Doctor Reacts To Shocking Hoarders Episode
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- Опубліковано 4 лис 2023
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The non-judgement from Mike is very comforting. Coming from a family with hoarding tendencies, severe judgement only worsens the chance to get better.
I feel the same. Luckily my family doesn't hoard, but clinicians who don't judge and approach patients objectively and are sincere and honest tend to be the ones I want to be examined and treated by because they're trustworthy.
That's why I love watching his videos. He has a way of telling us what he sees without judging people. He wants to understand people so he can help them not judge them so he can make fun of them. I think thats the way we should all be
Me too. I am always stucked with plenty of stuff. Once, I have subconscious fear of lacking things and I am aware of this. Second, cleaning my flat is a disaster because of my family members. They like clean space but never ever let anyone do cleaning in peace and at slow pace. My dad walks around flat so many times that I am becoming mad. My brother always points out very little things, like one milimeter-long stains. There is also a lot of sharp commentaries when I sort things out or clean on my own.
I am sure I would fix my problem only if I could leave my family and live alone. Through all these years I have no privacy, no space and I accumulated many things. Never have free time cleaning without any interruptions or sometimes big arguments.
It is a real hell to live in disfunctional (and toxic dependent) family, believe me, having no huge financial freedom to rent sth on my own.
I know people would assess me but my childhood trauma (home, school, ASD) have ruined me as an adult person. I wish I had a friend who could help me to leave and give me some roof under my head for some time before I start a new independent life.😢
Having seen a number of this shows episodes, which I admit I use as a sort of “Scared Straight” method for myself (just for the mess aspect), I can say that Robin is one of the least judgemental people on the show. I assure you that based on the episodes I’ve seen with her in them, that this is far more a look of concern that this person *~wants~* to eat contaminated bread (mold level unclear as I write this) and that she is misunderstanding the nature of the aerosol’d particles that’s been all around her. Yes the smell of waste is permeating the home, but even if in the same room, it’s the smell of the waste, not the waste itself that she’s been experiencing all these years
For her to think of those words as something reasonable to say out loud and to then hear herself actually utter those words as some prideful addict would and should elicit a concerned expression from others
If she’s got the wherewithal to (verbally) accept that “the party is over tomorrow” but *not* to catch herself mid-sentence and stop herself as she says (paraphrasing) “I just want one last slice of poop-scented mold bread” is 100% cause for concern
But if Robin is correct that the person here is treating the mold bread (with aroma garnishment) as a psychological fix akin to an addict, then there are additional and different layers to this individual that need addressed beyond just the hoarding mentality and it’s root
I think the lady was saying what she did knowingly as a way to ask for help with something she just can’t wrap her own head around.
If it’s dookie-scented moldy bread that she wants, then the night after they are done with the cleanup she could just leave a plate of bread in the now clean bathroom and let time and controlled bathroom strategy make her some more moldy bread
I’m not condoning it, but especially if she has two bathrooms, she could keep one unflushed for the air-borne element of her “fix” with the plate of bread on the tank, and the other bathroom used and maintained as a typical one would be.
Barring having someone over that could pick up the scent, she could literally have the home be safe to live in from a recovering hoarder aspect, but still have her moldy bread just as she’s accustomed to (until her body has finally had enough and she gets severely sick)
Thank you
Ohhh god, the "poop lady" episode. She was the most mentally ill out of all of the others on that series. It was so bad that her house and surrounding land was deemed "hazmat" and had to be condemned. She was moved into a home where she has round-the-clock care, as it was decided that she wasn't mentally fit to take care of herself. As for her original house, it was bulldozed. A completely different house sits in its place.
That is really sad
@@hazzaplayz808 It is. But at least she's got proper care now.
The lady who owned the big house, Sandra I think? That was a sad one to see.
I saw that episode too. I'm glad she's not living in those awful conditions anymore.
It reminds me of Howard Hughes who had been suffering from very severe OCD and I suppose pee into glass jugs and keep them. I'm so glad she is getting help.
I love how you pointed out the absurd rude judgmental tone for the cameras and how this is the reason people don't seek help! Thank you for explaining how wrong that is!
Problem is she refused to get help until she got tough love and was bluntly told that she had a problem.
But, unfortunately, that's more of what the show is there for. Using sick people and treating them like "circus freaks" for ratings.
@@ferretyluv She still doesn't need judgmental tone. If the lady needed bluntness, she needed bluntness. However, you can bluntly tell someone that there is a problem without implying that they aren't worth as much as you are.
But this show exists more for ratings than to help these folks, so that's what the tone is there to serve, IMO.
@@ferretyluvit's a condition, it's not that she's refusing help but rather she doesn't see the issue. And "though love" will not solve the problem at all. She will start hoarding again as soon as those people have done cleaning her home if she doesn't get the right psychological help she needs.
@@lapatti That’s why they’re not letting her live alone because the psychologist determined she can’t. She IS getting help.
It's so cruel for them to characterize her as getting pleasure from eating contaminated food. She's clearly defiant because she feels threatened and humiliated. When people are embarrassed and exposed and they don't have any way out of the situation, it's super common to act like they don't care or pretend they like the bad situation they're in.
Just like I did with my marriage, lol
@disturbedltlman6007 brother I felt that 😂
Yes. I'm actually more disturbed by the way that psych is acting. Lady, if you're an "expert" then you either need to go back to school or find one that teaches proper response to mental illness.
@@Bethgael Yeah, I feel that. Cause, like, that's a reaction I'd expect from a civilian, not a medical or therapeutic professional.
@@ScribStat exactly. yet people get mad when people with disorders don't want to get help and are stubborn/prone to anger. ironically, medical professionals are unprofessional, at least in America, unfortunately.
Something that I haven’t seen people talk about is how sick Shanna LOOKS. Her lips are a blueish purple, her skin is pale, her cheeks are red, her eyes have dark circles, and she looks to have swelling or edema. I’m really glad she was placed into an assisted living home, and I hope she’s doing well.
Good point. I bet the air quality in that home is terrible 😢
I noticed that too. Maybe the psychologist could have been nicer about it on camera, but I'm glad she called in outside help.
@@jennicorbus5304a psychologist worth of that name cannot judge a patient. It's not about "being nice in front of the camera". That person has a condition, how come the doctor fails to see that?
@@Jen-Chapin Her body adapted to it somehow.
it's not staged?😮
As an ex hoarder myself I can tell you this is hell for these people. I never went to the point of what’s shown in the show but it was severe. I was depressed and for a very long time I thought I deserved nothing. I didn’t take care of me. With the help of my therapist little by little I cleaned my entire apartment it was not very long I threw out plenty of stuff 😆 I’m very grateful for my therapist my apartment is clean and my head can rest properly. I think both are linked. When you live in chaos your head is a mess too.
