Hoarders, A&E Channel, Monday Evenings

In my observance of human nature, the biggest change I have noticed is how much STUFF we all have now. Fifty years ago, even well dressed people could fit an entire wardrobe into one small closet. I could not have foreseen a time when I would own dozens of outfits (admittedly tees, sweats and slacks), 36 pairs of socks, enough lingerie changes for three weeks, and five coats. When I moved into my first place, all my possessions fit into one small corner of a rental truck. Today I hardly know what to do with all the things I have and most of the other people I know are in the same predicament.

Back in the 40's and 50's, even wealthy people didn't own much STUFF. It may be that never before have so many people generated so much material STUFF. Some of us have sensed things getting out of hand and perhaps this is why we have become fascinated with that tragic group who are literally drowning in tons of STUFF. This could explain the popularity of shows such as Clean Sweep, How Clean is Your House and lately the newest entry into the race .... Hoarders which is broadcast Monday evenings on the A & E Channel.

Hoarding vs. Bad Housekeeping

Because hoarding results in a messy home, it is easy to confuse it with bad housekeeping but some of us just don't like housework. We've reached a point where we realize that mortal life is limited and too soon they will be gone, the days of wine and roses and watching Oprah. Twenty years ago, I happily spent hours dusting and polishing but today I often resent and rebel against every minute spent cleaning. Bad housekeeping is addressable, however. I may hate housework but as long as Logic drives the bus, I will do what it takes to maintain a home I can live in.

Even the experts don't seem to understand exactly what causes hoarding except that it seems to have a genetic link, sometimes causing hoarders to have some children who are neat in spite of everything and others who continue the hoarding family tradition. Basically a hoarder is compelled to collect and acquire things to which he or she may then form an emotional, almost hysterical, attachment. We all have sentimental attachments to certain things but a hoarder may feel that way about empty soda cans and fast food wrappers.

Hoarders presents case studies of some of the more than three million hoarders in this country. Each person featured on the show has reached a desperation point of making the major concession of asking an expert (and a television crew) to help them straighten up and try to resolve serious personal issues. Although not even the experts are sure what the underlying cause is, hoarding seems to be triggered off by certain things including:

Grief or guilt caused by the loss of a loved one

One young man grieved for his mother so much that he saved her dead funeral flowers, bought her candy bars which he heaped in front of her picture, and nearly broke down when someone tried to persuade him to discard an old piece of dental floss she had used.

Loss of income resulting in hunger and poverty

Many of us have experienced anxiety about money and not having enough to eat. Food hoarders seem to take a page from Scarlett O'Hara and swear that they will never be hungry again even if it means buying 20 tons of food which they don't need. Avidly, they will make a killing during sales and promotions but don't seem to grasp that true savings are only achieved if all the food is put to good use. In reality, they end up stacked a couple feet high with moldering garbage and spoiled food which is dangerous to eat but impossible for them to discard.

Compulsive Spending

There is really only so much which any person can use, appreciate, or enjoy but some people keep relentlessly buying stuff which is useless to them but which they just can't part with and continue to stockpile helplessly.

Superstition

One nice young man could not bear to discard any of the hair his beloved dog shed because he was afraid to do so would cause his pet to die. It sounds silly, I know, but I can relate to that. For 20 years or more, I have saved all the greeting cards I received from a favorite aunt. As time went by, I started saving the envelopes she addressed to me too and indeed began to fear that if I discarded anything with her writing on, she might die. I had to finally start deliberately throwing away some of these things to prove to myself that I was being foolish. Serious hoarders sometimes aren't strong enough to do that.

Sometimes intervention works and sometimes ....

Hoarders already has scored some successes making it possible for some desperately hoarding people to resolve serious personal issues, redeeming neatness, order and a new lease on life out of chaos. Tragically, some hoarders are hopelessly trapped in their destructive behavior patterns and cannot be helped despite the almost heroically patient help of the consultants assigned to them. Sometimes no amount of forceful intervention can help those people who can't break the hoarding habit. To watch people choose STUFF even if it means the break-up of their families, removal of their children, possible eviction, or legal consequences is certainly tragic but fascinating nonetheless. Whoever thought up the idea for this show had a stroke of genius.