Community Chat

[Mominohio]

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@Mj12 wrote:

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@SunValley wrote:

I believe these people have a mental or emotional disorder and showing this for TV viewing is beyond sad. I watched a few out of curiosity and couldn't handle it. By the time they get to this level of dysfunction a social worker sent in by a TV show is just triage. These people need long-term help. I too know a hoarder, a woman I worked with and it extended into her office cubical, and then she got into trying to round up feral cats. She was full of severe scratches and bites and spread disease to several co-workers. Management attempted to help her without effect. Made me realize how complex this disorder can be.

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@SunValley ITA.  I have never watched this show, I think it is cruel. 

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It sheds light on a problem and the one thing I do find lacking is there seems to be no follow up care and services for these people after the show wraps. 

I think if it brings awareness that gets someone in the situation some help, then it is worth being aired. Shedding light on issues and  Helping people isn't always pleasant.

[RedTop]

@Mominohio,

The followup shows are shown occasionally, and I have yet to see one where the hoarder is ever totally reformed---even those who agree to the after care counseling.  The hoarders always bring boxes of stuff back inside, and have too much piled up, although there are more open spaces in the home, and the place is cleaner than it was originally.   Many refuse the after care counseling.

Within the last month or so, I happened to catch a follow up to one of the episodes that truly peaked my interest.   The hoarders name was Augustine and she had a daughter who lived close by and an adult son on the west coast, who made a trip back to help his mother.   The son had been removed from the home as a teenager due to poor living conditions, and the mother-daughter relationship was not good, although it didn't seem to be because of the daughter.   Augustine was just very indifferent and disconnected with her children.   She had a very hard time letting her children know she cared about them; wouldn't hug them or say she loved them, and the daughter particularly really needed that from her mother.   

The followup showed Augustine living in a care facility due to serious health problems, and knowing she was never going back "home".   Augustine had a boyfriend at the facility, who was also a patient.  The daughter had continued to visit, and do things for her mother, and Augustine said her boyfriend was always telling her what a good daughter she had.   Thankfully at some point Augustine changed, and was saying I love you to the daughter, so their relationship was improving greatly.   

[SeaMaiden]

I think my neighbor is a hoarder....she is the nicest sweetest person...but....her house and yard is a mess. Stuff stacked all around the house....unopened boxes of things bought.....you name it.

 She has a houseful of animals  all well taken care of, but, the inside of her home is just awful.  She and her husband never fix anything....inside or out.  Some people just do not care I guess. 

[sidsmom]

There are 2 of those shows:

"Hoarders: Buried Alive"...on TLC

"Hoarders"....on A&E

These shows fascinate me. I never really knew this type of addiction existed before I started watching many years ago.  99.9% there's always a trigger...usually a death/trauma in their life.

I always get so tense when even after the counselor says the hoarder has total control of what is tossed, a family member begins to throw stuff out without asking.  You can almost see the hoarder immediately put up those invisible walls.  I realize family has been dealing with this for decades...that's why this addiction is just like any other addiction.  Sometimes family members need counseling, as well. 

[shoekitty]

I used to watch these shows. However, after that lady who collected chickens and the lady who collected urine and poo, I couldn't watch.  Every once in a while I tuned one on, but if they have an animal issue I turn it off.  Remember the man with the rats?  That didn't bother as much as some of the the cat and dog hoarders.  Can't waTch!  Some of those people are so sick, they are down right mean and abusive.  I don't understand why some are medicated, they are that bad.

[Its Me LuLuBelle2]

I watched the hoarding show on A&E 2 or 3 times but just didn't have the stomach for it.  The last one I watched the woman not only was a mega hoarder of "stuff" but also of cats.  When they went in there were probably 100+ cats both dead and alive, feces everywhere and just filth beyond belief.  That did me in.  It's heartbreaking that people, for whatever reason, live that way.  And worse, that family members know it and just can't find the resources to help.

Formerly Posted as LuLuBelle

Remember to Spay and Neuter your Pets

[Susan Louise]

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@Mominohio wrote:

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@Mj12 wrote:

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@SunValley wrote:

I believe these people have a mental or emotional disorder and showing this for TV viewing is beyond sad. I watched a few out of curiosity and couldn't handle it. By the time they get to this level of dysfunction a social worker sent in by a TV show is just triage. These people need long-term help. I too know a hoarder, a woman I worked with and it extended into her office cubical, and then she got into trying to round up feral cats. She was full of severe scratches and bites and spread disease to several co-workers. Management attempted to help her without effect. Made me realize how complex this disorder can be.

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@SunValley ITA.  I have never watched this show, I think it is cruel. 

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It sheds light on a problem and the one thing I do find lacking is there seems to be no follow up care and services for these people after the show wraps. 

I think if it brings awareness that gets someone in the situation some help, then it is worth being aired. Shedding light on issues and  Helping people isn't always pleasant.

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@Mominohio  There is follow-up care available for all of those that have been a part of the Hoarding shows. At the very end of each one there is text/info put up on the tv screen stating how each one had specific health care options available to them, where they were going (ie, if they could not move back into their home...some homes cannot be inhabited anymore, but torn down due to too much mold/poor/weak floorboards/ceilings/etc). Some have to go to assisted living facilities because they just aren't capable of taking care of themselves...the hopeless ones, so to speak. Others get intense counseling...especially those who have children...and they get counseling too.

I think I have watched every hoarding show there is...even ones made in the UK I have watched through the BBC or on you-tube...

[Trinity11]

I find those shows very upsetting because clearly these people are mentally ill and are being taken advantage of when some show steps in under the guise of "helping" them.

They need a lot more help than any show is going to be able to give them. Using their sickness as a vehicle to entertain people who watch television is deplorable to me.

[Susan Louise]

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@Trinity11 wrote:

I find those shows very upsetting because clearly these people are mentally ill and are being taken advantage of when some show steps in under the guise of "helping" them.

They need a lot more help than any show is going to be able to give them. Using their sickness as a vehicle to entertain people who watch television is deplorable to me.

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@Trinity11  There are 2 hoarders in my family. I do not find it to be a source of 'entertainment', but a vehicle to learning and trying to help our own family members...

In fact, it is a shame that these shows aren't on more often and on more channels. There are millions of hoarders not only nationwide, but worldwide that desperately need help. Closing the door and wearing horse blinders to the issue is not going to help anyone. This is one type of reality show that needs more airtime...not stuff like DWTS, and the Bachelor...just saying.

[Trinity11]

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@Susan Louise wrote:

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@Trinity11 wrote:

I find those shows very upsetting because clearly these people are mentally ill and are being taken advantage of when some show steps in under the guise of "helping" them.

They need a lot more help than any show is going to be able to give them. Using their sickness as a vehicle to entertain people who watch television is deplorable to me.

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@Trinity11  There are 2 hoarders in my family. I do not find it to be a source of 'entertainment', but a vehicle to learning and trying to help our own family members...

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I really think family members no matter how well intended have few tools to help a hoarder. We have two in our distant family that literally destroyed their home with garbage. All the "talk therapy" in the world won't touch a bad case of hoarding. These individuals need medical help.....whether it be medication or being placed in a clean environment. Watching television programs designed to induce "Oh, I can't believe the way they live," serves mostly the purpose of shock value for the audience. Helps with the ratings.....