Not by choice!
Like many, I have heard of cases of hoarding but I never imagined the severity of the problem until I saw first-hand the home of a hoarder.
Hoarding is an anxiety disorder where a person has an ongoing difficulty throwing away or parting with possessions — even items of no value — because they believe that they need to save them. These items include newspapers, old receipts, containers, and even trash. A person diagnosed with hoarding disorder goes to extreme ends to save things and will experience distress at the thought of getting rid of the items.
If you know of a hoarder, please be patient. They are not acting by choice. They are people suffering from a disorder and they need our care and assistance, not our anger and hate. Helping hoarders is a complex endeavor and it will take time and a multi-agency approach involving HDB, social service agencies, the town council, community leaders, and the hoarder’s family.
Remember, a community is the sum of its members and we live in a community of our making.
