What is Hoarding? And How is it Different from Collecting?

It is usually painfully obvious when someone is hoarding, but a hoarder shouldn’t be confused with a collector or ordinary pack rat.

A collector usually selects a single item or theme of items that they search for and collect responsibly. Collectors enjoy organizing, displaying, and adding to their collection when their budget allows. And while hoarders often select items to collect in the same way, their collections usually lack any kind of organization, takes over normal living space, and may lead to the incurring of substantial debt. Hoarders also lack the pride that most collectors take in their collections, feeling shame and embarrassment instead.

Also, unlike a pack-rat who normally stores items neatly and out of the way to maintain sentimental or appreciating value, a hoarder is much more likely to pile and clutter items wherever they can.

How Hoarding is Normally Diagnosed

Hoarding is usually diagnosed as someone who:

• Avoids Throwing Things Away – This may include old newspapers or magazines, empty bags or boxes,       food, and clothing that no longer have any value or use.
• Experiences moderate to severe anxiety when throwing something away.
• Cannot keep items or possessions organized.
• Has an intense feeling of embarrassment about their hoarded items.
• Experiences a sense of paranoia about others touching their possessions.
• Fears running out of something or not having something later when they need it.
• Obsessively checks the garbage in case something was accidently thrown out.
Other factors that might be considered when diagnosing hoarding disorder include:
• Depression
• Social Isolation
• Family Problems
• Marital Problems
• Financial Difficulty
• Health Hazards in the Home
• Loss of Living Space (i.e. no place to sleep or eat inside the home)

Of course, you should always consult with a medical or psychiatric professional to diagnose hoarding disorder.

Treatment of Hoarding Disorder

As hoarders often feel a sense of paranoia and compulsion when it comes to their possessions, as well as defensive and embarrassed about their condition, trying to help can be difficult. Treatment of a hoarding disorder is a slow and delicate process, and it is best to seek professional help from a licensed psychiatrist to avoid exacerbating the situation.

One of the major points of hoarding disorder treatment is removing the clutter from the hoarder’s home. However, this can be a hazardous process as hoarders often collect food and other items that might pose a risk if handled improperly.

In Arizona, contact Bio-One – the state’s most trusted clean-up and decontamination service – if you need professional help in removing the clutter and getting on with your life.

Stay Safe and Avoid Biohazardous Waste

Being exposed to biohazardous waste can be very harmful to your health and it’s important to avoid it where possible. There are many different forms of biohazardous waste and many types are unknown to many people, therefore it’s important to understand what biohazardous waste is and the different types that exist to avoid harm to yourself or others. If you’re unsure whether something is biohazardous, it’s very important that you contact a professional to ensure the safe removal and disposal of said materials.

Biohazardous waste is any waste containing infectious materials or potentially infectious substances such as blood.

Different Types of Biohazardous Waste

• Human blood and blood products – Serum, plasma and other blood components.
• Human bodily fluids – Semen, vaginal secretions, cerebral spinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and saliva from dental procedures.
• Microbiological wastes – Wastes from a laboratory that contain or have been contaminated with infectious agents.
• Pathological waste – Human tissue, organs, and body parts.
• Animal waste – Animal carcasses, body parts, and any bedding material used by animals which have been inoculated with human pathogenic microorganisms infectious to humans.

Sharps waste – Needles, blades, glass pipettes, and any other wastes that could cause injury during handling.

Disposing of Biohazardous Waste

If you’ve determined that a material is biohazardous, cleaning and disposing of that material should be done safely and professionally. Due to the potential risks involved with handling biohazardous waste, it is highly recommended to contact a licensed and certified biohazardous cleanup service. There are many regulations in place as to the proper transportation and disposal of biohazardous waste and therefore should be done by an experienced biohazardous waste management company.