Hoarding Disorder: what causes it?
Image Credits: Created by Maria Migalko and posted on ArtStation. All Credits to the creator. I don't own this image.
So we've explored what Hoarding Disorder is, but what causes it? As with any neurospychiatric condition, there is usually some contribution of nature (biology), and nurture (environmental factors). This could include genetics—often many different genes contribute tiny amounts to developing a condition—differences in brain functioning (including in brain development, brain lesions, the impact of stroke/surgery/brain injury/ infection; imbalances in chemical messengers called neurotransmitters), and stressful life events according to an article by Mayo Clinic and MedicineNet. There isn't usually a single cause and researchers are still trying to narrow down what potential causal factors could be.
Moreover, the article suggests that Hoarding usually starts when you're in your pre-teen to teenage years—between 11-15 years old—and this trajectory worsens as you grown older. It is more frequently seen in older adults which suggests age is a risk factor: you're more likely to have it if you're older but age itself doesn't "cause" you to develop it.
Other risk factors include having: (a) trouble making decisions, (b) family members with Hoarding Disorder or other neuropsychiatric conditions, and (c) difficult experiences like the early childhood deprivation, trauma, the death of someone important to you/ losing your home/marital issues, etc.
What do you think about the causes of Hoarding Disorder? Do you have any thoughts about it?
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Updated by jovialButterfly6752 on September 16th, 2021 to make formatting changes.
@jovialButterfly6752 Hey jovial, lovely, well organized post! Hoarding Disorder is definitely not a common disorder I hear about, so I am glad you wrote this post. Nature and nurture certainly both contribute to its development, and certain people have a certain disposition to it depending on their experiences and biological attributes.
@lovelyWhisper66
Yes, and I think stigma around it also plays a part in how little we hear about it. Most people who struggle with this won't reach out for this reason. That's part of why it's so good we create more awareness around less common disorders - if they are even really uncommon at all or just under-reported. I know when I worked as a cleaner when I was younger, I found that many people seemed to be struggling with this to some degree, and they were embarrised to need to ask a professional cleaner to come in and help them with it.
@jovialButterfly6752
I think it's so important to create more awareness of these kinds of less common issues. Thank you for making this post!