Thx for reading, take care 😊
great job
Good job dawg
@@adrianmerasanz2625 🤜🤛
Thinking back It was pretty crazy. I wasn’t accumulating stuff like most people I don’t like shopping. For example I would cook my meal and leave my plates on the ground and paper bags and trash from everyday life. I let a tiramisu rot on the ground once 🤮I was so empty it was normal I didn’t have the strength to clean. One day I really had a wake up call I bought enormous trash bags and threw everything. It was over. I deserve a clean home 🤘🤘 Now I have my mini dishwasher now it helps a lot and of course my therapist but it’s really expensive maybe that’s why these people can’t stop. They need to find why they are suffering and hurting themselves but the price for professional help.. I’m 🇫🇷 it’s quite easy to find a therapist but It’s probably more expensive in the US.
That's very true. That's why I love watching aurikatariina's channel that comes in help to clean people who suffer mentally's houses
Being a firefighter, hoarders are a big problem for us. On EMS runs, it’s hard for us to maneuver our equipment through those houses and it’s often difficult to remove patients from hoarder houses. Also like what Dr. Mike said, fires in hoarder houses will light up fast because of the flammable materials. There are some places in my fire district that are actually flagged as hoarder houses and the reason why we do this is so if there’s a fire, we won’t send crews inside to fight the fire or search for victims because the risk to our firefighters is too great.
Thank you for your service.
fire medic here and I was just about to comment the same thing. it’s a bigger problem than I think many people outside this field realize
@@thedancingemtif I may be so kind as to ask, what are the conditions required to be flagged as a hoarder home? And thank you for your service!
As a emt / ff, forget the gear it’s hard to just get our own bodies in some of these houses, add in gear and it’s impossible in many cases, fighting a fire in one would be terrifying and incredibly dangerous, not to mention trying to find someone in that is next to if not impossible
I always clean my flat because 'what if I have a heart attack and need help and the EMTs come in and think I'm a slob for having a used mug on the coffee table'. Now I can add a new panic that is even reasonable. 'What if a firefighter trips and dies inside my home because I left my slippers in the hall....'
I hate shows like this. Most viewers end up hate watching just so they can gossip about it with their friends with disgusted shock. There are people who find themselves in a hoarder situation who are too ashamed to ask for help. Sometimes the hoarder may be terrified that their secret shame might be revealed by others and would consider or actually commit $u!¢!d€ over it. Thank you Dr. Mike for your compassionate feedback about this show.
ikr most of the cases clearly just should not be on tv and it’s sad. a documentary in hindsight about these peoples hoards would be fine, but they’re obviously not in their right mind at the time of filming, just shouldn’t be filmed.
the worst part is that this is some ppls only option, embarrassing their family member on live tv in a last ditch try to get them help
I watch it because I wanted to find out if I was one, and it turns out I was a level 1. I still watch it when I’m having trouble, because I need to hear the harsh truth. If I don’t take care of it, it’ll only hurt me in the long run.
Crazy since most of these people get asked and volunteer to be on the show the cameras don’t just show up so do you hate the show or the people who agree to go on it knowing they might face judgement ? Hmmmm
Yeah but these shows probably do alot more good. It gets information out there about these conditions and how they effect people and give some tips on ways to help. For example, alot of people think just going in an throwing everything away for a hoarder will fix it but this show proves that this isnt the case and it actually makes things worse so people who find a loved one in this situation will not try that. Other shows can be even more helpful. I think 600lb Life gives out ALOT of good information about what causes people to be super obese, good diet plans to try, emphasizing getting mental health help and getting away from enablers or feeders who will ruin things for you, and that surgery isnt a magic fix.
If someone is that mentally ill that they are on the verge of suicide, I dont think necessarily the asking for help part is going to do it. And i doubt a TV show that they will never be on will do it either. And if they never ask for help and we aren't supposed to go in and help them and the people around them dont know anything about the condition then nothing will ever change. Sometimes people need a push in the right direction. The public needs to learn more about these conditions and how to go about helping.
Totally agree. I stopped watching this show a long time ago because it made me cry so much and my heart broke for these people because I saw it for what it was.
My dad is a hoarder and we’ve cleaned his house more than once. My brother goes out twice a month to keep tabs. My dad doesn’t see he has a problem. It’s heartbreaking.
huh @@shakeyj4523
@@shakeyj4523 "Yeah, maybe you are part of his problem instead of a loving solution." ?? why the hatred ? are you okay ? where the hell did that come from ?
@@luciel6108 You are the only one hating here. And you STILL miss the point. So here is one clue and let's see if you are smart enough to understand: Your Dad HAS HOARDING DISORDER, he is not a "hoarder" any more than he would be a cancer or a broken bone. He HAS it. That fact that you say he IS it says more about you than him.
Confront them outright and they deny deny deny. Sneak it in as a swirl and you can get a you can do it for me. At least thats gow it is with my relative but I have my own messes I have to clean up and my kids now. I tried a bit when I was younger but all I see now are lost causes. No money for proper therapists no time or money to clean it up for them... If there is hope its hidden in an unlit match.
Thats quite sad, have you tried getting him help? Your brother taking that on isnt good either:/
My dad was a hoarder. I didn't understand it as a little kid, but I kept getting grazes and cuts and bruises because even as a small child I found it hard to walk around such a cramped and messy space. Now hoarding freaks me out because I never want to be like him
my mom was a hoarder and it messed me up
@@JokeswithMitochondria hey mate i got curious about ur username so decided to check out ur profile. Wasn't disappointed lmao
@@sterlingarcher8041 damn lol u r right
I think my dad is a hoarder. Once my mom and brother threw out all things and he threw a huge fit. 😂
They should not have thrown his stuff out without consultinghim.
This episode SHOOK ME. I automatically felt so bad for her because you can tell something was wrong with her mentally and she really didn’t seem comprehend the literal mess she was living in…I hope she got the help she needed.
I grew up in a hoarder house. My parents both died when I was 19 and 24 and they were wonderful loving people who just had some problems after we fell into deep poverty. I’m 41 now and growing up in that house made me who I am and I hold no anger or resentment towards my parents.
I appreciate Dr. Mike’s empathy and compassion in this video.
I’m currently in a similar situation, I hope I can move out one day, glad to see you’re doing well
Doctor Mike is a breath of fresh air in a world where a lot of people are harshly critical. Instead, he looks at the situation and comments objectively. People like him make educational videos enjoyable.
