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Post by disorganizeddragon on Jun 24, 2010 9:54:33 GMT -5
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Post by clutterfree on Jun 24, 2010 11:18:34 GMT -5
It is kind of encouraging to read the comments, though. It seems to me the percentage of moronic and hateful comments to stories like that is steadily shrinking. More people point out that they're hoarders or lived with hoarding parents and express empathy or sympathy than anything else.
As much as I dislike 'Hoarders' and some shows like it (while I think many less-watched documentary type shows are excellent) I think the show has done a lot of good because so many people know they're not alone, and that their neighbor or relative has a serious problem and isn't just too l@zy to clean up.
Hurray for that.
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Post by disorganizeddragon on Jun 24, 2010 12:07:41 GMT -5
Oh, I agree. I'm very glad people are beginning to see that hoarding and similiar problems can be linked to real emotional and/or neurochemical disorders. I just find it so sad that this woman--and the couple in Chicago that were found buried in trash in their house in May--almost lost their lives due to the conditions of their homes.
It often seems as if there's no happy medium between living in secret squalor or having the city send in the cleaning commandos--and losing everything you own--if you ask for help. I simply wish there was a place people like this lady, who was obviously in trouble, could ask for help without being terrified of the possible consequences.
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Post by clutterfree on Jun 24, 2010 12:27:29 GMT -5
Yeah, I think a lot of time people are encouraged to reach out for help and then it becomes a new nightmare for them because there isn't always compassionate, gentle help available. And too many times, people think throwing junk away and cleaning is the best help. I'm not saying that isn't a good thing--in some cases there's no point in sorting through anything when everything's wet and mildewed or fouled in some way. But in most cases, the kind of help that's given is just unintentionally brutal and damaging.
My dad saw Hoarder and told me that he is one. He was smiling, but I have no doubt he's serious. I see my dad once a week most of the time. ANd in the summer he'll come up with his riding mower and mow the grass that i can't do on my own. I've offered to clean his house once a week in exchange. That, before he said anything about hoarding.
He refused. He made a joke that I'd find all his Playboys and it would be embarrassing (which, if he can joke like that about it, could not possibly be that embarassing). And he comes here on Sundays, never asking us there. I'm sure it's because he doesn't want me to see the condition of his house.
I have no right to just barge down there, though I do think I'm going to mention us coming down there more to see if I can't get him to agree. I'm quite confidnt he doesn't keep things like rotting food or gargabe, but just stuff he thinks he needs or is useful. But I'm apprehensive about just how much there is.
Even when you love someone and want to help, it's so often much more complicated than just doing it. So it's no wonder there are so many people living in these conditions. Even when I would have given anyhting to have someone offer to help me, at the same time I was horrified by the idea of it.
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