazards from accumulated trash, fire hazards and blocked fire escape routes, unsanitary living conditions, potential collapsing of shelves, walls, ceilings, and much more. If you inform the hoarder of these dangers, it may help them to build a recovery plan.
Explore Options
Letting the hoarder know that you don’t just have to wipe out their entire home will allow them to proceed with a recovery plan. Many hoarders are fearful of losing or parting with certain items, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Let them know that donation is an option and that not everything needs to be thrown out. They can help those who are in need by splitting up some of their items to go to donate. Hoarders are often able to keep most of their items, but they will have to minimize the amount or improve the organization in their home. Allowing them to choose how to organize and keep/throw out any items and not overstepping will help them feel like they are in control of their life.
Prepare For Setbacks
No plan, whether for recovery or personal goals, is ever perfect. A hoarding recovery plan, too, can fail. Coming up with a realistic plan and timeline will help you stay on track, but nothing is ever perfect. Letting the hoarder know that setbacks are possible is helpful, but they, too, can come back from them. Certain circumstances may interfere with their plan, and if you discover mold or water damage, you may have to adapt how you clean out/organize your home’s items. In times like these, be prepared to get additional help as needed.
Get Help
Knowing when to get the help of hoarding professionals is crucial in your hoarding recovery plan. No task should be done on your own, and the more hands, the better for every hoarding home. Professional help is the best way to ensure the job is being done without having too much stress on your plate. Whether it is for you or a family member, hiring help to clean out the home will make the process more effective. It’s also important to know when to seek help from mental health professionals, as this process is also detrimental to your mental health. In these times, it’s essential to know you are never alone and help is always available when needed.
Contact Flannery’s For Hoarding Help in Salem, MA
If you are ready to take control of your hoarding, our team is here to help. Flannery’s Handymen offers hoarding cleanup services and junk and trash removal so you can effectively pave the path for recovery. Our team knows how to handle the messiest and trickiest hoarding situations. No job is too big for our team! Learn more about our hoarding cleanup and cleanout services by contacting us for a free quote today! 781- 775-9943.