Just as judgmental as they people on the program by watching a program designed to be click bait then judging people they brought on the show and say well I wouldn't do that standard moral high ground. Why not make a video without showing the inside of the house and just tell what people should watch out for.
a breath of fresh air is what one would nee after going into that nasty house lmao
@@pssurvivor Fair point lol
@@southcoastinventors6583or show the house but not the person. In my eyes not showing the house is odd about a show with the whole point being people who hoard but showing the person is super embarrassing. Not just for them but for their friends and family. The show would be so much better if they didn’t show the person but the house and then showed a before and after but also get audio logs of just the person talking and so that other people can learn not to get to a point like that and what happens mentally if it does get to that point. That’s my take but I like yours
@@Ripperin0 Yeah I agree with that as well the whole point is not to shame the person or show what steps that can help with people with this disorder.
Its extra sad but with how severe this is i feel like the house needs to be torn down. Theres no way this can be 100% sanitized without bacteria continuing to live in the soft surfaces.
Agreed
@@WhisperingWempeIt’s not about curing them, genius.
@@WhisperingWempe Why that hostility? It's about the house being practically uninhabitable. And it's "extra sad" that it likely needs to be torn down, because Shanna had lived in it for 13 years.
@@WhisperingWempe it’s that the house is probably riddled with bacteria, and would continue to be a health risk even after clearing everything out.
@@WhisperingWempe I’m not the ignorant one here. Stay mad
I work for adult protective services and I'm so glad he mentioned this as an option for her. He is 100% correct in saying that a client can decline help even if they live this way (I've been to countless houses like this) and the people turn me away. The court process for guardianship is absolutely an uphill battle as well.
What are they supposed to do though if they decline help? I guess they'll just be homeless. The city is going to condem their house, no matter what.
@noorrougelewis6704 I can confirm secondhand the hoarding continues even when they are homeless.
I heard from someone who knew her on you tube that she's living with a bunch of meth heads still pooping in a bucket.
@maggie6152 I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. You keep hoarding when you literally don't have a house or any place to put things.
@@noorrougelewis6704 You ever heard of or seen a "bag lady"? They'll keep their hoard, but only so much they can carry in ancient shopping bags or an abandoned shopping buggy. Many homeless campsites often resemble an outdoor version of a Hoarders episode, a broken tent in the middle of what looks like a junk pile. You can take the hoarder out of the home, but you can't take the hoard out of the hoarder.
I'm getting my doctorate in clinical psychology right now, and I have to say, the way you approach hoarding disorder is like a breath of fresh air. I hope I can be as nonjudgemental and empathetic in my practice as you demonstrate in this video. ❤
I've read Dr. Zasios book " The Hoarder In You" and she said that they do actually have therapy sessions with the hoarder before they go to their houses. In the show they make it seem like that's the first time they are meeting that's not true. They do have real therapy sessions with them not just show up and start taking their stuff out. There is more to it than the show makes us think there is.
Very irresponsible of the show to leave that out. I wouldn't be surprised if this has led to kids just marching in and taking stuff away from hoarder parents with no warning, consent, or therapy and thinking that was perfectly ok.
Yeah shows are rarely portrayed how they really happen for dramatic purposes. Like all those ghost shows make it seem like things happen on just one night, when actually they investigate over several days and edit as if it were one night of investigating.
@@HariSeldon913 Sure it's irresponsible, but at the end of the day it's reality TV and people don't watch it for the realism. Plus it's what 30 min episode, so you literally can't fit weeks of backstory into it. Maybe people even watch it so they would feel better about themselves ("See I'm not as bad as this person. I don't defecate in the bucket. I have my hoarding under control" etc).
@@siimtokke3461 The tragedy of you saying 'It's reality TV and people don't watch it for realism' is just so strong to me. Just falls in line with the 'reality' of social media.
@@siimtokke3461 No, but they could fit in 10 seconds of a voiceover mentioning it.
I wonder how much of her issue has to do with hoarding being her “normal” since her mother was also a hoarder? Parents frequently underestimate the impact their disorders have on their kids. I hope she gets the help she needs.
She clearly cognitively has some issues too though. Getting a “high” off of knowing she’s eating food contaminated with feces does not just come from being used to living in a hoard
Yeah, when he brought up it being genetic my first instinct was that it wasn't a genetic thing, but just a learned behavior.
Thus why the "hoarder gene" has yet to be found.
One of the hardest parts of getting older has been noticing the bad habits I've "inherited" from my parents, especially my mom. She's much better now, and I'm working on it, but it really messes with your brain to see the parallels. Sometimes it's hard to not be a little angry about it, tbh 😅 But I don't actively blame them or anything.
Hard to tell, not enough studies. But I believe she had a sister, whom doesn't have this issue.
it's likely that hoarding disorder is genetic but also only expresses itself given the correct environment.@@bolbyballinger
Shannon was, by far, the most mentally ill person ever featured on the show. It wasn’t just that she had a hoarding disorder - or just a disorder - she was not able to take care of herself on a daily basis. It was something about her development, not just something necessarily treatable.
I hope she’s ok today and has the help she very clearly needed.
I actually wrote a report on Hoarding Disorder just a couple weeks ago based on an episode of this show. We all had to choose a person from an episode and argue whether they have Hoarding Disorder or not.
For the woman I wrote about, I argued that she didn’t have Hoarding Disorder, but actually OCD. The only thing she hoarded were “limited editions”, no matter how invaluable they were.
She wasn’t hoarding them because she couldn’t part with them, she was hoarding them because she did know where everything would go, and kept telling herself that something else in the future would be better for the spot, and thus never organized anything she had.
I could be wrong in my research, but I got full points, and that’s all that college looks at. 😜
What kind of course are you doing? Encouraging students to diagnose people based on a TV show seems incredibly problematic - you have no idea what details have been left out. I think some medical specialties explicitly ban people from suggesting a diagnosis for someone who is not their patient.
@@kaspianepps7946 I doubt the professor who gave the assignment was expecting or implying that an accurate diagnosis could be made from a TV show episode alone, it was likely just an exercise in making observations, which would be PART of the diagnosis process.
The putting waste in jars is a pathological thing. My friend’s sister was super mentally ill and would keep her urine and feces in jars all over her room because she thought that she needed proof of her own waste to convince her she was “real” because she felt a lot of disassociation with life.
There was a popular streamer from years ago that used to pee in bottles and keep them around. There was speculation that it was a control thing, that he started doing it to have a feeling of control over his life. I don't remember what happened to him, I know for awhile he was living in one of his dads extra houses, he came from money.
@@Worgen33Mitch Jones?
Oh yeah, that's his name. Is he still around? @@hurtmei6420
As someone who struggles with disassociation, this makes a lot of sense. Disassociation is a terrifying feeling.
Ah, okay that actually makes some sense. I guess certain symptoms of a mental illness or disorder might seem random at first and nonsensical, until you realize the affected person may also be concurrently experiencing another mental illness or disorder on the side and that the mysterious behavior had some sort of link to a symptom of one of the other mental illnesses or disorders.
