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Post by wendy on Dec 18, 2009 14:25:21 GMT -5
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Post by breakingfree on Dec 18, 2009 14:41:38 GMT -5
I am very pleasantly surprised at the compassion and understanding tone of the article. Hopefully those who reach out for help will be treated with compassion and dignity now that the public is being made more aware.
Thanks for posting,
BF
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messymum
New Member
Joined: December 2009
Posts: 27 
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Post by messymum on Dec 18, 2009 21:06:37 GMT -5
Interesting.. I totally think hoarding and squalor is not always the same issue. (but can definitely overlap) I thought it was a pretty good article overall. I do thing there is a long way to go in studying why people get to this point. My theory is mental illness for some and/ depression. The latter being the most common theme IMO. I also think there are two types of hoarders. Those who know it's a problem and those who don't. Obviously all of us here on this board are the former or else we wouldn't be here!  It makes me so sad that there really isn't alot of help for those in extreme conditions. The stories in the comments about folks homes being torn down was heart wrenching. No one should have to sink that low with no intervention. It seriously makes me wonder what can be done to get social services to help in cases where a persons home is being condemned. No one should have to lose their home over this. I know it's hard to get help though. Anyway just some thoughts.. |
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Post by creativechaos on Dec 19, 2009 19:32:37 GMT -5
thank you so much for this article, wendy.
it's nice to see someone who truly understands hoarding and the difficulties in treating it do an intelligent and compassionate interview.
i am a hoarder. from personal history, i would say hoarding in my case is definitively related to severe early childhood trauma and abuse. i started compulsive eating at age 3 and hoarding by age 5, as a result of what happened. when i got my own room at age 8, the hoarding exascerbated. i covered the bed with stuff and backed into it for protection from my abusers. i was protected by my 'stuff'. later, other ritualistic aspects because pleasurable; the 'hunt' for things and acquiring them was a 'high', but more as an anxiety abater than an addictive substance. which is why the addictions model for hoarding is not accurate or helpful. it's not an addiction! (i believe the genetics of hoarding is partially tied into our hunter-gatherer genes. i don't know if anyone is doing studies about that).
but if it's genetic, why did my siblings not get the gene? i was the one who got all the phys. emotional/verbal and sexual abuse. so was it genetics or situational? that seems to be a chicken/egg discussion. it's all interrelated.
depression overlaps hoarding and squalor, and makes them hard to differentiate. depression can make anyone fall into squalor.
many people here on soos have no adequate organization systems and lack of storage for what they have, but they are NOT hoarders. some hoarders are not squalorers, some are. the excess of stuff will gradually produce squalor.
the thing about hoarding is that people who hoard can't discern trash from treasure a lot of the time. a 'normal' person would KNOW something is trash, or that they can get it again easily. the hoarder sees potential in its use for self or others, even in a piece of trash, and they worry they can't get something again. rich or poor, i think there is some kind of poverty consciousness involved.
hoarding is definitely a coping mechanism (however poor) for high level anxiety. studies show that is is an ocd related anxiety disorder.
thoughts from a hoarder who lives the reality and fights daily to make my situation better.
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Post by success19 on Dec 20, 2009 23:24:41 GMT -5
I am amazed at the great thinkers on this message board - people who have analyzed this condition and really thought it through. So many issues with hoarding are involved. I hope the therapists are reading here - because there is alot of insight to this condition here.
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Post by SueDonym on Dec 20, 2009 23:57:24 GMT -5
I don't intentionally hoard (save) stuff. But when I get withdrawn and depressed, I just stop caring enough to make the effort to throw things away or clean things that are dirty.... then I start using more disposable things, which means more stuff to throw away..... and it becomes a cycle.
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Post by tinymews on Dec 22, 2009 9:07:11 GMT -5
I read that article as well--it's actually what ultimately brought me here to SOOS. It has taken me a long time to actually admit this, but...I am a hoarder! Up until I found this place, I felt defective and horrible. Now, while I do know I have a problem, I know that I'm not alone and there are other wonderful people who suffer too. Interesting thing, IMO, is that I know trash from treasure--I just can't seem to bring myself to actually clean things up. I'm always full of excuses--too tired, why bother, etc. I'm still not able to figure out if I'm Depressed b/c of the squalor, or if the Depression is what leads to the squalor. I do know they are entertwined. It is my hope that all of us who come here will be able to find the help we need to deal with our issues and make recovery possible.
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Post by breakingfree on Dec 22, 2009 9:17:07 GMT -5
I read that article as well--it's actually what ultimately brought me here to SOOS. It has taken me a long time to actually admit this, but...I am a hoarder! Up until I found this place, I felt defective and horrible. Now, while I do know I have a problem, I know that I'm not alone and there are other wonderful people who suffer too. Interesting thing, IMO, is that I know trash from treasure--I just can't seem to bring myself to actually clean things up. I'm always full of excuses--too tired, why bother, etc. I'm still not able to figure out if I'm Depressed b/c of the squalor, or if the Depression is what leads to the squalor. I do know they are entertwined. It is my hope that all of us who come here will be able to find the help we need to deal with our issues and make recovery possible. Hi tiny and WELCOME! The fact that you are here is an excellent start. You are aware of the issue, and knowing is half the battle. Perhaps chat would be good for you. They can really get ya motivated over there  Again, WELCOME, BF |
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