THROUGH
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2018 EDUCATION CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW
HUMANIZING
HOARDER
DISORDER
M
ost people get their
information about
hoarding disorder from
the TV show where the
individual is surrounded by piles and
piles of things and the drama letting go
of anything is portrayed. In reality, the
homes may look the same but the people
and the methods of helping them are
drastically different.
According to statistics, up to 5% of
the population suffer from hoarding
disorder. In the Denver- metro area that
would be 150,000 people. Hoarding is
a very common issue and most people
don’t like talking about it. It is extremely
challenging to the individual who is
suffering, the family, friends, neighbors
and the community.
Hoarding disorder was only listed as
a diagnosis in the DSM 5- Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorder in 2013. However, more
researchers and experts are focusing on
this as a mental illness.
Many people assume that someone
with a home full of stuff is “a hoarder”.
Someone who may be lazy, stubborn,
JENNIFER HANZLICK
2018 PRESENTER
or unclean. However, hoarding disorder
is a serious and complex mental illness
and these individuals do not want to live
silently, suffering behind closed doors.
With 10 years of experience Jennifer
and her team know that these individuals
not mean they have hoarding disorder.
Sometimes due to physical or mental
limitations an individual may just need
help to help maintain their home. With
the right resources in place a home can
remain organized, clean and safe.
"Hoarding is extremely challenging to the
individual who is suffering, their family,
friends and neighbors in the community."
are not lazy and stubborn. Underneath the
exterior they are smart, educated, caring,
generous, and humorous. They are battling
a mental illness. And with the right
support they can improve their lives and
their surroundings. Because people do not understand
hoarding disorder, there is a such shame
and stigma associated with those who are
struggling. This results in isolation and
fear. These individuals need compassion,
non- judgement and support.
Jennifer and her team know that their
clients are not “hoarders”. A Hoarder is
not their identity. They all have past lives,
families, and future dreams. Jennifer and team are trained to help
their clients with their emotions, their
physiology and the practical aspects
of helping someone make their space
compliant and safe. Clutter Trucker
can help sort, organize and remove
large accumulations of “stuff ”, in a
compassionate and caring way.
Once you get to know the person for
who they really are, you’ll see that there
is hope for better way to live. Just because
a person has a cluttered home does
REGISTER FOR THE 2018 EDUCATION CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW
AT WWW.AAMDHQ.ORG (OR SCAN THIS QR CODE)
www.aamdhq.org
APRIL 2018
TRENDS | 37