Australian woman turned to hoarding after mother died

It’s been a nine-year addiction that shows no sign of abating. But one Aussie woman has finally broken her hoarding habit.

It’s been a nine-year addiction that was sparked by the death of a loved one.

For one Aussie woman, the death of a beloved mother to cancer in 2014, led her to become a severe hoarder.

Donna, who shared her addiction with A Current Affair said hoarding allowed her to fill a gap.

Donna with her mother. Picture: A Current Affair

“Shopping gives me comfort,” she said. “It’s a void for the loss of my mum and best friend.”

But her hoarding obsession over the years has got out of control.

Multiple vacuum cleaners, bedding, board games, appliances – you name it, she has it.

“I don’t open it, I don’t use it, but (I) can’t help buying it,” she said.

Donna says her mother would be ‘horrified’ by her hoarding. Picture: A Current Affairs

Donna never has visitors to her house because she is too embarrassed.

“My mum would be looking down and be horrified,” she said.

Enter Mark Stephens, a habit-breaking specialist and hypnotherapist.

“I can fix this addiction very quickly and simply,” he said.

Habit-breaking specialist Mark Stephens with Donna. Picture: A Current Affair

Mr Stephens said that everybody has bad habits, whether it is a social media addiction, chocolate, cigarettes or even shopping.

He used hypnotherapy to “reset her mind in a positive way”, even making Donna lie among her shopping purchases.

“I don’t want it anymore,” she said after the session with Mr Stephens. “I’m throwing it away or giving it away.”

With help, Donna has given ute loads of items to charities. She has also deleted all the shopping apps from her phone.

“I have my life back and will never go back to that shopping addiction again,” she said.

“I am happy.”