Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2010 -- You can’t help but stumble over the hallmarks of a hoarder. Stacks of things throughout the house. Junk everywhere. The floors completely covered. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in 2009 the U.S. had more than two million hoarders. The prime time hit TV show “Hoarders” spotlights the problem, showing hoarders’ inability to part with personal belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. National awareness has caused more and more hiding hoarders to come out of their messy homes and search for help. In fact, the show uses mobile storage units as one of their techniques to help hoarders overcome their problem. So if you are a hoarder or are struggling to live with one, what on earth do you do to combat this disease?

GETTING HELP:

“The first step is to clear out things you haven’t used in more than a few months to see if you really need them inside your home,” says John Steeves, COO of UNITS Mobile Storage. “One way to store these items without throwing them away is to rent a mobile storage unit and keep the portable unit in your driveway or at the mobile storage companies’ warehouse which are secure and climate controlled. This offers a sense of security, letting you know your items are safe.”

Hoarding, also called compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome, can be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but researchers are working to better understand hoarding as a distinct mental health problem. The disease can take a huge toll on not only the person but the entire family. Sufferers often turn to different forms of therapy and in some cases medication. One form of therapy is enlisting the help of experienced mobile storage experts or organizational gurus as an extra line of defense.

“Once you realize it’s possible to live without these items, you increase your chances of combating your hoarding or clutter problem,” added Steeves.

CONSIDER THESE STORIES :
Ersa King,55 , Atlanta, GA
• While her house was under repair after a pipe burst, she began to stack everything up, unable to part with her belongings. It’s a severe mental problem as anxiety kicks in whenever she thinks about throwing things away. Now she has a storage building that has grown to 30X40 packed full, an outdoor shed completely loaded, an entire basement and double garage full, and the inside of the house packed to the ceiling. She has to turn sideways to walk down hall. UNITS is now working with Ersa to get her items out of the house and into a mobile storage unit at their warehouse. “My children say that everything came in one bag or box at a time, so it should be able to go out the same way,” says Ersa. “I just get so overwhelmed and anxious I never end up getting rid of anything. This is a good start.”

Joe Ernest, 59, of San Antonio, TX
• Over the past 20 years, Joe has purchased so much exercise equipment that his house looked more like a gym than a home. He’s collected a weight bench, free weights, three stationary bikes, two treadmills, and two other massive exercise devices he doesn’t even know how to use. Joe hasn’t worked out in years but keeps adding to his collection. His home became a cluttered, unsafe mess and he couldn’t let go of his purchases. He was finally convinced to rent a mobile storage unit and now stores everything. “ I can’t part with this stuff for good, “says John. “ My equipment is close but it’s not gone forever so I know it’s there if I ever need it. It feels good to know I can get to it if needed.”

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOARDER AND A CLUTTERER
Both terms are used to define a person who accumulates things and is unable to get rid of them to the point where it becomes a problem. However, there are major differences in the severity of the two.

Hoarder:
• An actual psychiatric condition.
• A person who obsesses over their personal items and belongings and will most likely not find a solution to this problem without professional help.
• They cannot make rational decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of.
• Their personal items will cause serious distress and discomfort and will limit their ability to make good use of the inside of a home, garage, attic or storage space.
• Taking out the trash is often a crisis and they will collect and keep almost everything.

Clutterer:
• Cluttering affects millions of people.
• Emotional attachments to things are one of the major driving factors to keep unnecessary items.
• A person who has emotional attachments to things but without much struggle would be able to make the changes themselves if motivated enough.
• This will never get to an extreme point as to debilitate the person’s freedom and comfort.
• Taking out the trash and throwing things away is not a chore if given motivation.

TELL THIS STORY WITH A LOCAL FAMILY RIGHT IN YOUR CITY
• A local family or individual who has hoarding or clutter problems and found a solution with a mobile storage unit.
• A local organizational expert who can talk about how de-cluttering and organizing can make for a happier, healthier home.

For more information, visit http://www.unitsstorage.com

About UNITS Mobile Storage
Founded in 2003 by Michael McAlhany, UNITS Mobile Storage, a technology-leading, affordable and convenient mobile-storage company, provides a hassle-free solution to the moving process by offering door-to-door mobile storage - saving customers both time and money. UNITS has raised the bar in mobile storage quality, customer care and innovation while offering specifically designed containers that are water, mold and UV resistant. The company continues to grow aggressively and now has more than 25 locations operating throughout the nation. For more information, please visit http://www.unitsstorage.com.

Media Contacts:
Matt Vaughan - mvaughan@919marketing.com 919.459.8164
Sue Yannello - syannello@919marketing.com 919.459.8162