What is hoarding disorder and its symptoms?

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Are you the type of person who will keep trinkets at your house even if these are not needed?

This could be an indication of hoarding disorder, according to an expert.

In Vonne Aquino’s Wednesday report on “State of the Nation,” Lou Soneja started noticing in 2020 that their house is filled with objects, making it difficult for them to move around.

She said her mother cannot let go of items such as clothes and documents like bills that eventually accumulate dust and attract pests.

After being featured on “I Juander,” Soneja’s family started decluttering, but her mother still finds it difficult to let go of documents.

“A person with hoarding disorder is actually medyo serious na type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, kasi natatakot sila or nahihirapan sila mag discard ng mga items. Sabihin natin na all of their house are all waste products and materials,” psychiatrist, Dr. Ma. Bernadette Arcena said.

(A person with hoarding disorder has a serious type of obsessive-compulsive disorder because they are afraid or they find it difficult to discard items. Let us say that all items in their house are waste products and materials.)

Arcena said the practice of Soneja’s mother of keeping documents cannot be considered a case of hoarding disorder

She added that those with hoarding disorder find difficulty working and are busy collecting items.

Patience is also needed to encourage people with hoarding disorder to take medication since they think they have no problem.

“Psychotherapy sessions and medications that would control the hoarding, such as giving antidepressants or antipsychotic medications,” Arcena said. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News