Hoarders

I recently discovered "Hoarders" on A&E. Fascinating.

Each episode features the story of two different hoarders. Different, yet the same, because of their compulsion to accumulate possessions. Their houses are piled high with stuff. Usually the stuff is causing other problems: health, safety, or family tension. So these people know that they have a problem and they need help, so they allow A&E to come in and film while psychologists and professional organizers try to help them let go of their junk.

It's clearly a psychological disorder. This was apparent in the first episode that I saw where the lady insisted on sorting through each and every bag of trash before she would allow it to be taken away. Meanwhile, guys waited outside with nearly empty trucks and nothing to do.

It's also interesting how upset the children are that their parent is unable to change. Mother and teenage son were really butting heads on the issue in another episode I saw.

It seems to be more of a female problem, but there was a guy featured on one episode. He was a firefighter and would get really jumpy about the idea of someone throwing out something behind his back.

We identified a Mormon family on one episode through several context clues: family home evening chart, red-robed Jesus picture, Ensign magazine in a box, and a copy of the Friend which was cause for one scene of contention.

I'm not sure what A&E does helps these people, but hey, I'm not the psychologist. They basically have the help for two days and then they are on their own. Some of these folks seem like they need a lot more help than can be given in 48 hours.

It's a little bit scary becuase I think there is a little bit of "hoarder" in all of us. It wouldn't take much to become prisoner to your things.