Oh, that's so great that you have read them both! They really explain the psychology of it, which is very important. Those shows were they go in and throw everything away when the person is not there--the enforced clean out approach--very damaging to the client.
Those books, and the others I read, show that even with ongoing cognitive behavioral therapy most hoarders continue to hoard; it is a really, really hard issue to overcome.Originally Posted by rodeosweetheart
I am curious if it would be easier to overcome if diagnosed earlier. Like if the person was still just cluttering or just "collecting."
I also wonder if for those most extreme cases if "ripping the band-aid off" by clearing the place out would be less traumatic if the hoarder also got some sort of full time, residential mental health care, like in an assisted living facility of some kind.
Really though, I am not an MSW or a psychologist. But I do know that animal hoarding -- and other kinds of hoarding -- can become a major community health concern or fire hazard. So there are instances where the cops or firemen have to go in, clean the place out, and throw everything away.
That first book was my real turning point. It was literally the first time anyone had said to me "you are not lazy, you are not disorganized, you are not weak or stupid or stubborn or uncaring, you are sick. And this is what is wrong, and guess what? You can be helped!"
Do you think digging out would be helpful if one is the hoarder?
Digging Out has a lot of good info in it. Though I think if a hoarder themselves were to read it then it would not be as helpful as other books unless that hoarder were quite self-aware.
Oh, and yeah, Ultralightangler, that s why the rabbits really scare me. I have a vision of her husband - who is a really great guy, having to chose between losing his kids and leaving his wife. I knew a girl who called the police and had herself and her little brother removed from their parent's custody because of a pig problem. Her mom wouldn't get rid of the pigs, her dad wouldn't move out, and they ended up legally adopted by out of state grandparents.
Are you serious?!
About the pigs and the kids? Yeah. We knew them from homeschooling. We knew the mom was a little "off" and had some struggles with depression, and other families would pick up the kids and take them to stuff when she was having a "rough time" but no one had been in the house.
They had full sized regular pigs as house pets in a 900 sq ft ranch house.
Wow... tragic. I feel bad for those kids. And the pigs too...
So, I am kind of using this thread to brag on my anti-hoarding accomplishments.
I spent the week at the county fair. I also entered a whole bunch of items in the fair. My "souveniers" include a pastic cup I picked up because I wanted to keep refilling it from the water fountain - leaving, two t-shirts I bought and don't need - need to address t-shirts again, a reusable bag because I had too much to carry that day and my plastic bag was left in the car (yes that was lazy) - leaving, and a couple of temporary tatoos - will wash off soon.
I also won a lot of ribbons. I kept the two best of show ribbons, which are dated, but donated all the rest back to be reused.
I didn't bring home any extra pens or pencils or other free goodies except my bag and cup. I'm pretty proud of myself.
Chicken Lady, you have every right to be proud of yourself, that's a great accomplishment!
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