THE HAZARDS OF HOARDING

In its early stages, hoarding begins with an inability to throw away junk mail, newspapers, and magazines. Stacks of paper and junk turn into towers, and over time, hoarders find it increasingly difficult to throw anything away, including garbage.  (CLICK BELOW TO READ MORE)

Once considered rare, hoarders make up 3 to 5 percent of the U.S. population, and more than 85 towns and cities have established task forces to deal with the hoarders in their communities, The New York Times reports. The behavior is still poorly understood, but brain scans of hoarders found that just the thought of disposing of junk mail or old newspapers causes abnormal activity in regions linked to decision-making. “There is safety, comfort, and value in their possessions,” says Randy O. Frost, a Smith College psychologist. As extreme clutter takes over, it buries ovens, showers, and beds. Utility bills get lost, and the water and lights are turned off, leading to unsanitary conditions and an alarming number of fires—started by candles lit in place of electricity—which can engulf neighboring homes. Many hoarders strongly resist any help with their problem. “A therapist told me I should at least throw out my papers, but I couldn’t,” a hoarder told local officials in California. “There were checks in there somewhere.”