Hoarders anyone? (doctor, boyfriend, live, clothing)

[In the Pines]

As a child, I knew of an elderly lady down the street who had a very clean and typical home. But in her garage, she had stacks of washed and dried Big Mac boxes, empty containers, etc. It was odd to see. My grandmother explained that the woman grew up during the Depression and was just a "saver". I'm not sure she really fit the description of a hoarder but she did seem to save large quantities of odd materials.

[tigerlily]

Originally Posted by In the Pines

As a child, I knew of an elderly lady down the street who had a very clean and typical home. But in her garage, she had stacks of washed and dried Big Mac boxes, empty containers, etc. It was odd to see. My grandmother explained that the woman grew up during the Depression and was just a "saver". I'm not sure she really fit the description of a hoarder but she did seem to save large quantities of odd materials.

My mom was a child of the depression and she fits this description. People that grew up in this era and lost everything have a different perception. Sometimes, I think people save things to remember happy times from the past.

[GloryB]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

because the people involved need some serious help and I don't think the format of the show is set up to give it to them.

I really agree. Making entertainment out of their suffering ....without providing solid emotional help just seems wrong. They need to go to some psychological counseling long before the crew comes in to clean out their "stuff".

Just to clean up the place is like putting a bandaide on a gashing wound.

[skywatcher75]

I saw a few minutes of an episode yesterday. I was nauseated, couldn't sit through ten minutes. It was the scene with the lady with all the food and a few cats. And I believe the son said he couldn't deal with all the mess.

My OCD would explode. I'd rather sleep outside than to be in the house with her and all the mess.

[nsumner]

I saw the title and pulled my husband over to watch it with me. He tends to be a pack rat. OH MYYYYY... 4 minutes into the show and I too was sick to my stomach.

So, I digress, NO, my husband is NOT a pack rat!!! I will never nag him again for having EVERY subscription about engineering or real estate or mortgages or anything else in fact.

Naima

[cr1039]

Originally Posted by tigerlily

My mom was a child of the depression and she fits this description. People that grew up in this era and lost everything have a different perception. Sometimes, I think people save things to remember happy times from the past.

My grandparents were Holocaust survivors.

Same thing, "neat" and "clean" home but she saved nearly empty tubes and tubs of everything, never bought tupperware and would use butter tubs instead, saved every bag, bought old bread at the store and then froze it etc. etc.

Now her tendencies rubbed off on my dad and I think he has "junior" hoarder tendencies that he would not have had had he been raised in a more traditional home. Don't get me wrong, I am not correlating traditional with wasteful.

[gentlearts]

I tried to watch it, but found it too upsetting. I can't stand disorder. I'm not sure what is done besides the clean up to help the hoarder. As you must know, it's a mental illness that will not be cured by a one time clean up.

[tasmtairy]

I have been watching also, I found it interesting. One thing I noticed is that some episodes have a psycho-therapist and an organizer and some just an organizer. I believe a psychologist should be on-site during the "cleaning" as the anxiety levels rise there was no one there but the "cleaner" who says stuff like, "well that thinking got you into this mess" and as you can see there are not many successes and what about follow-ups!! I'd like to see the whole thing with follow-ups.

[Sawdustmaker]

The cat lady was disgusting. Other than olfactory fatigue, I don't know how she and her husband managed....when you could smell the cat stink from 50 feet away.

A ton of excuses can be attributed to why so-and so did this or kept that but when it comes down to it, in any way shape or form, it's abnormal behavior. There are plenty of others who lived through the same circumstances and didn't manifest their angst in the same way.

[gardener34]

I just saw this over the weekend - OMG that woman with the rotting pumpkins! Can you imagine the fruit flies? And she ate that food. Bad yogurt and stuff... how did she not get food poisoning. Yeah, I agree, I would like to see more followups and see how their therapy progresses (if it can).
Yeah, I do think that it can have manifestations in childhood. I know a family member who was deprived of things as a child and they have "packrat" (not hoarding though) tendencies for sure. Like their parents would give them toys, then take them away and sell them without warning all the time.
Good show though.