Hoarders (A&E)

[HerculesMulligan]

I've never seen a full episode (I think they're geo-blocked) but the Facebook video algorithm suggested one of the abridged episodes, and in the last fortnight I've been watching loads of them on Youtube. I am obsessed, and although my house isn't hoarded, I would like Dorothy Breininge to come round and help me tidy up the kids' toys each evening.

Has anyone else seen them?

I bloody love Hoarders! It does make me want to throw away everything I own though 😂

If you have Amazon Prime Video, there's about 10 seasons on there

Nooooooooooo. Don't tell me. That is a slippery slope.

I love this too. I have seen every episode available on amazon prime.

Of course there is a certain degree of wallowing in the awfulness of some of the homes, and being able to tell myself that I am a paragon of organisation in comparison. But, to be fair, I think the support people (organisers, psychologists) are lovely, kind and non judgemental.
My mum is a hoarder and it was very cathartic for me to see how hoarding affects family members. I used to think I was too judgmental of my mum but seeing how other people struggled with family members I can see it is normal to feel depressed and stressed growing up like that.

I also learned a lot by watching the series. There isn't one cause of hoarding. Some of them are responding to trauma, others are obviously in the early stages of dementia and others just don't have sufficient executive functioning.

My favourites are Dr Zasio and Dorothy Breininger.

Ah, I'm not keen on Dr Zasio. I think Dr Tolin is lovely, and I think he's good at making the people he counsels feel safe. And Dr Melba Green is so smart - I watched an abridged episode recently where there was a horrendous dynamic between two parents and their teenage daughter, and she really seemed to cut through to what mattered and help them to fix that, even though the marriage didn't last.

You're so right that there isn't a single cause. CBT seems extremely effective for some hoarders though - I've seen at least two where they were emotionally and psychologically ready for everything to go, and really just needed the logistical help and manpower.