Why do people hoard?

There are many triggers that may lead someone to hoarding; often, it is found that people begin hoarding after stressful life events. This is a way of coping, as it makes them feel like they have control over something when life seems out of control in other ways. Hoarding can also be indicative of other issues in someone’s mental health, such as dementia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, each situation is unique and assigning one specific cause to a hoarding situation can be harmful.