As a person with a hoarding issue, if this video was anyone but Dr. Mike, I wouldn't have been able to watch it. Thank you for your compassion.
there’s a lovely channel i watch sometimes called ‘Midwest Magic Cleaning’. my mother has hoarding disorder and seeing his videos actually helped me understand her better. i knew and cared quite a bit about it, but his compassionate and informed helping of folks in need taught me a lot. maybe seeing another person who cares about folks with similar issues will be cathartic :) i wish you peace and healing
Another Channel that might Help you Out is "A hoarders Heart". She is one of the sweetest persons I know on UA-cam, and a recovering hoarder sharing her Journey and speaking encouragement. ❤
I believe you can do it, step by step ❤
I have OCD, and while my hoarding issues aren't nearly as bad as this, it's dtill very conforting that Mike doesn't judge. It's just so very kind, Dr.Mike is awesome.
Seeing dr zasio called out... finally.❤ My parents were hoarders and watching the way she talks to and about them even though shes supposed to be a professional there to help them has always hurt my heart.
There was only one dr the older male one with brownish hair that was compassionate in my opinion. Anyone with a medical degree participating in the hoarders show is iffy to me though because it’s basically shaming the clients on a massive public scale indefinitely.
It’s not an easy task I am sure but I do get where they’re coming from trying to teach new habits and behaviors while breaking the old habits and behaviors, it sounds judgmental but they’re trying to get someone to face grief anxiety or anger and once that’s dealt with most people have a complete 180 and they are able to change their habits! I have seen her help people with grief and support them through it and then she is able to show them that they are loved and that they do deserve better and that they can change to help themselves!!
Called out for what? Being honest? We turned into such sensitive pushovers. Some people need to hear the nasty dark truth to promote change.
What? She's the BIGGEST softy I've ever heard in my life! How can someone even talk in a more empathetic way without just straight up lying to the person?
@@adriannamatos865People who want this "dark truth" are the same people who cry about it when you give them the truth they don't want to accept. You included
My grandfather's home looked similar after grandma died (he had a lot of stuff and there was a pathway from one room to the next etc). Mom went in and with respect helped him go through everything, throwing away, storing and keeping till his entire home was cleaned up. It never got that bad again. I think the sudden death of grandma made it impossible to cope with everyday life for a while.
Yes sometimes it's the refusal to go on with life after a death or a sudden change and the more the refusal grows the bigger the illness goes. I agree with dr Mike saying that patience and respect would do better than pointless disguted judgments precisely because you need the patient to go on with his life and and start back over.
Trauma can be a huge part of Hoarding Disorder.
I'm glad the situation was resolved that easily. I've known people who have received regular help with cleaning up and getting rid of stuff who made no progress at all. You'd clean one room up and come back the next week to do more but the room you had cleaned last time was back to being full of new clutter and trash.
@xenode66 I have a couple family members like that. I want to keep helping, but I've had to stop. I've helped them clean up their houses multiple times, and it all goes back. It is so frustrating to me.
My dad had hoarding tendencies. When he passed, I had to take care of cleaning out his apartment by myself. I’ve always had difficulty letting items go that had no value, but after he passed and I spent weeks going through everything in his little studio, I promised myself that I would not follow the same path. I appreciate you covering this.
I'm a certified peer support specialist and that is something we are working is to have the clinicians be less judgemental and try to use facts instead of judgments I always appreciate your bedside manner and trying to teach others.
I grew up in a hoarder house and it was extremely traumatic. I'm so afraid that Hoarding is something "in me" that I clean whenever I'm stressed. Sometimes my hands get raw and bloody from all the scrubbing. now I'm working on my clinical psych degree and my thesis is on Compulsive Hoarding Disorder. Very interested to see what Dr.Mike has to say.
Maybe you should go to therapy first. Just a thought.
@@da3musceteersthe joke that therapists need therapists came to mind lol
@@da3musceteers Have been for years dude 🤣
I have hoarding tendencies. I have been working on getting rid of things I haven't used. But it is hard. I am in therapy and working slowly. Stress and trauma is hard to work through sometimes. Compassion can go a long way in helping people realize that our world view isn't normal. Thanks for showing compassion for this Dr Mike.
Its okay, you will be fine,
I once tried to hoard egg shells. Then i realised my room is full of it. It hurts when I throw them away but no regrets now
I am in therapy too. Not because of hoarding though. Don't pressure yourself. Healing takes time.
@@yelanchiba8818egg shells??? 😂
Same, my mum was the same but worse than me.
I absolutely love how open minded and non-judgmental you are about things.
I agree with you! Every episode I have ever seen him do or be in, he is very compassionate toward the situation and I have not seen him degrade anyone. He shows concern, empathy and consideration to everyone's individual circumstance.
@@andreadavis9519 exactly! He is amazing
@@andreadavis9519 I believe he thinks these very qualities are fundamental to being a good doctor. I don’t know if he even realizes how rare and special it makes him in his field, never mind as simply a human being!
No, sometimes you need to judge people for their own good.
@bab3419 No, it's not necessary to judge a "person" in most circumstances. Judging their behavior, however, is a key into who they are and why
I absolutely appreciate the way that Dr Mike didn’t judge or give any diagnosis that might be incorrect and truly respected the whole situation,he didn’t even give bad facial expressions when seeing the contamination I really appreciate your respect and kindness. You truly handled the situation like a professional👏👏💜 unlike the “professionals” that where very judgmental given the fact that they are dealing with a patient that might have mental disorders or an issue that maybe affecting them
My mothers father was a hoarder. She now keeps buying all these things at an excessive rate and we already have to spend over 10K on a surgery she recently had, im nervous since I don’t want to end up living like this. It’s awful and I hope anyone who is going through this gets the help they need. ❤
The full episode gives better context, but the catalog up to then gives even more. She was, as far as I remember, the first hoarder the show worked with that had this level of severity and detachment from reality. She isn't the only person they referred to APS, but she may have been the first for that, too. So the focusing on her fixations was more about how this had not happened before. I grew up in a hoarded home, and I know that there's a disconnect in your brain for a while after the main hoarder is gone. "If I throw it out, the person who gave it to me will be upset," or "It's still useful!" keeps ringing in your ears. This episode was also during DSM IV, and the show is probably one of the reasons that it got its own disorder status in the DSM V. This show is kind of comforting for me, because it reminds me that people who do this are still people and that they often can change.
I worked with a client diagnosed with Hoarding Disorder; nicest lady and it took YEARS to help her lessen the distress of NOT hoarding and letting things go. Non-judgement is the KEY to helping someone struggling with this.
