Community Chat

[AngelLove2]

After reading the definition of a hoarder, guess I am not one but I do have too many clothes, jewelry, and makeup. I don't know anyone who is an actual hoarder.

[RedTop]

I suspect there are several hoarders in my area of southern WV. I had a relative who was a hoarder, but she died many years ago. There is a family of hoarders in the neighborhood where my husband's sister lives. There is also a family several miles away I strongly suspect to be hoarders, based on the amount of stuff piled on their front porch, and in their yard.

[Topaz Gem]

My cousin could be classified as a low-level hoarder. They just have way too much stuff, and keep accumulating more. The only difference is that they are actually very clean in their personal habits as well as taking care of their home. They don't save old pizza boxes, takeout containers, etc., and they routinely get rid of old papers, magazines, and duplicate bills. No dead animals under the clutter and no old food molding and rotting out in the open. They clean the litterbox, empty the trash, do the dishes, etc. Personally, I think my cousin and her DH are just a bit lazy, as they are retired and spend too much time in front of the TV. The clutter doesn't bother them, but if they really tried, they could get organized in no time.

[ilovedaisies]

I 'm pretty sure our neighbor up the hill is, although I don't think he keeps old food containers. His garage is filled from floor to ceiling, and from the neighborhood scuttlebutt, the house is the same. I would normally feel sorry for an elderly person with a mental disorder. It's hard to feel anything for him, though because he's not a very nice person, to say the least.

[RainCityGirl]

Yes, I do, though I haven't actually seen it first hand. His brother tells me about it, and he is truly concerned as an eviction is imminent. I think it's a mental illness, and I do not know how they treat it, really.

[Melania]

Yes...a friend. When we all come there once a year...I don't know where they put it all. Her husband has to get the house ready for her.

[LyndaGee]

I've heard Dr. Drew say that hoarders have a void n their lives, but they're filling it up with the wrong things.

[FUTURE]

No personal friends, but I've had several pts who are. One had pathways through her house. Another had a storage shed out back packed to the brim with trash. Both of them have psychiatric issues, the hoarding is simply one of the symptoms. It's really, really sad. And a health hazard!

[jeanlake]

I'm not sure what the clinical definition of a hoarder is. Do they have to be sloppy, dirty people? A friend of many years may be an 'organized' hoarder. After her husband died at age 49, 12 years ago, she began 'collecting' things. She called herself a collector. 8 years later, and after her second marriage ended, she was up to renting 3 storage units after her basement, 2 guest bedrooms and garages filled up. She's not dirty, though. Her precious finds were stored away and tidy. I did notice she can't have one of anything. She's a collector of all things. I counted 100 lampshades while helping her with her garage sales -- imposed upon by her grown children. She had trash bags full of plastic flowers. My husband was her first husband's best friend. We helped her organize her garage sales. She had a tough time making the sale at times. I remember my husband putting his hands on her shoulders and telling her if she doesn't get rid of her 'treasures,' her grown kids are going to get upset and she'll have no choice but to start counseling. He also said her husband wouldn't want her to be buried in a senseless material world. She made thousands of dollars that summer by holding a garage sale every other week. She's slipped away from family and friends, now that she's dating a guy she met online.

Maybe Dr. Drew's definition is correct -- filling voids.

[sidsmom]

On 3/6/2014 LyndaGee said:

I've heard Dr. Drew say that hoarders have a void n their lives, but they're filling it up with the wrong things.

On the hoarding shows, almost 100% of the time the hoarding begins when a death happens. They want to fill a void and/or "time capsule" that time in their life when they were happen. Hoarding makes them believe that person is still with them.