Seeing Through the Eyes of a Hoarder

There is a new fascination, hoarding, (not my favorite word to use). Many of my clients would be classified as hoarders. They are wonderful and misunderstood. They do not want to be this way but are trapped in this disorder. It is an interesting and perplexing illness. Yes, it is an illness. No different from heart disease or diabetes. This disorder is most often paralyzing and painful.

Hoarders do not see things the way most people do. Often there is an irrational reason for holding onto broken, dilapidated items. We may see it as garbage or recyclable material but the hoarder may see as it was on the day it was purchased. Beautiful and new. It could also in the hoarders mind be repurposed for uses that you and I could never imagine. One of my clients loves to save old tissue boxes, plastic containers, spray bottle caps/lids or checkbook boxes to organize and store things. For those of you that are green you might think this a good idea but one doesn't need 20 checkbook boxes or spray bottle caps.

There is much speculation as to the cause of hoarding. Some doctors believe it to be attriubted to OCD. What causes OCD? A variety of reasons are offered in the medical industries. Genetics, chemical imbalance, there are even studies that show it can be brought on by streped throat.

One common thread that I have found is that most of my clients have started with a mild form of chronic disorganization or acquiring. A traumatic event such as a car accident, abuse, a severe injury, the death of someone very close or a long illness triggers it to escalate out of control. Sometimes several of these tragedies occur at once and then the "cycling", (as I call it) begins. Some hoarders collect, some acquire, some develop retail therapy. Each is unique in style but all have the same devastating result in the long run. Isolation, depression, shame, self destruction.

At some point, the hoarder is "outted" to the police or other authority. While a general clean up seems in order I warn not to do this without some outside intervention or therapy. Unfortunately, this happens once the authorities are brought in. Typically municipalities just pull up a dumpster and start loading it up. It is at this point that the hoarder looses the very thing they long for, control.

Nearly everyone that I speak to knows someone that suffers from this disorder. You may know a hoarder and not even know it. You even may be one. But rest assure you are not alone. Many people live with this "dirty" little secret. As a professional organizer and expert in this area it is my goal always to honor my clients. To approach with compassion. To be sure not to judge. To empower and teach my clients to let go.

A&E's new show "Hoarders" that airs on Monday nights at 9pm will help you understand this disorder and develop a compassion for the people it attacks. If you or someone you know suffers from OCD and/or hoarding be comforted in knowing that there is hope and there is help. Resources are becoming more and more abundant. Please visit my website or send and email with any questions you may have.