"Hoarders" as a motivational tool for housekeeping? - Page 2

[jewelsJZ]

My in-laws are hoarders and this has been a source of pain and anger for my husband and his siblings. The show has helped me to understand my in-laws better and it has motivated my husband to clean up some of his papers and stuff. He is not a hoarder but tends to be disorganized and things pile up to the point where he feels overwhelmed dealing with it, so he doesn't.

And, yes, the other night after watching an episode, even though I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed, I got up off the couch and cleaned my kitchen and picked up a bunch of toys around the house.

[ElliesMomma]

thanks for this thread. i was going to post on this same topic here, and saw that others feel the same way. yes, i like watching that show; it motivates me to finish organizing my new upstairs. everything got jumbled up in the construction process, and i'm still digging out, six months after completion. (of course i also have a very active 3 year old and a newborn who keep me occupied all day.) i watch that show in the evenings sometimes, and it makes me want to get done with my projects. it makes me want to throw things out. it makes me want to give away the outgrown baby clothes i procrasinate on doing.

since others have been sharing their stories, i'll share mine. my parents are hoarders. my dad's parents were also hoarders. i grew up in it. for a long time, my parents got away with blaming us kids. for being messy, etc. there were four of us, close in age, all of the others are boys. they were pretty messy, it was true. but now that we are all adults and out on our own, my parents hoarding has gone to a new level of dysfunction, and the kids can certainly not be blamed anymore.

my mother's parents were the exact opposite, they were neat as a pin and perfect in the housekeeping department. although i loved my grandma, and she quit doing this later in life, growing up i always heard from her, "you should help your mother more" in regards to "cleaning" the house. trouble was, that we were never allowed to throw anything away. it's hard to clean when there is junk just everywhere.

so i carry this psychological burden, i think, of responsibility. and i'm just not a "clean freak" by nature. i am more of a free spirit, and my mind always goes to how such and such could be useful, etc. but i do fight these tendencies, and right now about 80-85 percent of my house is in pretty good shape. it will probably never be "white glove" clean like my maternal grandparents' house was, but what i mean by pretty good shape is uncluttered, and basically cleaned, floors swept or vaccumed, toys picked up, etc. i'm still working on the remaining 15-20 percent, this is where i have some piles still to go through. but yes, hoarders gives me motivation to get it done. every night when everyone else is first asleep for the night, i put about an hour's effort into organizing. my hope is that i have about a month's worth of one hour a night work left to go.

[ZoshaMosha]

Hoarders doesn't motivate me to clean, but it does motivate me to diet :Puke

Try watching that show with a snack when they start pulling out the dead cats and human feces. Ewwww.

My mother is also a pretty severe hoarder. I actually want to nominate her for the show. It was pretty bad when I was growing up--you couldn't go into some rooms of our house, and the room we actually "lived in" were so piled high with junk that it was hard to move around. We never ever ever had guests. It was very embarrassing. I still harbor a lot of resentment over it, but watching the show has helped me develop a little more empathy for my mother.

I just wish she'd own up to it as a problem. It's gotten so bad, that she hasn't let me into her house in about 3 years. I'm worried that she may have some major sanitation issues. I asked her and she said no, but I'm not sure if I believe her. As long as her toilet works. Ugh.

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Jackies Ladybug

i have never seen this show, but i have seen others similar to what you guys are describing and it is motivation to clean. although, i find it strange that someone is capitalizing on these peoples struggles and heartache. my grandmother is a compulsive hoarder, to the point that the fire department has come a few times to clear out her house and got rid of two of those huge dumpsters that have the door on the side worth of stuff. i would be absolutely mortified if she ended up on some "reality tv show" for others entertainment. she is very sick and it is really physically painful for her to get rid of anything. its her security blanket you know?

sorry to get all weird and preachy.

I'm of both minds about it, but they aren't just capitalizing on people. People have to call in and agree to do the show. Most people appear on the show to get the help because they are at a crisis point. I don't personally know anyone that could afford to dispose of an entire house of potentially toxic junk/garbage or find the man power to do it, and then afford the therapy and help that is offered.

While it is intrusive, and exploitive on the one hand, it's also opening up the topic to the public. Educating people about hoarding/OCD and how it isn't just about laziness or stupidity I think is a good thing.

People might see themselves in those being featured on the show and decide to get help, or family or friends of a hoarder might learn some compassion or find a way to get help for their loved one, or come to a resolution about deciding to not have that person in their lives, or even feel a sense of belonging in realizing that they aren't crazy- that their hoarding family member is the one that is "off" and needs help, sort of a vindication.

I don't know, but I think sweeping this kind of stuff under the rug is what does the most damage, not letting the light shine in one the problem. The first step to changing something is admitting it and stopping the lies and denial.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by noobmom

Have you ever seen the show "How Clean is Your House?" I think it's on BBCA. That sounds always makes me want to get up and clean. Most of the people on that show having hoarding tendencies also, although the main focus of the show is cleaning. I like it because they help the person clean and organize their house. Once it's done the people look so much happier I find it motivational. It's much less depressing than "Hoarders".

