Ep. 87: Teens who hoard: When is a messy room more than a messy room?

TW: Self-harm

My guest for this episode goes by the name of That Hoarder.

As a compulsive hoarder, she says she struggles with many aspects of hoarding behaviours, which she talks about on her own podcast That Hoarder - the first ever podcast by somebody who actually hoards rather than by a professional. She started her podcast to keep herself accountable and to help others with this stigmatised and hidden condition, as well as to raise awareness of hoarding disorder.

She says that very stigma is why she does this anonymously. This is a sensationalised and shamed mental illness and speaking more openly about it is an essential way to spread the word and help people. While a lot is still not understood, she told me that there can be signs of hoarding as early as childhood or teenage years.

2:45 - People judge hoarding as being about laziness, but it's a manifestation of something else that's wrong. That's why TV shows that sensationalise the condition aren't helpful. Why clearing the space isn't helpful.

7:00 - Seeing hoarding as a coping strategy. My guest talks about feeling "wrong at her core" and having out of control emotions.

12:00 - Understanding what might drive self-harm.

14:38 - Signs of hoarding in a teenager. Which hoarding symptoms begin between the ages of 10-20, before escalating in later life.

21:00 - What might have helped prevent hoarding disorder developing?

38:00 - Why professional help is needed to help someone combat their hoarding disorder, and what kind is most helpful.

39:25 - An effective strategy for successfully managing self-harm.

56:00 - When is it hoarding, and when is it just a messy teenager? How can parents help a teenager who hoards?

Resources:

• Overcoming self-harm
• Overcome Compulsive Hoarding podcast
• Advice for children of hoarders
• Hoarding Disorders UK
• Mind

More from Helen Wills:

Helen wills is a teen mental health podcaster and blogger at Actually Mummy, a resource for midlife parents of teens.

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Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.

Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham.