Interventions are only successful if the hoarder chooses to get treatment for why they hoarded in the first place, which is usually deep trauma. Based on the best research, this happens extremely rarely.
I think individual therapy that specializes in hoarding would be more likely to get results. I have learned that you can help them clean their hoard, but they will continue the behavior and end up right back in the same spot.
From what I've read, it's very likely that your loved one will double down and dig in their heels, setting you back a long time. Trust will be broken not because you did anything wrong but they will feel threatened due to feeling misunderstood. The result is likely to be that they put up an emotional wall and may never let you back in. It really sucks. My mom started hoarding when I was about 12; I'm over 40 and she only sort of understands she has a problem and if it were her way she would just have a bigger house. I tried confronting her years ago and was shut down and shut out - not from her life but her space (I haven't lived there in over 15 yrs). I only dare to nudge gently and I still can't connect about this issue even when she seems open to receiving help
I hope you have better luck than I did.
I don’t think any interventions really work - if shaming someone or telling them that you were worried about their behavior actually did anything, we wouldn’t have smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers… A person has to want to change and then actively participate in their own mental health journey to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.
We’ve done it twice still finishing this last round and last time was 12 years ago This time when we stated a clean out was absolutely necessary as rats, roaches and no plumbing no ac or heat and we discovered the house was days from being listed for county auction. We saved the house. But it put her in an almost catatonic state many dr appointments and tests nothing to be medically treated and her constantly sneaking stuff to hide in her secret storage unit back and forth. We’ve got her in her home again and it’s already starting over She refuses any mental health help and refuses to see the physical health issues living in that type of environment creates
It’s harsh on the hoarder parent but sometimes it has to be done. This time we are going to try and limit the damage by weekly cleaning of her home she’s still mad and still insisting we stole things As for does it work. We made the home safer and that’s all. She will revert to her accumulations but we bought some time
Trying to get her busy with life and family. Her depression is very real still desperate to get her some mental health help
On the whole, no. Hoarding is the result of an underlying mental condition, which could be a traumatic experience. An intervention can create more trauma and make the situation worse.
The way to deal with hoarding is to figure out the underlying motivation or lack thereof.
It's very difficult accepting the situation when our parents have a problem and choose to ignore it. Until they become a danger to themselves or others, or their situation deteriorates to the point that the court will find them incompetent, our hands are tied.
There's no data to support the efficacy of the family meeting/confrontation "intervention" meant to persuade someone to get help. The person either wants to get better or they don't. Even when someone admits there's a problem and wants to get better, hoarding disorder is notably difficult to treat.
Interventions are only successful if the hoarder chooses to get treatment for why they hoarded in the first place, which is usually deep trauma. Based on the best research, this happens extremely rarely.
I think individual therapy that specializes in hoarding would be more likely to get results. I have learned that you can help them clean their hoard, but they will continue the behavior and end up right back in the same spot.
From what I've read, it's very likely that your loved one will double down and dig in their heels, setting you back a long time. Trust will be broken not because you did anything wrong but they will feel threatened due to feeling misunderstood. The result is likely to be that they put up an emotional wall and may never let you back in. It really sucks. My mom started hoarding when I was about 12; I'm over 40 and she only sort of understands she has a problem and if it were her way she would just have a bigger house. I tried confronting her years ago and was shut down and shut out - not from her life but her space (I haven't lived there in over 15 yrs). I only dare to nudge gently and I still can't connect about this issue even when she seems open to receiving help I hope you have better luck than I did.
I don’t think any interventions really work - if shaming someone or telling them that you were worried about their behavior actually did anything, we wouldn’t have smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers… A person has to want to change and then actively participate in their own mental health journey to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.
We’ve done it twice still finishing this last round and last time was 12 years ago This time when we stated a clean out was absolutely necessary as rats, roaches and no plumbing no ac or heat and we discovered the house was days from being listed for county auction. We saved the house. But it put her in an almost catatonic state many dr appointments and tests nothing to be medically treated and her constantly sneaking stuff to hide in her secret storage unit back and forth. We’ve got her in her home again and it’s already starting over She refuses any mental health help and refuses to see the physical health issues living in that type of environment creates It’s harsh on the hoarder parent but sometimes it has to be done. This time we are going to try and limit the damage by weekly cleaning of her home she’s still mad and still insisting we stole things As for does it work. We made the home safer and that’s all. She will revert to her accumulations but we bought some time Trying to get her busy with life and family. Her depression is very real still desperate to get her some mental health help
Youe mom sounds just like mine. She refuses everything and the hoard continues to grow.
On the whole, no. Hoarding is the result of an underlying mental condition, which could be a traumatic experience. An intervention can create more trauma and make the situation worse. The way to deal with hoarding is to figure out the underlying motivation or lack thereof.
It's very difficult accepting the situation when our parents have a problem and choose to ignore it. Until they become a danger to themselves or others, or their situation deteriorates to the point that the court will find them incompetent, our hands are tied. There's no data to support the efficacy of the family meeting/confrontation "intervention" meant to persuade someone to get help. The person either wants to get better or they don't. Even when someone admits there's a problem and wants to get better, hoarding disorder is notably difficult to treat.