I completely understand if someone suffers from an obsessive compulsive disorder. What I do not understand after watching many seasons of "Hoarders" on A&E is that if someone who even suspects that a family member has OCD and may live in conditions that are unhealthy for people or animals can stand by and let that sh*t happen without stepping in and saying "Hey, I think you might have a bit of a problem." f*cking p*sses me off!
If you know anyone who may have an OCD issue that has come to the point that their living conditions or their familiy's/pet's living conditions are conducive to bacterial/fungal infection PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE help them to see that they need professional counseling! OCD can come in many forms but when it comes to the point where living conditions are deplorable it makes my black loveless heart bleed!
Don't let anyone in your family suffer! In this world of the "stuff obsessed" people need to see what is a proper home living environment and how to manage the things they have without "hoarding" to the point that they have vermin and/or health problems! Let this be your New Year's Crusade!!!
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8 comments:
Thanks for writing this. I think OCD is a terribly misunderstood disorder, and while hoarding is (thankfully) not how mine manifests, I feel I could have gotten attention and treatment for it at a much younger age had it been understood that's what I had. Unfortunately, my parents and brother had just enough obsessive and/or compulsive traits not only to not see it, but to enable it. (Not blaming them!) As I learn about what encompasses my disorder, I've been able to educate them, and I do find therapy to be very helpful!
OMG I love that show!!! It's like a train wreck- you're horrified but just can't look away!
Did you see the one where the woman had the slimy black pumpkin in her living room and all the yogurts that were about 12 years past expired, but she was still giving it all the sniff test? Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!
Darn it sometimes it is impossible to get them to do anything until something horrible happens like a visit from Adult Protective Services. They will cling to this hoarding with their dying breath.
I work with hoarders as a social worker.....unfortunately, it's not that easy. A big part of the condition is that hoarders cannot see that what they are doing is abnormal. Where we see filth and garbage, they see treasures. In my experience, the condition invariably develops in response to a loss of some sort - of a spouse, of a career, of one's health. But it's not as easy as "intervening." Most of the hoarders I've worked with have been essentially abandoned by their families after YEARS of interventions gone awry. Even when families come in and remove everything, the home is back to its original state within weeks. I only wish it was this easy... :)
I agree that the first step when dealing with a hoarder is to talk to them. However, if the hoarding is extreme, chances are that, like Anonymous who posted on January 4, 2010 at 12:13 PM said, you'll need to bring someone from the outside in.
OMG...Mommy-medic...I almost peed my pants when I saw your comment. My husband who rarely watches anything other than CNN was poised in front of the TV with his jaw drooping. When I jarred him out of his trance, he pointed and said, "you wouldn't believe this...it's like watching a train wreck, but I can't take my eyes off of it!!". That's the only episode I've ever seen, but based on that single episode complete with dead mummified cats, I AGREE...how could anyone allow a family member to live like that?!?!
It is a mental illness. Obviously you have never dealt with someone who has it. Families try again, and again and again and again. Until it becomes so bad that usually the health department, family services or the law gets involved it is almost impossible to stop them. Many families have had their love one cut them off rather than give up their stuff.
Why don't you just tell a bi-polar to knock it off or a depressed person to cheer up. It works about the same. So easy to have all the answers for someone else.
Most hoarders do require family counseling, one on one counseling, and working with a professional organizer to learn to prioritize and rationalize posessions. In extreme cases medications may also be necessary. You never know what lurks behind the doors of your neighbors...
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