It can be difficult to watch a loved one suffer from any sort of addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, gambling, or even hoarding. If you have a loved one who is struggling with hoarding, it’s important to be supportive and understanding—but it’s also important to know when to draw the line. After all, hoarders often have difficulty throwing anything away, which can lead to extreme clutter in the home and unsanitary living conditions.
If you’re wondering how to help a loved one who’s a hoarder, there are a few things you can do:
Encourage Them to Seek Help
One of the best things you can do is encourage your loved one to seek professional help. A therapist who specializes in OCD or anxiety may be able to help them work through their issues with hoarding. There are also hoarding support groups available in many cities and online.
Offer to Help Them Clean Up
Hoarding can be an overwhelming problem, so offer to help your loved one clean up their home. This may be a difficult task, but it’s important to be patient and understanding. Remember, they’re not getting rid of their stuff because they don’t want to; they’re getting rid of it because they need to.
Be supportive and understanding but firm in your resolve. Your loved one needs your help—but they also need to want to help themselves. If they’re unable or unwilling to make changes, you may need to distance yourself from the situation for your own sake. But remember, you’re not giving up on them; you’re just taking care of yourself first and foremost.
If you have a loved one who is struggling with hoarding, it’s important to be supportive and understanding—but it’s also important to know when to draw the line. Encourage them to seek professional help, offer to help them clean up their home, and be supportive but firm in your resolve. Your loved one needs your help—but they also need to wantto help themselves.
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