Thank you for having compassion and being nonjudgmental. My mom was a hoarder. It upset me at how much my dad and my sister judged her and got so mad at her. There's not enough compassion in the medical field anymore. So thank you for showing it in this video
I wouldn't say "anymore" though, cause overall things are headed towards better in that regard. Aka there's not really a past in which there was less judgement or more compassion. Though in all times there have been absolutely amazing compassionate individuals.
If your dad and sister had to *live* in the mess, they had the right to be angry. A disorder like this affects not just the person with it, it affects *everyone* around them.
I lost my mom as a consequnce of hoarding. She ended up developing sepsis and was gone so fast. There is obviosly so much more to the story, but It's definetly not as easy as just cleaning it up.
I am so sorry! It shows what a good heart you have that you were able to acknowledge her disorder instead of just demonizing her.
As a social worker from the Netherlands, I love these types of videos. I find them educational! It is very important not to go into such a situation with judgment. Remember that these people (generally) do not choose this and there is much more behind collecting/hoarding. Like depression or anxiety, which is often for a specific reason.
So I can't get enough of videos in which people struggle with mental health, because I like to learn from them so I can help others in my work. Very interesting!
I really appreciate Dr. Mike. He is always so sweet, understanding... no judgment but sincere. I wish there were 100000000 people like Dr. Mike. That would make the world a better place.
Thank you Dr. Mike!
Yes thats true. For me as an ex-hoarder, it was the hardest, to see the judgment and the uneasy of people. That was the reason why I rejected help for many years. And I wished that more would react like Dr.Mike
I hope you mean the Doctor as opposed to the horrible TV show.
For me, I didn't want to realize how bad the situation was. I knew it wasn't normal and felt so much shame. I had a severe depression and it was kinda selfharm, because I felt like I'm not worth living in a good home. It was not that I didn't know how to clean, I just... Couldn't. Something inside of me blocked it.
It needed many years to get out of that thinking. But I has luck to get a great therapist who helped me
@@pa_2600You need to read above. Anxiety, depression and trauma can be devastating, creating hoarding issues. It’s not something you can simply walk away from and feel fine.
@@pa_2600There's usually a mental health issue adding to it or old age, so you for one reason or other don't function on a "normal" level, which makes everything harder, and you need help because you can't do it on your own. However as Mike mentioned there's certain amount of cognitive dissonance in these sorts of hoarding situations so the hoarder isn't even aware of the situation and sees it as normal. Also, a lot of them feel ashamed because their home is a mess, and don't want to ask for help
As an appliance repairer, I often go to customer’s houses to do repairs, and when you’ve been in this job long enough, you see the best and the worst houses you can imagine. My absolute worst was a hoarder house. I was supposed to remove the fridge to repair it, but the whole kitchen and living room was full of junk, and the smell was the worst thing that’s ever attacked my nostrils. It’s one of the few jobs I’ve flat out refused to do, the other ones are people who insist we take our shoes off or put bags over our shoes, which is a huge safety hazard, even if it’s for religious reasons we still need shoes on for safety, I don’t want to slip over and get crushed by a fridge.
@@rileynguyen8880 I put my own health and safety first, so does my boss, she strongly encourages it, if there’s anything too unsafe, don’t do it, assess the job first
The way Mike deals with people like this is very reassuring to me. He doesnt judge so heavily
He is such a understanding person. Mike never says negative things about someone unless its the cons of a diagnosis/disorder
I am currently wading through the aftermath of discovering my recently deceased aunt's hoarding problems. She inherited the grandparents house, completely neglected it's upkeep for 25 years (plumbing and electrical are shot, garden grows over the back onto the roof) and after the pandemic she didn't flush TP or throw out all her garbage. She had no place to sit or sleep comfortably. It was heartbreaking to see how bad it was.
I am not a germophobe but I get easily irritated if I see an area with dust settled on it. This house will mentally kill me if I see it in real life
That house would physically kill you
Just like the sign next to lady in the house said IAM OKAY
That doesn't sound very healthy either
Mentally? dawg that stuff will physically kill you 💀
Have you seen OCD cleaners? It’s on UA-cam. It’s great
Great episode, Dr. Mike. I appreciate the compassion you had for this poor woman and the way you educated us to have a proper perspective.
This episode Hoarders episode was disturbing because it made me wonder what exactly happened to the woman. Supposedly, she was living on her own until the mother needed help and then moved back home to help her. If that was what happened, it seems like over time mom's mental illness and social isolation cased the daughter to become abnormal and delusional herself. Or, in reality, did the daughter aways have problems, and "moving home to look after her mom" really not what happened -- in reality, she had to move home because she was not able to care for herself and her mom was really trying to look after her. Watching the whole show, I didn't get the idea that the woman's main problem was hoarding, it was that she was mentally ill and maybe a bit mentally disabled.
Trauma can be a really big component of the disorder. Having to care for and watch her mother die could have triggered or exacerbated any issues.
Having watched that episode, I suspect she did move back in to care for mom because she was the one who could (meaning not tied down, could drop her own apartment) but that yeah there were other problems predating that and the trauma just made it worse and worse
I love your " No Judgement" attitude so much Doctor Mike, if people start applying it in their lives, it will be so much easier for the people to get help who don't get it because they have fear of others judging them for their conditions
Thank you for being objective, Dr. Mike. It's really comforting.
I’m a therapist and have a couple clients that meet criteria for Hoarding Disorder and it’s so much deeper than just ‘cleaning.’
I love how you cover this- with so much compassion.
Former hoarder here. I'm not sure if it's genetic or behavioral, but I definitely picked up a lot habits from my mom, who is still a hoarder. Foul odors and garbage to the ceiling were normal sights in my mom's apartment growing up.
I moved out when I was 20 and told myself I wouldn't live like that. I still ended up with a trashed house, however, it was all boxes, empty bags, magazines and clutter. I still made sure to do my dishes, wash my bathroom and throw away food remnants in the dumpsters outside because I've always liked having a nice smelling place. I met my wife about 5 years ago now and she made me do a 180 by making me realize how good a clean house feels. Now I'm *almost* obsessive with cleanliness. Even leaving a cup or a water bottle on my desk bugs me now. To top it off, we adopted a kitty last year and there's no way ima let my fuzzy son live in a messy house ❤
My grandparents were hoarders. Their main living spaces were managed better but they had multiple rooms closed off due to being packed to the brim/hazardous. I saw their dining room for the first time in my twenties. They had falling paint, holes and mold everywhere. When we ripped up the carpet we found the ground was covered in an inch of black mold. We cleaned it for months but ultimately it has to be torn down. I have a lot of autoimmune symptoms today and have no doubt that house is the primary cause.
LOVE you Dr. Mike. You are always so professional. Thank you for your hard work in educating us.
