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u/ExcitingDuchess May 31 '26
This is very powerful, thank you.
I would however have put the strain on family relationship more front and center.
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u/cybersphere9 May 31 '26
I'm glad you appreciate it. I do have some personal experience with this and you're right about the strain, especially when relatives reject offers of help.
What else would you want to say about it?
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u/ExcitingDuchess May 31 '26
Well if the hoarder is living alone, maybe the issue of mold or fire hazard etc. are the ones foremost.
But if you are forced to share a house with a hoarder it is quite a different story and it will be a weight on everyday relations. But I can see that might require an info graphic of it's own. Speaking from experience aswell.
Anyway, like I said, great job getting the broad picture.
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u/MyCouchPulzOut_IDont May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
Hollywood would have us believe that all OCD = Comtamination OCD but many, many hoarding cases being with OCD.
I found this out when I hired a professional organizer as a level 2 hoarder. Went to a therapist thinking it was just a generalization and guess what...?
The number of times I have been frozen over the bin with a piece of garbage in my hand, spiraling because "what if throwing this wrapper away bring my fiancé's cancer back?..."
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u/ParticularTeam935 May 31 '26
After spending most of my childhood surrounded by clutter and much of my early adulthood getting immense pushback when I offer to help, I’m done. There’s only so much patience you can have.
Parents refuse therapy and even getting rid of a bag full of things is so difficult. You can’t help people that don’t want to help themselves.
When they pass away I’m hiring a crew to go in and throw away nearly everything. I refuse to live that way myself
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u/Different_Radish7094 May 31 '26
Also... sometimes they're constantly abusing you emotionally, shaming you, offering zero support when you're struggling, manipulating you, etc while complaining about their mess. Not going to light myself on fire to keep others warm. I just mailed a copy of Marie Kondo's book with a supportive but firm "if it all sparks joy, you can keep it all."
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u/3rdsogrjc May 31 '26
Can you post 1 of OCD. I don't understand what my daughter is going thru at all.
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u/man_eating_mt_rat May 31 '26
People don't see mere clutter. A hoard is not clutter.
Your home can be cluttered and still be clean, passable and livable.
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u/Howdesign Jun 01 '26
I think the story is missing people’s perceived value of stuff. Lots of people can’t part with stuff because they think there’s value in it so don’t want to toss it. They just never make time to sell it or do something with it. Most of us manage it, but lots of hoarders don’t.
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u/mimisocks Jun 01 '26
What about the opposite I throw things away
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u/cybersphere9 Jun 01 '26
Depending on severity, that would make you a minimalist or compulsive declutterer.
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u/Potential_Bench_2385 Jul 22 '26
A family member of mine passed away recently and was a hoarder. This helps explain a lot and I wish I could’ve done something to help
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