Since the World Health Organization classified hoarding as a mental health disorder last week, I’ve had an influx of calls and emails from all directions. This is to be welcomed as it means that hoarding can be taken seriously and treatments explored. My father was a hoarder – he grew up during the war, and remembered rationing and being hungry. After he died, it took four months to clear the family home. I recognised then that I wanted to work with people facing clutter issues. A year later I set up my own businesses to help.
The people who come to me are extremely varied – from young autistic men to retired engineers, as well as mothers struggling with family and clutter. I also work with people who are compelled to hoard information, which means that every telephone directory needs to be kept and every local newspaper piled up in the garage. Many hoarders are completely overwhelmed. My job is to help them manage their stuff and decide with them what they are hoping to achieve.
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