—
I don’t think I’d qualify as a hoarder.
A slob, sure; but a hoarder? No way.
Hoarders are in a league unto themselves. And if you don’t believe me, watch an episode of TLC’s “Hoarders: Buried Alive.”
Shortly after the program’s premiere, I overheard people talking about the new show. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
How, they wondered, could anybody live in such an environment?
Given my own difficulties keeping house, I had no desire to watch someone else’s struggles on a TV program along those premises. I didn’t give the show a second thought.
At least not until last Sunday afternoon.
As usual, there was nothing on TV worth watching. Tiger was a washout at the Bridgestone Invitational. The NASCAR race at Watkins Glen was boring because it was a road race. None of the movies piqued my interest. And I wasn’t about to watch Major League Baseball.
So I did a little channel surfing. And guess what caught my attention? A house crammed with stuff. Absolutely crammed. From floor to ceiling, one room to the next. It almost was unbelievable.
I was mesmerized and speechless. I couldn’t get enough. I watched one episode after another during a marathon of the program on TLC.
At one point during a commercial break, I started looking around my house. I may not be a hoarder, but I sure do have alot of stuff. Right now, my house could be considered a disaster.
Of course it’s embarrassing. I shouldn’t be living the way I do. For awhile, I followed the Messies Manual and did really well. Then, I stopped. It became easier and easier to let the laundry get out of control. To leave clothes on the floor. To leave clean dishes in the dishwasher for days after it’s completed its final cycle. I could go on and on.
What I liked about “Hoarders: Buried Alive,” is that they didn’t swoop in, clean up, redecorate and then leave. Psychologists were brought in to talk with clients, seeing if they could get to the root of the problem.
And, the clients were expected to clean up their own messes.
I also liked the fact that the clients were given time — lots of time — to clear things out. It took a significant amount of time to get things back in order after years of hoarding.
Hoarders need to be encouraged and to have supportive people around him/her when the hoarder decides enough is enough.
Those around them need to show compassion and to be patient.
If you want to learn more about hoarders, visit the Mayo Clinic’s Web site. Not only does it define hoarding, it also lists symptoms, causes, risk factors, and more.
• Deb Saine is a columnist for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached through the newspaper at ptnews@pharostribune.com.
