Hoarders: EXTREME Emotions Leads to Early End of Clean-Up | A&E

Barbara accepts help from a team of experts to clean up her home, but her emotions lead her to a very difficult decision, in this clip from Season 8, Episode 2.

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Professionals try to help people who compulsively hoard possessions.

[genwhite]

She needed a *lot* of therapy before the hoard was ever tackled.

[susanroutt]

Sometimes the hoarders seem too mentally ill to live alone at home. The hoarding is a cry for help… which they then refuse.

[simply.clutterfree]

I really feel for her kids. This is so extreme. It's so difficult to grow up in this type of environment. My mother was a hoarder and it greatly impacted me, so much so that I try to help people with decluttering now.

[christinasornbutnark]

I once lost all my belongings in 2008 after I put all my stuff in storage bc of the recession I moved in with my parents. Everybody I knew including myself lost their jobs. I couldn’t afford the storage over time and lost it all. Almost 20 years later it still makes me cry. Not for the stuff but for the photos and memories. It’s like my life before my 30’s vanished. I’ve never told anyone this story bc I was embarrassed. I know no one will see it here with so many comments above, it sure feels good to say it & hopefully let it go. 😔

[nancydaley]

I believe medication and therapy are needed BEFORE any clean-up.

[philu]

A house fire is more devastating to the victim than is imaginable to someone who hasn’t experienced it. My friend lost everything due to an arsonist who mistook my friend’s house for her intended victim’s. But my friend went the opposite direction from hoarding; she never owned much more than her clothes after that.

[mimzyc]

This little woman broke my heart. Usually these hoarders are so hateful but she was so hurt and forsaken.

[billiesara]

My mom was like this! I've never been able to watch an entire episode. It's really a mental disorder. She unexpectedly died in November, and as sad as it was....us siblings were all relieved that we didn't have to CONSTANTLY stress over her anymore. I love her with all my heart! I will miss her every day. She was more than her mental disorder!!!

[VR-rhbn]

She breaks my heart, she's so terrified.

[natalieturko]

This disorder is similar to anorexia. In anorexia, you see something completely different from reality. You see yourself as overwight, rather than emaciated. In hoarding, you see something completely different from reality, and think the house is just a bit messy.

[PrincessofErised]

This was a really sad episode. That is a broken woman and I see her placed in a nursing facility at some point. I am sure her son feels so guilty for his childish accident, but life is full of loss and had they had some therapy, they might have gotten over it. Feel very sorry for that family.

[PlannerMemaw]

This is what it was like talking to my mom. Mom was not a hoarder but did suffer from mental illness.

[phylliselizahb]

When you lose e'thing, you tend to hang onto stuff. My immigrant parents lost a lifestyle & expectations as well as relatives & homestead stuff. We were too poor & isolated to collect stuff but I had sort to do.

[weatherwitchandfelinefamiliars]

This is one incredibly broken lady 😔 Interestingly although there were the rows none of the family pulled away or went off through sulking or emotional pain. She listened without pulling away, allowed them to put their arms around her. She is incredibly damaged poor lady, and has no concept of the danger. I have never felt so dreadful before from this. I hope she remained safe ❤ Edited to add my father was a hoarder and fought me all the way when the OT requested clear paths be made 😔

[wenditraub]

She is still trying to deal with the loss of her husband. She cannot focus on clearing out the house when she's obviously still in deep grief and mourning.

[nelliekenny]

I'm slightly handicapped and I know how long it takes me to do things. She would take years to do it.

[phylliselizahb]

As a culture, we don't provide social services w/therapy & halfway houses for people when the early signs of this spiral begin. Did no one notice her traumatized kids in schools? Socially, no options are available before people get this irrational.

[jessicabrand]

It's funny how everyone is different isn't it. If that happened to me with the house burning down and the kids managed to get out in time I'd be so thankful and grateful and happy that they are alive I'd cherish every moment and not give a dam about material stuff anymore at all. Thank goodness the boys got out safe ❤

[jreverie]

Theres no chance she will ever change sadly, no chance at all. 😢

[loisbruce]

It's sad and infuriating at the same time. Perhaps one day neurologists will be able to deactivate the "addiction switch" inside the brain and cure all these poor families from the endless cycle of pain.