Monday, September 07, 2009

Hoarders on A & E

I watched the latest episode of A&E's "Hoarders". As I noted earlier, it's chilling to watch. I guess I can't say more than that right now.

5 comments:

worker said...

I found this blog while looking for more information on Hoarding. I do community outreach and sometimes work with people who have a hard time of letting go.

The show Hoarders is great for people who have televisions, perhaps it is reaching those folks. But many of the people I have known do not have money for cable, let alone for a service to come in and take everything.

They also state that having may things makes them feel more. Out of control materialism- replacement for emotions that are needed.

There should be more resources for this issue. Perhaps more materials for these folks that are pamphlet like (for those who can read). And community works who strictly work with these people to keep them housed.

Laurel Alanna McBrine said...

Is this show available online?

Anne said...

For 20 years I lived in the next door twin of a hoarder. Though she always said she would clear it out,she said she would have a huge yard sale, it never happened. She just got wrose with time. Over the 20 years I saw a nice house, garage and yard become progressively and totally trashed.

Finally I couldn't fit into the pathways in her house. But that was okay, cause I couldn't take it any more.I finally had to move and something went out of our friendship when I couldn't pretend to believe her anymore about the yard sale. Even after 20 years of no yard sale, she was angry I could no longer believe there would be a yard sale "someday" .

Of course I watch the show with interest. However the A&E hoarders aren't as bad as my former neighbor.imo.
The levels of stuff are too low.

What I found with her was a different sense of time. Like each item was buying time or preserving the past. Everything was going to be done "someday". But at this point she would never live long enough to get though the " someday" piles just in the living room.

It was sad. Anyone who tries to help them is a kind person because the hoarder wants to avoid dealing with the junk, and will fight them even if they asked for the help.

Val said...

I was speechless after watching the show. I come from a long line of pack rats (3 of them bonafide hoarders) and can say I have overcome those tendencies....I always ask myself when shopping and coming across goodies..."what is the purpose of this". Karen Kingston was my savior, her wisdom finally helped me understand why I was holding on to so much stuff.....and mine was no where near the hoarding level.

azalia said...

I just watched that show, it made me realize I am one of them... I'm only 21 years old. Hoarders should unite and conquer clutter! Yarr!