Disposophobia Mental Disorder, also known as Hoarding Disorder, is a newly recognized disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). According to disposophobia.com, disposophobia is the relationship of people with their items. People with Hoarding Disorder have difficulty getting rid of their possessions that have little or no value, according to the dsmv.org. They collect items because they believe they'll have some value in the future, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Features
Hoarding Disorder can be described as the chronic difficulty to throw away personal belongings that have no or limited value, according to the dsmv.org. People with the disorder have difficulty organizing items as well, according to the Mayo Clinic. They don't let others borrow their possessions and are excessively attached to their items. When one tries to or thinks about throwing these items away, the person starts to feel very distressed, reports the dsmv.org. Since one cannot throw things away, her living or working space starts to become very cluttered, which prevents the normal use of space. According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarders' houses look like narrow pathways "winding through stacks of clutter." This is because they often keep stacks of newspapers, junk mail and magazines. They may move certain items from one heap to another to try to create more space but do not throw away anything. If living spaces are uncluttered, this is because others in the house have maintained it that way, reports the dsmv.org. Extreme hoarders do not throw away trash, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of animals in unsanitary living conditions.
Identification
Symptoms of Hoarding Disorder are not due to a general medical condition, such as a brain injury or cerebrovascular disease, reports dsmv.org. These symptoms must cause significant distress in normal areas of functioning, such as school, work and home life. The disorder must be distinguished from other mental disorders and cannot be due to another disorder, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Additionally, hoarders often have limited social interactions with others, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Types
There is a specified type of Hoarding Disorder, called "Excessive Acquisition." This is described as people who collect or buy items even though they have no space and the items aren't needed, according to dsmv.org.
Misconceptions
People with Hoarding Disorder have different levels of insight about their symptoms, according to dsmv.org. Those with good or fair insight recognize that their patterns are problematic. Those who are delusional are convinced that their hoarding behaviors are not problematic despite evidence of the contrary.
Expert Insight
Hoarding Disorder can be treated through therapy and medication management, with the goal of helping the person part with his possessions. Therapy can be in an individual or group setting. In medication management, a psychiatrist gives psychotropic medications to a person. Medications can help with the anxiety due to parting with possessions.
