There is a big difference between your home getting a little messy to becoming an obsessive-compulsive hoarder. The latter is a clinically diagnosed anxiety disorder that requires behavior modification treatment in order to overcome. This is not a disorder that happens overnight but instead is a slow build towards a crisis. Along the way, there are warning signs that you should be aware of not only in your own behavior but that of a loved one. Here’s what to look out for:

When a Room Becomes Unusable

At its core, hoarding means that you are not throwing anything away. All of that stuff has to go somewhere. Those piles of rubbish could start appearing in a spare room that isn’t being used. This is where all kinds of clutter starts piling up to the point where you can barely open the door to get in the room. Also, be in the lookout for tables, chairs, counter spaces, cabinets and any other surface piled high with clutter.

When There’s No Organization

Many people with a cluttered office are proud to proclaim that they have a “filing system” that only they understand. There might actually be some truth to that. However, with a hoarder, there is no organization. The clutter just appears to be tossed around the room and stacked precariously.

When the Clutter Has No Value

Everyone has something they collect to a small degree. It could be books, keepsakes or even family photos. Those all have a certain amount of value attached to them even if it’s a personal value. The hoarder collects things that have no value like junk mail, newspapers and magazines. They could go on shopping binges buying up clothing they have no intention of using. Years later, that clothing might not even fit anymore but they still won’t let it go.

When They Have a Lot of Pets

All too often cats and dogs become victims of a hoarder. There is nothing wrong with having multiple pets provided you clean up after them. In a hoarder household, those pets are given free license to create messes throughout the house that are never cleaned up. Additionally, those pets aren’t spayed or neutered. That means they breed with abandon.

If you recognize any of these warning signs, then you should seek out help. There are two levels to help for hoarder. The first is through therapy to help change the behavior and get at the root cause. The second help is with the actual cleanup. This is something that a company like Junk King Dallas can be a huge benefit. The crews working for Junk King Dallas have a lot of experience with hoarder cleanups and understand the delicate nature of helping these individuals.

Recognizing that you or someone you love has a problem with hoarding is the first step. Thankfully, help isn’t far away.