Emma Walton, 36, from Brackley, describes her decade-long struggle with hoarding as a "gremlin" in her brain and links the behaviour to obsessive compulsive disorder. After researching her symptoms and receiving cognitive behavioural therapy, she has been in recovery for two years and now shares her story on social media to reduce stigma. Walton has launched a free monthly support group at Brackley Fire Station starting 7 August to offer a safe space and practical advice on health and fire-safety risks. Experts call for more training and national guidance to help people affected by hoarding disorder.
‘I Had a Gremlin in My Brain’: Woman in Recovery Launches Hoarding Support Group
Emma Walton has been in recovery for two years after a decade of living with hoarding disorder [Isabella Verona/BBC]
Emma Walton, 36, from Brackley, Northamptonshire, describes her compulsion to hoard as a "gremlin in my brain" — an intrusive feeling that pushed her to accumulate and cling to large numbers of possessions for about a decade. Now two years into recovery, she is sharing her story publicly and has launched a free monthly support group to help others living with hoarding disorder.
Background
Hoarding Disorders UK estimates that between 2% and 6% of people in the UK may be affected by hoarding disorder. The World Health Organization officially classified hoarding as a mental health condition in 2018. Walton links her hoarding to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), explaining the anxious thought pattern that kept items in her home:
"If I let this item go, something bad is going to happen, someone is going to need it and then they will be mad at me."
Seeking Help and Recovery
After a family member suggested her living conditions might be caused by a mental health issue, Walton researched the condition and contacted her GP. She describes the referral process as a "minefield," but a counselling referral and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helped her curb compulsive spending and understand the underlying drivers of her hoarding.
Connecting and Supporting Others
To challenge stigma and find people with similar experiences, Walton began sharing her recovery journey on social media and has built a community of more than 2,500 followers on TikTok. She now runs a free, in-person support group for people living with hoarding disorder. Meetings will be held at Brackley Fire Station on Oxford Road on the first Friday of every month, beginning on 7 August.
Walton says the group aims to provide a safe, non-judgmental space to share experiences and to learn about associated health, wellbeing and fire-safety risks.
Expert Insight and Calls for Action
Jo Cooke, director of Hoarding Disorders UK, emphasises the importance of awareness:
"The more that we raise awareness about hoarding as a mental health disorder, the better people will understand it. It is not about people that are lazy or dirty or someone that can't clean their house properly, it is not a lifestyle choice."
Cooke warns that the issue has reached a "crisis point" and that many professionals lack training to manage the disorder's complexities, prompting calls for national guidance and better-equipped services.
Government Response
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged the distress hoarding disorder can cause for individuals and families and pointed to broader efforts to improve mental health care, noting record funding and workforce expansion. The spokesperson said the government will set out further steps in its upcoming Mental Health Strategy to respond earlier, reduce waiting times and help people participate in education, work and community life.
Resources
Local and national charities such as Hoarding Disorders UK provide information and support for people affected by hoarding disorder. Walton's group in Brackley is one example of grassroots support aiming to reduce stigma and create practical help in the community.
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