Collecting trash and many animals can cause health problems for the hoarder, not to mention the emotional and mental implications of living in a constant state of fear of detrimental effects if they don't hold on to whatever they hoard.
Don't try to change a hoarder's mind about the reason for his compulsions or try to throw away or give away his collections; it will only make him want to push you away.
Each clean-up effort occurs over the course of several days, and includes the family and friends of the hoarder.
Even so, it still takes a hoarder months or years to reach a living condition that warrants intervention.
If the hoarder doesn't appear to be in any danger, there isn't any need for treatment.
Medication helps with the anxiety the hoarder feels, while counseling helps with learning new, healthier behaviors.
Most often, the hoarder is facing some sort of threat to his or her lifestyle, such as eviction, divorce, or even the removal of children from the home.
On the Hoarders TV show, professionals specializing in dealing with hoarders bring a clean-up crew to the home of the featured hoarder, and attempt to intervene and clean up the home.
The hoarder first develops a thought about needing something, and this thought turns into anxiety.