Every episode I watch you earn more and more respect. There’s so much judgement in the world and it completely evades you. I’ve always had the greatest confidence in doctors and healthcare workers.
Also saw that you lost your mother to cancer. I lost my own mother last year due to cancer aswel. It’s not something you get over I am only just starting to bare it reasonably well.
Thanks for the great videos, and thanks Doctor Mike editor for demonstrating this wonderful doctor.
It’s really just quite sad. She doesn’t even recognize that the house is disgusting and smelling because of all the poop and mold and pee. She’s in total shock when they tell her that stuff smells. She’s probably nose blind to it and doesn’t think it smells as bad as it does cause she’s used to it.
Usually there’s some triggering event behind what starts these, or sometimes it’s because how the parents lived so they continue thinking it’s normal. Some people just keep books or clothes or papers and useful items they don’t need anymore. Others just collect garbage and trash.
I wish though he would’ve shown toward the end whether she cleaned it up or not and what happened with her. They usually have that.
It was in text, the house was deamed unlivable and the family was helping her with a housing transition
The house was deemed unlivable and torn down, and after she requested to "have one last hurrah" of eating the contaminated food the therapist and the woman's family took steps to move her into assisted housing.
I struggle with hoarding, nowhere near this level but hoarding nonetheless. I also deal with some executive dysfunction related to depression, so it all just piles up. I just cleaned my bedroom yesterday, and managed to get rid of about 10 bags of trash. I feel so much lighter being able to lay in my bed without being surrounded with stuff.
I’ve worked with a therapist for years, and have made progress that I’m proud of 🙂
congratulations! I'm proud of you too :)
Have you ever been checked for ADHD? It can cause depression, anxiety, and executive functioning problems, and once it's treated the anxiety and depression tend to get better too because the root of the problem is being taken care of. I've seen a few people with a lot of mental health issues have them mostly disappear or get better when they get treated. ADHD is the root cause of a lot of issues.
@@mushu_beardie2556 ADHD / ex ‘hoarder’ here… the adhd was causing me to not throw things away for “just in case”, or store them properly because I couldn’t make up my mind on wether to throw something away or not or where to put it. Because putting it in the wrong spot meant I may not be able to find it later; or it would require me to rearrange other things to make room for said item(s). Then It would eventually lead to me having to finally reorganize the whole entire house which would take days/weeks, possibly months. So After hundreds & thousands of items got scrambled all over the house, I was eventually unable to find anything and was too embarrassed to have anyone over at my house.
Idk if adhd is what caused my ‘hoarding’ (I say that in quotes cuz it was NOTHING close to this lady or any other hoarders episode), but I know for sure it contributed, and still does to this day. Feels impossible to keep a clean house, unless u wanna take adderall everyday and deal with the side effects: extreme alcohol and cigarette cravings, appetite loss, excessive thirst, etc 😞
"Who's Matt?" 😂 Dr.Mike! Come on, man. That's Matt Paxton! ❤
The way dr. Mike is so calm to me is really great ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your kind non-judgemental approach. Hoarding is a mental health issue, and expressing disgust and humiliating people only makes things worse.
Thank you for this episode. I did not realize that there was a distinction between the term hoarder and hoarding disorder . Your compassion shines through the entire episode. Sometimes I think the family is so close to the situation that they cannot see the forest threw the trees and trees and realize there is a real possible medical or mental health condition. As always I learn something new from each episode so thank you for continuing to educate as well as debunking medical misinformation 👏👏👏😮
Theres not, they got alot stuff because theyre lazy and unclean.
Thanks for always being such a positive influence. I truly enjoy listening to your videos. I don’t always care about the topic but I never come across one that’s unpleasant to watch.
This looks like this could be a saw challenge. "Throw out all this s*** before 6:00 and you live".
Need to have Dr Mike produce these kinds of shows, so he can show people you don't need to be judgmental.
Oh yeah ! Dr Mike is very impressive.
Personally, there are jobs I can't do, veterinirian, and clean hoarder house. I know it will be just a matter of time before I loose my cool.
Thanks for being supportive Mike. My mom is a recovering hoarder, and I resented her for the longest because of it. However, I grew to understand the mental health aspect of it as I got diagnosed with my own mental health issues. Now, I try to support her and congratulate her on the progress she is making. In my lifetime, she went from not seeing it as a problem to where she is now: this is a big deal, and I want to be better. She tells me she feels bad because it is hard, but she's working through it and having support has helped her so much. I can honestly say I'm proud of her for it.
I appreciate the compassion and education you’re sharing.
I so agree with the aspect of judging someone is not helpful. Understanding why and how are more important to achieve favourable outcomes. One of the best vids yet Dr. Mike!!
My grandma is a pretty terrible hoarder of both things and of cats. She has feral cats living inside of her house, and nobody really knows how many anymore (not even her). The whole house smells like a litter box, there's cat pee everywhere, and she still has furniture and magazines and Beanie Babies from the 1960s and 70s. I've told my friends about it before, and so often the response is "put her in a home" or "throw it away when she's not there" and it's so refreshing to watch Doctor Mike patiently explain what's wrong and just understand that it is a mental illness, and you can't "help" somebody by forcing them to do something they don't want to do. Thank you for making it a little easier to be kind, Doctor Mike. It means the world.
You need to call the APL or SPCA for those cats. Allowing animal abuse is never ok. She can live in her hoard but shouldn't be allowed to harm other living creatures. 😔
@@theshadowfax239 They stay by choice, I should have specified. They're fed and they have litter boxes, all the doors are open for them to come in and out as they please. They're mostly feral, and I think most of them start out living in the garage anyway. It's attached to the house and heated, with holes for them to come in and out and the house door open for them. She doesn't buy or adopt cats, they come to her house and choose to come back for food and sleep.
Very true points were made here doc. I want to add that it can be traumatic for a patient with hoarding disorder to get rid of everything at once without first starting therapy, plus they'll probably restart hoarding right after.
I love doctor mike he’s soo nice and nonjudgmental honestly we need more doctors like him !
There's a British documentary series called "the hoarder next door" and it was so much more informative and helpful than the show hoarders over here. The doctor actually spends time talking to the patient and trying to determine when the hoarding started and the possible causes, and then spends weeks with the patient in aftercare. And there's little to no judgement. Hoarders just rushes through in three days and really doesnt seem to try to help as much. Would definitely check out the series if you're interested.
I always learn to be a better person from watching your videos, ever since I was in my early teens. I found myself judging her quite a bit in this video but you kept reminding me that it isn't the best thing to do and that we should come from a place of care and understanding. Thank you. I'm a better man because of you.
