(W)holy, (W)holy, (W)holy: Health, Healing and Wholeness Article for July 2010
“For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans: 7:14-15, NRSV)
We can empathize with Paul when he describes his struggle to overcome the negative desires that gripped him from within. To say that we need to live a certain way, and to actually do it are two entirely different things. This tension between doing what is right, and giving into our impulses is all a part of our human experience. We fail and make mistakes but God sees past our failings, including the emotional and spiritual “junk” we’ve accumulated. Instead, God sees the inner person, created good and in God’s image.
If you watch TV, you may have noticed several reality-based shows that deal with the individuals who suffer from compulsive hoarding. We’re not talking about someone who is a typical packrat or collector. The impulse to save “stuff” takes over as papers, garbage, junk mail, plastic grocery bags, and even animals are “collected” and begin to encroach upon the sufferer’s life. This junk covers the counters, floors, tables, bathtub, and appliances; in fact, everywhere you can imagine and in some cases from floor to ceiling. It makes it impossible to eat, sleep, bathe, or have any semblance of a normal life. People who hoard often do not see their behavior as a problem. They succumb to an impulse that refuses to allow them to “let go” of items that have emotional significance or that might be useful “some day.”
No one really knows what causes this behavior. Experts tell us that it can appear on its own, or can be in tandem with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, psychosis, depression, or dementia. Clutter, and an inability to sort-through or discard items are usually the first signs of a problem. Risk factors and common features of hoarding include the following: (1) Age – it typically begins around the age of 12 or early adolescence and continues through adulthood; (2) Family history; (3) Having experienced a life stressor such as death of a loved one, divorce, eviction, or loss of possessions due to a fire or natural disaster. Social isolation becomes an issue as embarrassment prevents inviting others into the home, while simultaneously, the self-imposed isolation leads to further distress, loneliness and more hoarding behaviors. Experts also indicate that those who hoard are often perfectionists who cannot decide whether to keep or throw items away, thus increasing their distress, and successfully evading making any decision at all.
Cognitive [thinking] Behavioral therapy is typically the treatment of choice which, depending on individual circumstances and symptoms, might include the use of medication. Therapy sessions may include:
- Exploring the origins of the impulses for hoarding,
- Learning organizational and sorting skills,
- De-cluttering, with the assistance of the counselor or a professional organizer,
- Learning relaxation skills, and working at changing harmful beliefs about one’s self,
- Family or group therapy.
Self-care tips include:
- Sticking with the treatment plan, and regularly attending appointments,
- Maintaining good personal hygiene, and getting proper nutrition,
- Reaching out to others – if friends and family can’t come in, then get out to spend time with them,
- Taking small steps and focusing on each short-term goal, and, if hoarding includes pets,
- Doing what is right for their best care and health. If you are unable to provide for their proper nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care, they need to be turned over to others who can. (www.mayoclinic.com/health/hoarding)
With patience, trust, and support, it is possible to change! Begin by reaching out to those who, like God, see beyond the accumulated stuff, to the person who was created in His image!
Summer blessings!
Debbie Best, Diakon Family Life Services
