I have a close family member who hoards and is very unclean. This person has lived without heat and water for 2 years. No one is allowed into the house because what condition it is in. I'm thinking this is a mental illness. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation?
2006-11-24 03:27:24 · 13 answers · asked by perky4418 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Sounds like Undifferentiated Schizophrenia and/or a severe case of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) given the severity of your family member's situation and the longevity of same. Please know, I hope your family member can get some help; however, you cannot make that person seek out professional assistance. I really feel for those who have such hoarding issues along with extreme social isolation...this person cannot be happy, and your family member sounds very "trapped" in her/his "illness". Good question, and it's nice to know you have concern for your family member as most of society would shun this person due to the uncleanliness and social withdrawal.
2006-11-24 03:34:37 · answer #1 · answered by Kent 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hoarding can be a symptom of OCD but it sounds like there may be more to it than that. Living without heat and water for 2 years is pretty odd. You haven't given much information. Does the person live alone? Do they work? Are they able to leave the house to run errands and things? What other symptoms have you noticed? It could be a variety of things such as schizophrenia, a mood disorder, a severe personality disorder, severe agoraphobia.
2006-11-24 16:04:47 · answer #2 · answered by DawnDavenport 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hoarding is definitely part of mental illness. I personally am a hoarder, however, I am in counseling and learning to deal with the problem on a day by day basis. Even though you can't force a person into treatment, however, you need to seek some help for this person. contact your local adult protective services and explain your situation to them.
2006-11-25 07:48:03 · answer #3 · answered by kevin g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this is a form of mental illness. You need to get your relative help in any way possible. Aside from the fact that they have shut themselves off from society, there are health issues here. They are going to harm themselves. The actual hording can be caused by many things, including bi polar disease, OCD and others.
2006-11-24 03:50:37 · answer #4 · answered by fancyname 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a symptom of Obsessive Compulsive ailment (OCD) - a hoarding compulsion in accordance to three obsessive idea that the guy is having. some human beings have the compulsion to bathe their fingers over and another time because they have an obsessive idea that they are grimy or that their fingers have germs on them. human beings have the compulsion to count number or to recite certain Bible passages over and another time because they have some obsessive idea that bothers them. Obsessive Compulsive ailment can take position in fairly some distinct kinds. fortunately, it would want to also be dealt with in a form of techniques. Their is an really good e book about OCD referred to as "mind Lock" by a scientist whose very last call is Schwartz. He is going over a self-help technique to strive against OCD in his e book that has been shown to be useful for many human beings. He has even shown that persons who implement his answer have altered mind scans on re-finding out (e.g., their self communicate & activities surely replaced the functioning of their brains). drugs like the Selective Serotonin ReUptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) is often used to administration OCD. i'd recommend that each person with a hoarding compulsion communicate with a psychologist or counselor, who can help them with communicate remedy and proposals for life variety and nutritional alterations. The counselor or psychologist can then refer the sufferer to a psychiatrist for medicine, in the adventure that they imagine that medicine is indicated. From a real looking perspective, it would also be powerful to the contact a professional organizer or somebody else to assist sparkling and set up the actual surroundings. i'm hoping this helps....
2016-11-29 10:26:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give the person a single homeopathy dose of Sulphur 10m potency and watch the positive changes which will occur. Follow the homeopathy Dr. directions.
2006-11-24 04:10:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a very cheap person...usually so cheap in fact, that they do these things for fear of losing material possessions and having no money...yes..it is definately a mental illness of a sort...sometimes even like OCD...but manifesting itself in a different fashion.
2006-11-24 04:13:15 · answer #7 · answered by MotherKittyKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder.
2006-11-24 03:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by S.A.M. Gunner 7212 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i had the identical situation with my family member.it got so bad i thought he was a threat to himself. i try ed to have him declared incompetent so a guardian could be appointed.they checked out his living conditions,spoke with him and then told me that he was not incompetent. they said his lifestyle was a matter of choice.i do not know what sane person would choose that for themselves.i totally disagree with them to this very day.
yes,it is mental illness.i wish you much luck dealing with it.
2006-11-24 05:18:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think Dr. Phil did a show on it. Check his website.
2006-11-24 06:03:33 · answer #10 · answered by catzrme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