My grandma and I are both hoarders (to a less severe extent), whereas my mom is a minimalist. I've undergone a lot of therapy, read books on decluttering, and have made efforts to be more self-aware and pragmatic about the whole thing, which has helped a lot. My grandma, on the other hand, is very stubborn, and because she's older and has a bigger "hoard", she gets easily overwhelmed and would rather just have us "deal with it when she's dead". Which is very unfair and selfish, because things are not organized at all, and we have no way of knowing what the important things are (eg. family heirlooms) versus random antiques she bought at second hand stores. The apartment isn't dirty, but there are a few fire hazards (excessive use of extension cords, some of which are very old), and basically everything that could be in excess, is. This summer we went through some of it and found 7 blow dryers, around 30 pairs of glasses or glasses cases, threw out dozens of pots and pans with deteriorated coatings, a ton of expired cosmetics, two whole boxes of expired food items, spices, and like 20-30 jars of expired jam or canned goods. And that was just the stuff she actually allowed us to go through. She also goes shopping at thrift stores pretty much every week, always buys new stuff, and refuses to let us even TRY to declutter the clothes. I counted approximately 200 scarves and handkerchiefs, and about 70-80 towels in the bathroom. It's really frustrating seeing how hoarding disorder can prevent people from thinking clearly and being rational.
I absolutely love how Dr. Mike gives his imput and advice/criticisms of the show in such a sweet, non-judgemental way. You dont see many people in front of a vamera being 100% non-judgmental. Even the "licensed therapist" was judgy, harsh, and ruse at times to the lady.
Thank you, Dr. Mike for being honest and nice. Thats so hard to find.
I prefer male therapists and doctors for that reason. Females are always so rude and judgemental
I really appreciate Dr. Mike's focus on the medical aspects of this disorder and his compassion. These TV shows clearly hire the most judgmental therapists for these types of shows just to raise views. My aunt had severe hoarding after a traumatic brain injury and died of an infection which she got in large part due to her living conditions. Hoarding is such a heart breaking condition.
I had a roommate that used to collect his urine in bottles when he was stressed. I tried talking to him about it but it was a difficult behavior to understand. From what he shared with me I believe he just wanted something that he created to be valued and not tossed or flushed. He understood that it was “not normal” and felt guilt about it. I’m not a therapist but it seemed that he wanted anything that came into his life to be found useful or valuable because he wanted others to have the same mindset and find him useful and valuable too. He didn’t want to be thrown away and therefore couldn’t bring himself to throw any part of himself away either. He used to keep the bottles in his closet and on his headboard. When they accumulated it seemed to bring him comfort. When he was in a good headspace he would clean and throw the pee bottles and all his trash away but the cycle repeated whenever he became stressed again. He was a really nice guy and kept the communal areas neat and tidy. It was just his bedroom that was like this. Though when the conversation first came up and he saw that I was trying to be understanding he did ask me if he could keep the pee bottles in the fridge. Of course I drew the line there. Has anyone else done this or knows of someone else that does this? It’s been over a decade since we were roommates but it’s a behavior that I still want to understand.
It resembles anorexia's motives in this particular case. If he can control something, he can feel better in a world where he didn't felt like he have much control over his own life. But this is just my layman opinion.
Thanks for sharing that insight. It makes a lot of sense.
I have compassion for those who suffer with hoarding but when animals or kids are involved my anger starts to show itself.
Definitely, hoarders can see animals and their own children as just another item for them to not let loose of.
We may say "be non-judgemental," but keeping children in a hoard, keeping animals in a hoard, is ABUSE and needs to be addressed and resolved.
There are programs, books, TV shows, and such for the let's-not-judge-them hoarders. What about the children?
Even worse, the adult children of hoarders are often expected to fix and/or care for their hoarding parents later in life.
Just as long as you direct your anger appropriately. Support affordable, comprehensive mental health services; Write to your represetatives, vote accordingly; use that anger to step up and do something to help.
Then I feel like there are plenty of episodes you don't want to see. Especially involving animals, it gets...stomach turning at times
I lived my life with the constant knowledge that the shoes I wore when I was six were more important than me.
There should be no shame in seeking treatment, but there absolutely should for refusing to seek treatment. Hoarding eats and destroys EVERYTHING and EVERYONE it touches. It's like a black hole. It is very, very, very difficult to not get sucked in, even if you are an outsider only trying to help once. It is just like any other mental illness, where the sufferer is ultimately responsible for their own treatment and they absolutely can be abusive if they refuse to do so.
That's not to say our treatments for it kind of suck and access to said treatments can be difficult.
Idk I grew up in a house with a hoarder basement and the cats loved running in between the boxes and finding hidden spots to sleep. There were no jars of feces tho.
Thank you for your perspective and your kind and non judging view on the case
I love that Mike is non judgmental, but Mike is also asking why a reality tv show host is acting judgmental
smells don't get stopped by a respirator, i've worn them for years, they stop particulates to a certain degree. the sulphur test they use for fit tests stop the particles of sulphur, so you don't "smell" them. It also really depends on the cartridges that you use in the respirator as well, and what its rated for.
So glad Dr mike left out the scene where she cries over the poop bottles. That was o e of the most disturbing episodes of hoarders. I do agree they should focus more on the person's mental health and feelings. But I do think the Dr in this episode made the right call about her not living alone for a while
Hoarding is a mental health issue. If that scene had been shown, at least it would've emphasized how much of a mental health issue it is.
Dr. Mike sets such a good example for everyone and especially for health care professionals to love first and not judge❤️
Both of my grandpas lived in hoarded houses. One lost his home to a fire (he's fine, and is financially fine), but the other has been letting us clean out tiny parts of his accumulated things. It's still not a healthy or safe place to live, but it is nice that he's able to let some of it go. We worry that he'll fall and get injured, and when the medical responders arrive, they'll condemn his house, so he'll have nowhere to live
I almost feel like there’s a few disorders going on. There’s obviously a sentimentality that is so strong that it become pathological because it’s now impractical to keep her house clean and safe to live in. But it also seems like that pleasure from consuming fecal matter, whatever she means by that, is a separate disorder because I’ve never seen a scenario where a hoarder had that specific problem. Plus, getting a pleasure reaction from that action rather than a gag reflex or an overwhelming disgust reaction is extremely interesting given how hard-wired that is in our psychology. So much so that it’s even played a role in some of the worst atrocities in human history. Purity was one of the first religious concepts ever to be articulated. The point being that our impulse to feel disgusted at certain things is hard wired in pretty much everyone. That’s why it’s so interesting that it doesn’t seem to exist for her and in fact has been replaced by a dopamine circuit.
