Noah’s Ark Syndrome

Noah’s Ark syndrome is an obsessive-compulsive pathology For this reason, those who suffer from it cannot resist the uncontrollable impulse to accumulate animals in their home. They can be animals of different species (although they are normally dogs and/or cats), of the same species, abandoned, purchased, etc.

In any case, and leaving room for countless options, it seems that The fundamental diagnostic criterion is to accumulate more animals than the person can properly care for.. It is something similar to diogenes syndrome, but in this case it is not garbage and useless elements that accumulate, but animals.

The reasons for Noah’s Ark syndrome

The name Noah’s Ark syndrome has been coined by the United States National Institute and is considered a growing social problem. Its origin is not well established, although it is true that in a large number of cases people who suffer from it begin to suffer accumulation impulses after a significant loss (death of a family member, or breakups, etc.).

The reason for this behavior always has to do with the need to protect animals, without being aware of the negative consequences it may have. Due to a loss or a breakup, the person tries to fill that void in which they project their deepest need: that of being cared for..

However, by not being aware of this, what you do is house a series of animals in your home that you cannot cope with. The house then becomes a true chaos. Feed them, educate them, make sure they do not scratch or eat certain elements, let them do their business where they have to do it… All of this is considered impossible.

People with Noah’s Ark syndrome insist on giving love and shelter to every animal possible. However, they do not realize that they have to attend to their own pain and give love to themselves in order to heal the wound that this type of attitude is causing.

It is estimated that 4% of the population suffers from problems of this type. Images of hoarding people (garbage, objects, animals, etc.) evoke feelings of loneliness, isolation, and need. We only need to think about the image of a person surrounded by cats.

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A common disorder in adults and the elderly

Indeed, This disorder is found more frequently in adults and the elderly who feel alone or abandoned and lack affection. Animals, precisely, meet this need for affection and bonding since they provide company and affection.

Adults whose partner has abandoned them or elderly people who face the reality of an empty nest. The children leave home and what was once a home full of voices, screams and movement, is now full of silence. This is something that many people cannot bear.

What does seem true is that in 25% of these cases there is a psychological decompensation of an obsessive-compulsive type that, in some way, constitutes a significant social and/or personal deterioration.

Although This syndrome is not yet recognized as a mental illness by the diagnostic classification systems and has not been studied in the depth required, the high comorbidity with mood disorders indicates that a correct and exhaustive evaluation must be made to differentiate both diseases.

Furthermore, once the problem has been diagnosed and defined, appropriate treatment is recommended, both at the level of individual psychological therapy and pharmacological therapy, to guarantee a positive prognosis. This problem can be solved, as long as the person collaborates and does the work to be aware of what is happening to them. Next, we would like to share with you a talk that can clarify much better what Noah’s Ark syndrome consists of.