OCD can take a toll on a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to manage daily routines and responsibilities. Many suffer in silence, weighed down by fear and shame, and are often misunderstood by those around them.

In conjunction with OCD Awareness Week earlier this month, FMT Lifestyle spoke with Nuradzlinn Abu Hashim. Although she lives with the condition, she has found a unique way to battle it – by decluttering the homes of those suffering from hoarding disorder.

“I want to help them because I’ve noticed that most of the hoarders I’ve met are women. As a woman myself, I really feel for them,” said Adzlinn, 37, who enjoys cleaning, and has previously helped friends and family declutter their homes.

It all began in May, when she shared a Facebook post offering to help hoarders declutter their homes for free.

The post was well received, and within the same month, she cleaned her first house. She was joined by her husband, Zulkefli Md Esa, and several of their employees – the couple runs bioQueen, a business selling cleaning products.

Since then, requests have poured in, and to date, she has helped declutter the homes of more than 10 people. Based in Cyberjaya, Adzlinn has even travelled as far as Johor and Negeri Sembilan to lend a hand to hoarders in need.

What started as a small effort has now grown into a community – people have reached out, eager to volunteer and join the mission to help hoarders reclaim their spaces and their lives.

While decluttering, Adzlinn shared that they are sensitive towards the hoarders, never making discouraging or hurtful remarks.

She added that she and her husband personally bear the expenses incurred, which includes the cost of hiring cleaners, providing food for volunteers and renting large open-top waste containers called Roro bins.

Hiring cleaners, she explained, is necessary as they have the experience to handle the tough work that comes with more severe hoarding cases.

At times, she shared that they have come across rodents, cockroaches and even snakes! Still, what keeps her going is this: “It’s satisfying to see a dirty house transformed into a clean one and to know that I’ve helped someone.”

Looking back on her journey with OCD, Adzlinn, 37, recalled that even in primary school, she had a strong need to keep her belongings tidy. It extended to her appearance as she grew older – her hair was always neatly tied, her clothes spotless.

Over time, it intensified – she would wash her hands more than 50 times a day until her skin began to peel. After getting married, her struggle affected her home life – she revealed that in slightly over a year, she changed maids 21 times.

She eventually saw a psychiatrist, and it was a decision that marked the beginning of her journey towards understanding and managing OCD.

Since she began helping hoarders, Adzlinn shared that her OCD symptoms have lessened, and she no longer relies on medication.

“Before this, I couldn’t stand touching dirty things. It disgusted me and made me uncomfortable. But now I can – with gloves, of course. I can overcome that fear because I truly want to help others,” she shared.

Looking ahead, she said she hopes to work with mental health specialists and the local authorities to grow her initiative of helping hoarders.

To those struggling with OCD, she shared this message: “Don’t be shy about seeing a psychiatrist. At least, you will have someone you can talk to – someone who can understand you. Your friends may not necessarily understand and they might say, ‘What’s so hard about overcoming this?’

“If you need medication, take it. It also helps if you can find something that reduces your OCD symptoms – just like I found mine through helping hoarders,” she said.

To get in touch with Adzlinn, send a message via TikTok.