Dan MacNee is a hoarder. His Edinburgh home is engulfed in towering piles of boxes, papers and creative projects. He has paintings, drawings and maps covering the walls, and every space, including the garage and workshops, are full. Dan’s hoarding is a result of moving over 50 times across three continents in 30 years. He says that his sense of security has been repeatedly uprooted. He clings to his belongings in an attempt to establish a sense of security.
Hoarding is a condition that can be triggered by loss, trauma or mental health issues. Experts and professionals gathered at a recent conference in Edinburgh to discuss strategies for supporting people like Dan, emphasising the urgency of collaboration and for the need for a nationwide approach to tackling hoarding in Scotland. Understanding hoarding requires delving into its psychological underpinnings to create practical and therapeutic techniques to help individuals manage their space.
Research into hoarding is relatively recent and is only about 40 years old, according to Dr Christiana Bratiotis, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia. Hoarding is believed to be a complex interplay of various factors, including genetic vulnerabilities, strong emotions about objects, thoughts about the value of keeping things and life events. Statistics indicate that about 50% of people with hoarding disorder have experienced traumatic childhood events, and many also suffer from other mental health issues.
For those affected by hoarding, the path to managing their behaviour is difficult, and clearing out a person’s home is not a viable solution and can often worsen the situation. Accessibility to help is crucial, and there are organisations that can work with people in their homes, providing practical and therapeutic support. National guidelines and a national hoarding task force are needed to address the issue.
Dan acknowledges that his hoarding makes him “horribly uncomfortable” but finds it difficult to let go. He states that hoarding is his life, it is who he is, and it represents his life journey. He hopes that sharing his story might encourage others to seek support. He advises individuals who can get support to take it, wherever it comes from, because taking the stuff away doesn’t take the emotional abuse away
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
