Scarey

[maverick_weirdo]

I watched Hoarding: Buried Alive on The Learning Channel last night and it was disturbing.

I don’t judge the people on the show. My thoughts were more, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I have suffered some of those symptoms in the past, and admit that it could happen to me in the future, if I don’t remain aware.

Beyond that the show bothered me because of how much it reminded me of my ex-wife. There is no doubt in my mind that she suffers from that disability. It is yet another way that I could not save her from herself.

Did anyone else watch it and recognize parts of themselves, or others in their life?

Comments

[varianor.livejournal.com]

Suddenly I feel better that I've encouraged Audrey to throw things out, and she's working on it. The disorder, I believe, is due to a lack of development in certain brain functions. I feel sorry for hoarders.

[coat-of-brown.livejournal.com]

I did not get to see it, but I think my problem is I collect stuff JUST SO I CAN GO THROUGH IT AND SORT IT OUT! I am finding more and more that I have more than a slightly mild case of OCD.

at least it sounds nice now. People *used* to call me anal retentive!

[maedbh7.livejournal.com]

Living in my household as I do, I think about this all the time :)

I did not see the show, but I know what hording is. While I can't alter the behavior of those around me, I can alter my own behavior. I've taken to heart the motto "If you don't need it, use it, or love it, get rid of it." I let go almost every book I own, because I couldn't justify keeping them. I didn't need it, I wasn't going to re-read 90% of them, and I didn't love them enough to keep them anyway, so I let them go. My CDs onthe other hand, I don't need them, I don't listen to 90% of them, but I haven't yet kicked the comfort just having them around me brings. I love them; I'll part with them when I am ready to.

The one hoarding behavior I see most amongst my friends and still cannot fathom is keeping stuff that is out of date or broken "because I might need it or fix it someday". As if 'Someday' was ever going to be Today.

I'm still working on instilling that one value (If you don't use it, need it, or love it, then loss it.) in my son. He's working on it, but he's not quite there yet. We'll see how the next move goes with Mom ;) -H...

[sheistheweather]

Yes.

[filkferengi]

I watched several episodes of "Hoarders" on A & E last year, & it inspired me to do some needed de-cluttering. It got a bit heavy on the drama, however, & now I watch "How Clean Is Your House?" on BBC America, which scratches much the same itch, but is shorter, drama-free, & has alliterative snark & bad puns.

Every collection, from ponds to mine, needs multiple outlets. I highly recommend putting systems in place. I use http://www.paperbackswap.com & its cd-swapping sib, as well as donating to university libraries or local library book sales. I know you use some of these; do you use any others?