She was arguably exaggerating, because it was the idea that the contamination of feces on a microscopic level wasn't a big deal to her, she didn't really process that or just is engaging in survivorship bias
My partner has been diagnosed with ocd, and he hoards things- not to a severe point. But he struggles throwing certain things out. But together we have done a huge clear out of our house, and it’s helped his mental health. Even though he struggled getting rid of things, having so much junk around was really
Impacting his mental health, living in clutter. But now it’s all clear he is more relaxed and happier.
Doc, your empathy and ability to break down how they're not living well and they know it but we must try to put ourselves in their shoes. My mom has successfully gotten over her shopping hoarding. At one time she had a 40ft x 40ft barn 8ft high piles. 15 years ago we spent a whole summer with a therapist coming there and helping us get through it.
It was a free service with her health insurance and really really kethartic for her. We fed the lady and she was like an old friend by her end.
Ppl who purposefully help with this illness are saints and your empathy is really admirable.
"that's really problematic" is the most polite understatement I have EVER heard.
It is good to hear that these people are getting helped.
🙂
🙂
@@pinkmiku12 Nice emoji
Oh yeah ! Her neighbors will be able to breath again.
I have panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and I used to really freak out if my house wasn’t perfectly clean. That being said, I started Lexapro 4 years ago and now I feel like I switched to the other end of the spectrum and now my house is messy 😒I’m not a hoarder by any means and it’s not dirty but I let a pile of clothes stay way longer than I should on my couch! I just can’t win
It’s so sad that this happens to the sweetest people because usually these people can’t do anything about it because of a chronic illness or physical condition and she seems like such a nice lady and it’s just sad I feel so bad😢
I fortunately don't have hoarding tendencies, but I do have periods of struggling very severely with keeping my environment clean because of other issues. Took me a really long time to ask for help with cleaning up because of how guilty and ashamed I felt, so I really appreciate how understanding and professional you are in these videos. Hopefully it helps ease the sense of stigma for other viewers as well. Thank you for sharing your expertise in such a calm and empathetic manner!
In my hometown yesterday (I dont live there anymore), there was man who attempted to drive an old camper up a steep hill and it stalled and then legit rolled down the hill and broke open and a TON of trash poured out of the camper and onto the lawns of houses on the street. The older vietnam vet that lived in the trailer was okay and they cleaned up all the trash but this man's hoarding was so bad is literally made his camper explode.
Standing ovation for Doctor Mike and his way to approach each topic he brings to people's attention. There are not so many out there like him, unfortunately!
My cousin is a low level hoarder. I know that it steamed from depression after his wife died and he didn't clean out the house and her items. He was evicted from his apartment and ended up moving in with me, I lived in his father's house. He'd asked me to watch it after my uncle passed so I couldn't tell him, no you can't move into the house.
I helped him clean his apartment and it wasn't this disgusting but it was really cluttered. After he moved in with me I put him in a small room with a big bed so he couldn't clutter it too much. After a few years I got married and moved out. I hired someone to clean twice a month so that helped a lot. He also realized he needed to be cleaner.
He ended up getting sick about a year after I moved and he'd already given me power of attorney, he's older than me, my moms age so when he got out of the hospital I said, you have to move you're not going to live long here. So I moved him closer to me and we rented out my uncles house. That allowed him to have someone to clean twice a month and have someone visit a few times a week and takes him on errands and things. He's so lucky he can afford it.
When I visit him I'll watch hoarders and he finally said one day, I'm a hoarder aren't I? I said ya. Not tv level but ya. Since then he's really taken care of himself and his house. He cares if his house is messy. I have a 2yo so when we visit myself son will leave toys all over and he'll get annoyed by the clutter, lol. It's so funny how he's changed but I'm glad he wants to keep his place clean and organized. He also has been donating things he doesn't use. It's been almost 10 years since this started and he's made huge changes and that was so nice. He's become self aware and made active changes. I see from the show that doesn't happen often.
The hoarders involving animals always gets me. They'll have dead animals all over and think they're helping these little furry friends. It's so sad. Those I skip, I just can't. If a person wants to hoard themselves to death that's sad but animals don't have the same abilities to just leave, that always makes me cry.
Your videos are so educational and entertaining. When i found your channel i started watching your videos and i learned alot❤
I really appreciate how Dr. Mike talks about difficult subjects. He still treats the individuals with dignity and remembers that they're a person too.
I've been diagnosed with OCD, but for me, it's about me keeping things tidy. I would know if someone moved anything. People who hoard should not be judged or made to feel bad about themselves. My heart goes out to them. It could be from a trauma from childhood. Let's not judge,be kind.
I’m this way. It’s was funny, in college I’d come back from class and I immediately knew someone had been in my room even tho nothing was out of place. I’d look around, go in my closet and my vacuum would be moved ever so slightly. My suite mates had my permission to use it anytime but I always knew as soon as I came home if someone was in my room. It’s not as bad now, just bc I’m a lot older and it’s harder for me to keep up but I still do not like clutter!
Thank you Dr. Mike for your compassion and non judgemental take on this. People like you is where people with a disorder/disease would feel comfortable and not ashamed to get help. I hate shows like that. They always add a dramatic beat to direct the emotions of the viewer.
OMG Hoarders is one of my favorite shows, TYSM for reacting to it :D
I don’t like the judgment either. I used to be in pest control and I LOVED the hoarder houses, because I’m morbid. But those customers are usually…. They require a sensitive and compassionate technician. I haven’t ever watched hoarders because it’s a show and reality shows are just inflammatory not really educational.
I saw a UK show like this, and they showed the therapy, specialization of workers involved and building relationships with clients, and afterrcare. Funded by NHS, I believe. It was so much more human and interesting. US TV tends to go for the freak show mood, which often looks abusive to me.
I'm so so happy that somebody like Mike exists in the internet, really happy. I'm a psychologist and it pains me to see an specialist in this disorder be so judgmental with her. That's why we are pushing people way from getting help. SO proud of you doctor Mike
It is also kind of funny how she has a sign in her room that says in all caps, "I AM OKAY."
When I was about twenty years old, and my job was delivering appliances. One job we had was to deliver a dozen or so new apartment size fridges to a small building, and the very last one just happened to occupied by a hoarder. The first thing I remember was how hard the stink punched me in the face upon the tenant opening the door. I walked in, and saw the condition of the fridge we had to remove, and refused to touch it. I called the building manager and told the reason for my refusal, and she went up to see for herself. She was shocked and completely understood. I do not know what happened afterwards, but I didn't have to go back.
It’s often difficult for cognitively aware individuals to accept that the outward situation is a manifestation of the inward issue. Unless it’s properly addressed, the hoarding will just repeat itself. A safe environment is the immediate need. Therapy and (possibly) medication is what’s needed for a long term solution. There is no quick fix.
P.S. Beard is coming in nicely. Looks good👍