TIP of the WEEK: Addressing Hoarding Behaviors

Hoarding ( sometimes called collecting) is a common PWS behavior. The act of gathering items usually related to a single theme is a behavior that can start very young and can progress to a problematic behavior over time. The longer the person has been allowed to hoard items, the harder it is to stop the behavior. Hoarding gives people a false sense of security which is why removing items or attempting to organize them can be met with strong reactions. The threat of losing items in their collection makes the person feel out of control and can cause an exaggerated response. You may see it as cleaning or rearranging but the person with PWS sees it as a direct threat to their sense of safety and security. 

So what do we do? You see a fire hazard, they see comfort. You see piles of old toys, pieces of paper, empty shampoo bottles (insert any item here) and they see their bounty. It is a fine line because we want to encourage interests and hobbies but want to discourage acquisitions that they will not let go of at any cost. One day you are innocently buying your child a toy fire truck and a few short years later your child’s room looks like the warehouse exploded in your child’s room. If you are already one step beyond wondering if your child has a hoarding problem, don’t fret. There are ways to get your house back from the depths of the hoard.

Hoarding takes on many forms but is almost always connected to a lack of control over ones life and a need to feel more secure. Look at what areas of your child’s life could be lacking in these areas and you will be well on your way to getting a handle on this problematic behavior.

Patrice Carroll

Manager of PWS Services