LOVE this show!

[philomom]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

While it is intrusive, and exploitative on the one hand, it's also opening up the topic to the public. Educating people about hoarding/OCD and how it isn't just about laziness or stupidity I think is a good thing.

I agree with this.

My parents both worked and had a messy house because they were packrats. They didn't know how or care to know to display well or pack away. I remember being ashamed to have company at our house. We weren't poor but my house no way resembled normal homes. I don't think they are true hoarders and they've never lost a room like so many on the show.. but it is hard to be there and be comfortable.

My kids will remember growing up in a neat and orderly environment. I can invite anyone into my home and only have a slight mess of dishes at any time of the day. My husband says I'm a little too neat but I find it peaceful not to have so much dis-order about me.

[Jackies Ladybug]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

I'm of both minds about it, but they aren't just capitalizing on people. People have to call in and agree to do the show. Most people appear on the show to get the help because they are at a crisis point. I don't personally know anyone that could afford to dispose of an entire house of potentially toxic junk/garbage or find the man power to do it, and then afford the therapy and help that is offered.

While it is intrusive, and exploitive on the one hand, it's also opening up the topic to the public. Educating people about hoarding/OCD and how it isn't just about laziness or stupidity I think is a good thing.

People might see themselves in those being featured on the show and decide to get help, or family or friends of a hoarder might learn some compassion or find a way to get help for their loved one, or come to a resolution about deciding to not have that person in their lives, or even feel a sense of belonging in realizing that they aren't crazy- that their hoarding family member is the one that is "off" and needs help, sort of a vindication.

I don't know, but I think sweeping this kind of stuff under the rug is what does the most damage, not letting the light shine in one the problem. The first step to changing something is admitting it and stopping the lies and denial.

oh ok, i guess i didnt really know the specific premise of the show. the types of shows i had seen before didnt really provide much help or therapy they just documented how horrible this persons life is and how hard it is to change the habits and how it is an actual medical condition. i guess i'll have to see if someone has it tivo'd or something as i dont have a tv at home.
i'm glad they are providing assistance to those people on the show, that makes me feel a bit better about it.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by Jackies Ladybug

oh ok, i guess i didnt really know the specific premise of the show. the types of shows i had seen before didnt really provide much help or therapy they just documented how horrible this persons life is and how hard it is to change the habits and how it is an actual medical condition. i guess i'll have to see if someone has it tivo'd or something as i dont have a tv at home.
i'm glad they are providing assistance to those people on the show, that makes me feel a bit better about it.

They have some episodes available online at AEtv.com, though the selection of episodes seems to vary week to week. In the ones I watched they bring a team of cleaners with big dumpsters to help the person as well as an organizer person, who usually seems to have a specialization in hoarding disorders. One family had a little boy who had hoarding problems already and he had his own psychologist (?) in addition to the person helping his mom.

[mclisa]

After watching the show I immediately felt the urge to throw something away!

I did manage to clean my desk off today because of that show.

[laohaire]

One of the families featured on this show (in fact has been mentioned on this very thread) are close family friends (like family). I can't speak about anyone else's experiences with the show, but they had a very good experience with the show, it helped them, and they felt respected by the producers and staff. They are making progress - slow, but real.

I'm really anti reality tv but I just thought I'd throw that out there.

[mom2snugbugs]

I watch the show. I'm actually kind of obsessed over it. Literally. I have OCD. I am doing much better. I feel like I *could* be a hoarder, but am not. I am pretty sure my dad was a hoarder. I watch this show as motivation AND behavior therapy. I absolutely understand what these people are going through. I grew up in a semi-hoarder situation. then I became an obsessive neat freak. I tend to shop/hoard/get messy in times of stress. This show helps me realize that stuff DOES NOT MATTER. I feel if I do a little at a time (clear off a table, do a load of wash, etc.) a little a day I'm ok. We just moved and doubled our square footage so this helps, but I am determined to have a stress free life. I know I can be a neat freak or a hoarder. I am working on a happy medium.

[tykys]

Yup! This show has INSPIRED me!! I was glued to the TV watching in awe at the way those people lived... I've always had a issue with organization, but slowly but surely I'm gettin' there. I do NOT want to be one of those people when I'm older.

[goobergrl6]

Every time I watch Horders or Clean House-Messiest Homes in America I get up an throw at least one bag of stuff out!

Lisa

[Masel]

I've been thinking a lot about this thread. It occured to me that an important difference between Hoarders and other similar shows is that there isn't always a happy ending. I think it us useful for us organizationally challenged folks to know that there is work to be done. Niecy Nash isn't just going to sweep in and make it all better.

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by Masel

I've been thinking a lot about this thread. It occured to me that an important difference between Hoarders and other similar shows is that there isn't always a happy ending. I think it us useful for us organizationally challenged folks to know that there is work to be done. Niecy Nash isn't just going to sweep in and make it all better.

You're right. I wish they'd do a longer term follow up to show if the people got the help offered and really changed or not.

I mean, I can organize my garange but within 3 months it will be destroyed again. How do we keep from doing that?