Imagine having a house filled with objects that you couldn’t get rid of.

Hoarding is a mental health disorder and one that is more common than people might think.

Mittagong resident Margaret Brooks, 75, has been storing things for as long as she can remember.

Now with the help of the Buried in Treasures Support Group, Ms Brooks said she felt ready to start getting rid of “70 years of stuff”.

Hoarding is the accumulation of possessions and can cause significant distress for a person and their family.

“I didn’t really see it as a problem until about six years ago,” Ms Brooks said.

“I’ve had several [counsellors] try to help me at different times. 

“I was amazed that I could not do it.”

She said her family had tried to help her but it was difficult.

“You don’t want them to move it [your things] but you can’t move it yourself.

“You don’t want to let people in [your house].”

Ms Brooks was referred to the Buried in Treasures group, which is run through Macarthur Disability Services (MDS).

South West Sydney Hoarding and Squalor (H&S) project officer Debbie Graham said hoarding was a serious disorder.

“Excessive hoarding can stop people from using the rooms in their homes for their intended use,” she said.

“It impacts their health, financials, increases their isolation and it can cause family breakdowns or family conflicts.”

The program originated from a book called Buried in Treasures written by David Tolin, Randy Frost and Gail Steketee.

It has only run in Australia for the past couple of years and 2016 was the first time it was held in the Highlands.

Mrs Graham said the program targeted hoarding from a cognitive behavioural therapy focus.

“It raises awareness of why people hoard and provides them with strategies and techniques to help with recovery.

“It’s intensive and it’s really about the commitment they give to this.”

Mrs Graham said the stigma surrounding hoarding often made people feel isolated.

“People with a hoarding issue can face stigma and ridicule from people who do not understand the behaviours.

‘They often become very isolated with very limited support and family relationships can break down, adding further to their isolation.”

She said the origins of hoarding was often linked to trauma and seeing a trauma informed psychologist would be beneficial as well as support groups.

Currently, there are very few support services for hoarders but Mrs Graham said the Highland group had proved very successful.

Throughout the 10-week program, participants learnt how to stop acquiring items, how to reduce their clutter and explored the reasons behind why they hoarded.

Four Highlanders recently finished the program.

Ms Brooks said it had been a challenging, yet rewarding experience for her.

“We were the luckiest four people in the area,” she said.

“You really need to admit that you need help. We [the group] can laugh at the things we’ve done and what we have.

“I’m extremely excited about the future.”

The program will not have funding beyond June this year.

Ms Brooks said she hoped the program would continue as it had proved to be such a success for all the Highlands participants.

“It’s really very good and it’s great that it’s classified as a mental health problem because it’s something you can’t help.”

For Ms Brooks, being able to interact with people going through the same struggle was also a great part of the program.

The Macarthur and Wingecarribee HandS (Hoarding and Squalor) Forum meets on the third Wednesday of every month at MDS in Campbelltown.

Phone MDS on 4621 8400 for further information.