Resources for Hoarders

I get quite a few enquiries from hoarders or family members of hoarders looking for help and information and so, for future use, I've collated everything together into one place - this blog!

Firstly, it's worth pointing out that the term “hoarder” is often misappropriated - download these CLUTTER IMAGE RATINGS to help you assess your own situation properly. If you, or your loved one, are indeed exhibiting hoarding disorder then the sooner you get help the better. Face up to things and kick off a sensitive conversation with a GP or social worker using this downloadable HOARDING ICE BREAKER FORM specifically designed by Rainbow Red to help you broach the subject.

There are a few excellent UK based websites offering a wealth of supportive information for people affected by hoarding disorder:

https://www.helpforhoarders.co.uk/

https://life-pod.co.uk/

https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/

https://www.cloudsend.org.uk/

http://www.rainbowred.co.uk/

MIND

http://hoardingawarenessweek.org.uk/resources/

https://www.apdo.co.uk/practical-help-for-hoarders/

https://hoarding.iocdf.org/

https://www.ocduk.org/

BPS Understanding Hoarding pdf

BPS Psychological Perspective on Hoarding pdf

CIEH Professional Practice pdf

And if you are based in my area (Brighton & Hove) here are some more local contacts:

https://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-group/brighton-ocd-and-bdd-support-group

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/condition-hoarding

https://www.mindcharity.co.uk/wellbeing-article/compulsive-hoarding/

https://www.coastalwestsussexmind.org/mental-health-training/browse-all-our-courses/hoarding-disorders

https://www.eastsussexsab.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/E.Sussex-Hoarding-Framework-V1-24.07.2018.pdf

There are several good books available on understanding and overcoming hoarding - here are the four I tend to recommend:

1. Jo Cooke - Understanding Hoarding

2. Randy Frost & Gail Steketee - Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things

3. David Tolin - Buried in Treasures: Help For Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, And Hoarding

4. Satwant Singh, Margaret Hooper & Colin Jones - Overcoming Hoarding: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques

Sadly, there is no overnight solution to hoarding but there is support out there and hopefully these links will help you find it! Good luck!

P.S. if you have time to watch, here are a couple of very interesting and illuminating discussions about hoarding disorder by Dr. Randy Frost and Gail Steketee respectively:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke950ThjLLE&t=413s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEagU8DLMCg