Any regular viewer of the PBS hit series “Antiques Roadshow” knows that collectibles come in all sizes and forms.
Some people collect dolls, jade snuff boxes or Shaker furniture.
Flip a few channels to A&E and collections take on a whole new meaning on “Hoarders,” which airs at various
times on Monday and Tuesday nights.
The reality show focuses on people who suffer from a mental-health problem that drives them to build unwieldy, unhealthy and often dangerous accumulations of stuff.
Hoarding is a problem here in Snohomish County where a special task force helps coordinate social services and first responders to bring help to people in need.
“It’s more prevalent that we’ve realized,” said Kamilia Dunsky, a therapist who helps manage the mental health program at Senior Services of Snohomish County.
Most hoarders fill their homes with papers — newspapers, junk mail, coupons — but sometimes they acquire vast amounts of food, animals, even human excrement, experts say.
Homes become overripe, filled with insects, rodents and dangerous levels of ammonia. Overflowing amounts of stuff fill yards, garages and automobiles and can become fire and health hazards.
The most extreme cases cause great alarm in the community, especially when animals are hoarded and found in miserable, unsanitary conditions.
“It’s devastating for the family,” Jeff Quigley said.
Quigley works in Snohomish County with Adult Protective Services at the state Department of Social and Health Services. “It is very difficult on the hoarder themselves.”
The majority of hoarding cases don’t make the news. Still, it’s a tough challenge. Recent studies show that up to 5 percent of adults in Western countries are likely to become hoarders, said Dr. Randy Frost, a national expert on hoarding and the author of “Stuff: Compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things.” He’s also a spokesman for the OCD Foundation, which offers support to hoarders.
“It’s really a complex set of problems or behaviors,” Frost said.
People enter dangerous territory when collecting goes from an eccentricity to a behavior that interferes with everyday activities.
Hoarders may not be able to find important papers including bills or tax returns. Their homes may become so cluttered it’s hard to find a place to sleep or wash. Piles of belongings can prevent access to the home in an emergency, and isolation can keep family members and other loved ones at bay.
Hoarders generally have significant problems in three areas: acquisition of items; difficulty discarding stuff; and disorganized clutter.
Treatment is possible, but can be challenging and slow, Frost said.
Most often hoarders are helped with cognitive behavioral therapy, a technique that helps them become more aware in each step of the hoarding process.
For example, therapists and patients may develop a list of questions to consider before buying a new item. That list can include, “Do I already have something like this?” or “Can I afford it?”
Cleaning out a hoarder’s home in one fell swoop may seem helpful, but can be detrimental, experts say.
Family members may believe they are doing good; the result, however, can infuriate the patient, further isolating them, and cause significant emotional trauma.
“The average person would look at it and say this is all junk,” Quigley said. “Everything has value to them. To them it has some meaning.”
The best thing neighbors or family members can do to help is to bring in professionals including counselors and professional organizers, such as Bothell resident Denise Allan, who runs a business called Simplify with Denise.
Allan is specially trained to work with hoarders. She helps develop systems to limit the chaos and bring order to cluttered homes.
She works with her client’s therapist to build on individual strengths and facilitate healthy choices. Sometimes it can take several months — even years — to see results, she said.
Still, it’s rewarding to have an impact.
“I love my job. I’m really passionate about it,” Allan said. “I want tools in my toolbox to help make significant changes in people’s lives.”
One of the best ways to help is to break down the isolation, said Frost, the national expert.
Relatives often haven’t been invited to a hoarder’s home in years because of the shame the person may feel when others see all the clutter. But by visiting a person’s home without being judgemental, there’s an incentive for the hoarder to make changes, Frost said.
“Don’t worry about being a part of the solution, just come over and socialize,” he said. “By doing that there’s some pressure to clean up, pressure that’s positive.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Community forum
“Beyond Clutter: when your family member goes too far” is a community forum for family members of hoarders that aims to help them better understand what hoarding is and what resources are available.
“Beyond Clutter” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Senior Services Multi-Cultural Center, 11627 Airport Road, Suite F, Everett. For more information, call 425-290-1260.
Resources
Snohomish County Hoarding Task Force: 425-290-1260
OCD Foundation: www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/
Institute for Challenging Disorganization: www.challengingdisorganization.org/
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