Chapter 1. Those Who Hoard
1.1 Those Who Hoard
Short Description
Bob is a hoarder. Anything brought into his apartment stays. His living room and bedroom are so full, he barely has a place to sleep. Walking in his apartment, he admits his habit is odd. Bob has many things, but not a single home comfort. He wants to watch the TV he cannot find.
Long Description
Bob claims his hoarding stems from childhood. Viewed as different, he was bullied and beaten. Fear of being seen was really fear of being hit. For protection, he built a nest and a wall around himself. People cannot see him and he feels safe. In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) a person is bombarded by intrusive, fearful thoughts. Because Bob's hoarding is his attempt to contain his fears, the idea of throwing anything away is terrifying. Bob admits that his things provide protection, but also make him feel buried alive. Shirley's hoarding began more than 30 years ago, after her home was robbed. Three years later, her father was killed in a robbery attempt. She felt having more stuff would make her feel safe. A neighbor suggests that, if robbers came, they would think the house was already ransacked. Hoarders are difficult to treat. The most effective strategy is to go directly to their house and convince them to dispose of things. Therapist Randy Frost has been to Shirley's house a couple of times and notes a bit of improvement. When asked, Shirley admits there is no organization to her stuff and she is unable to find things she might need. Frost tries to help Shirley throw away a picture. As expected, she resists, saying she finds the object beautiful even though she has no need for it. For those who hoard, explains Frosts, possessions provide safety. Throwing away even a small thing makes one vulnerable. Another treatment step is to have the person throw away something, despite feeling bad, and then learning to overcome the distress. Shirley sees the task of overcoming her hoarding as a reclamation project and looks forward to the time when she can again sit on her sofa and watch TV.