children and hoarders - Big Big Forums

buglebe · 09-11-2009, 10:26 PM

On the tv show Hoarders there was a family who were going to lose their children because their house was a mess. Does this ever really happen? I used to have neighbors with 10 kids. There house was like a garbage pail. From 50 ft away you could smell the house. I saw the father throw a couch out the front door because it was "so pis*** on" . The one time I was in the house there were dirty diapers rolled up everywhere, food everywhere, clothes trash etc. My son in law told me when he was a phone man he went into all kinds of nasty houses. I have neighbors who refuse to let anyone into their house because it is "messy". Even on the police shows I've never heard them threaten to take the children.

speedygirl · 09-11-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buglebe

On the tv show Hoarders there was a family who were going to lose their children because their house was a mess. Does this ever really happen? I used to have neighbors with 10 kids. There house was like a garbage pail. From 50 ft away you could smell the house. I saw the father throw a couch out the front door because it was "so pis*** on" . The one time I was in the house there were dirty diapers rolled up everywhere, food everywhere, clothes trash etc. My son in law told me when he was a phone man he went into all kinds of nasty houses. I have neighbors who refuse to let anyone into their house because it is "messy". Even on the police shows I've never heard them threaten to take the children.

Yes, It happens a lot. It's a mental iillness that needs to be treated. It's usually a dual diagnosis along with OCD or something else. These people have an unusual attachment to the items they hoard and it makes them physically and mentally ill when one attempts to remove the items. They need meds and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Did you see the lady who hoarded food on that show? She had stuff in her fridge that was like 10 years old. The cheese they showed expired around 2001.
These people are so deep into the illness that the hoarding often supercedes any relationships. It's got to be a tough road to travel.

Anniston · 09-11-2009, 10:44 PM

That show is an absolute trip. It is sad to think the number of people (children especially) that grow up in that type of environment.

ilovecats · 09-11-2009, 10:49 PM

My bil is a cop,he has seen a lot of nasty things.If the house is deemed a danger,children are taken away.
I watch that show too.A couple of the people seemed more lazy than hoarders to me.Is the episode you are talking about the one with the husband being a hoarder?I think the wife was just a pig imo.The place would obviously be crowded because of the husband,but there was no reason for dirty laundry in the hallway,cheerios on the floor,etc.The husband really was a hoarder and needed help but I think the wife was just lazy.

buglebe · 09-11-2009, 11:28 PM

Yes I saw the one where the woman hoarded food and also the one where they had to walk on clothes to get to the basement and I was sure they were going to fall on the blanket. Yes I think it isn't always hoarding, sometimes it is too much stuff , not nec hoarding, just too many clothes, toys etc. And laziness. And like in the case of the same woman with the cheerios, I think things had gotten so out of hand she couldn't have gotten it back in shape by herself.

ttistin · 09-11-2009, 11:38 PM

i watched that show also, I also think the guy had a problem but she was just lazy. Saying she had a shopping problem, nope she was just lazy and did not want to clean the things she already had so she bought new.

I watched the one with the lady and the food also. that was so nasty. OMG and she ate the food! If I have leftovers in the fridge for a few days I toss it. I can not imagine keeping something for 5-10 years

ilovecats · 09-11-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buglebe

Yes I saw the one where the woman hoarded food and also the one where they had to walk on clothes to get to the basement and I was sure they were going to fall on the blanket. Yes I think it isn't always hoarding, sometimes it is too much stuff , not nec hoarding, just too many clothes, toys etc. And laziness. And like in the case of the same woman with the cheerios, I think things had gotten so out of hand she couldn't have gotten it back in shape by herself.

I just don't understand why she didn't even try though.How hard is it to sweep up the cheerios,clear the table and throw the dirty clothes in the wash?If I lived there the is no way it would be like that.I think she used her husbands issues as an excuse to do nothing.What kind of mother lets their kids live like that?lol,I am getting mad just thinking about the kids living in filth like that.

4diego · 09-11-2009, 11:58 PM

I have OCD and I attempt to "hoard" items but my dh steps in. I limit myself as to what I can keep by giving myself a drawer, if it fits in there okay. If not, I know it will be taken out by dh. I (now my dd does) babysat for a family that have some issues, they aren't hoarders but their house is BAD! I used to clean the whole time I was there, you couldn't walk down their hall because of piles of dirty clothes. I don't know what happens with people, this couple is just lazy and they make me crazy.

My grandma hoards food though. We NEVER eat anything at her house because it's dangerous. She buys outdated food at a salvage grocery store and then shares with us, I feel bad but always pitch it. She sent pork loins up here a few months ago and they expired in 2001. She said they were good because she'd frozen them when she bought them. I love her but will not allow anyone in my family to eat there. She thinks she is stocking up in case of war, etc... I stock up but not with outdated stuff. I guess it's an illness but your children shouldn't have to suffer.

Shann · 09-12-2009, 07:26 AM

I haven't heard of this show, but how sad. I may not be the cleanest person out there, but I couldn't imagine living in conditions as you described let alone having children in such an environment.

hotwheelstx · 09-12-2009, 07:57 AM

My mother was a hoarder for years. Hers was mainly clothes, books, shoes, purses, pens, magazines, gifts that were never opened. Sometimes she'd buy outdated food items but she'd be the only one to eat them. She wouldn't DARE let my brother or I eat anything like that.

She was on medication for her hoarding but there were just some things she couldn't/wouldn't let go of. If you didn't know her though you'd never suspect a thing. It was only in her bedroom (clothes, books, pens, magazines, gifts, shoes, purses) where she'd hide stuff. Other than that the house was spotless to the outside world. Go down the hallway and that's where you found her "secret".

She had a small college fridge in her bedroom. That's where all the "bad" food would go. Brother and I learned very early not to do anything with either one....she would of lost it if we did.

I loved my mother (still do) til the day she passed away. However, it was a "quiet misery" for her to live like that all those years. I'm glad (in a strange way) that she's out of her misery. She went to several drs. about her hoarding, called an organizer.....things always went back to the same way after awhile.

It was hard for me to clean out her house when she died. I knew how important some things were to her. I donated most of her clothes, books, purses, shoes....things I knew others could use. Food I thru it out....ASAP.

gonnascream · 09-13-2009, 02:59 PM

I saw the show too. I feel bad for them, but I feel like the organizers are coddling them also. I mean when they have to go through everything, and pick through this junk and "find their feelings" when their facing eviction is IMO horrible. I feel like if it gets that bad them just send them off to a motel for a few days while they do a sweep and clear on the house.