June 3, Help For Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding, a persistent difficulty parting with possessions, is a complex psychological phenomenon where people collect and save mountains of items that appear to have little or no worth, often accumulating them to such a degree that their possessions overrun their living spaces. On top of emotional and health concerns, hoarding disorder can present a physical danger to the person struggling with the condition, as well as to the people with whom they live. Recent research and emerging science are beginning to clarify the causes of hoarding disorder, along with treatment options that can result in better decision-making and a happier, healthier life.

Shereen Siewert joins Dr. Scott Borkenhagen, a psychiatrist with Marshfield Clinic, and Marilyn Tomfohrde, chronic disorganization specialist with New Life Organizing, to discuss the signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, risk factors to consider, when to bring in a health care provider and how to get help for yourself or a loved one struggling with this increasingly common condition.

Hoarding Disorder Resources

Scott Borkenhagen, MD
130 Warren St, Suite 132, Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Marilyn Tomfohrde
New Life Organizing: http://www.newlifeorganizing.com/

ONLINE RESOURCES

1. American Hoarding Alliance
   • https://americanhoardingalliance.com/
   • “Challenging Clutter” and “Buried in Treasure” virtual workshops
2. Center for Hoarding and Cluttering
   • https://www.centerforhoardingandcluttering.com/
   • Uniform Inspection Checklist
   • Facebook Support for individuals and family members
3. Hoarding Cleanup (800) 462-7337
   • Open 7 days / week from 8:00AM – 7:00PM
   • Provide a Nationwide Directory of (fee-for-service) hoarding cleanup services and mental health providers specializing in hoarding behavior.
   • Serves all of Wisconsin
4. Children of Hoarders
   • https://childrenofhoarders.com/
   • Awareness, understanding and support, with
   • Facebook support group
5. Environment Solutions (800) 990-0346
   • Serves Southern Wisconsin
   • Connected to Milwaukee Hoarder Cleanup
6. Wisconsin Hoarding (262) 649- 7596 or (608) 351-2202 or (920) 221-7858
   • Clutter / hoarding cleanup, animal hoarding cleanup, remove biohazardous waste, recovery of valuables
7. Bio-One (608) 609-5802
   • 4230 East Towne Blvd, #374 Madison, WI 53704
8. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
   • Online resources: OCD Page has information on hoarding, current treatments, ways to support recovery and links to NAMI discussion groups
9. National Institute of Mental Health
   • https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
10. International OCD Foundation Hoarding Center (617) 973-5801
    • https://iocdf.org/
    • Information, referrals, resource directory
11. National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals
    • Offers a “find a professional” directory (fee-for-service) of organizers who specialize in hoarding.
12. Clutterers Anonymous (866) 402-6685
    • https://clutterersanonymous.org/
    • Offers virtual assessments and meetings
13. Institute for Challenging Disorganization (800) 674-78181 and
    • https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/
    • Offers quick reference and full versions of the clutter hoarding scale, clutter quality of life scale, ICD fact sheets, and more
14. Messies Anonymous
    • https://messies.com/
    • 12-step program and online groups
15. The Hoarding Project
    • https://www.northwestrelationships.com/
    • Offers training and education
16. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
    • https://chadd.org/
    • Local chapters in Madison, WI and Rochester and Eden Prairie, MN, and online
    • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Centers Directory
17. The Clutter Movement Individual Facebook Support Group
    • https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheClutterMovementIndividualSupport/about
18. Engagement Strategies – Tompkins file:///D:/New%20Life%20Organizing/Hoarding/Tompkins_Keynote_Engaging-People-Who-Hoard.pdf

BOOKS

1. Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding
   By David Tolin, Randy O. Frost & Gail Steketee
   • Self-help outline, assessments, and strategies for behavioral change
2. Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding: Why You Save and How You Can Stop
   By Jerome Bubrick
   • Overall view of compulsive hoarding, clinical self-help
3. Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things
   By Randy Frost & Gail Steketee
   • Discusses “churning” – going through stuff but not throwing out
4. Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding and Compulsive Acquiring
   By Michael Tompkins and Tamara Hartl
   • Written for family members