How Parents Hoarding Impacts Young Children

Randy O. Frost, PhD, discusses how a young child may be impacted by parents hoarding disorder.

[sm]

Until it was mentioned I didn't realise growing up in the house of a hoarder had such an effect on me

[tammimoses]

"Doorbell Dread" is real & happens even IF you are expecting someone. The sense of panic that comes even when your home is SPOTLESS is something we survivors of the hoard learn to manage, but it never fully goes away. The impact of growing up in a hoarded home impacts us all of our lives. Us #AKOPTH are resilient survivors for sure!

[smuhuskies]

God bless psychologists and their research. Describing what I couldn’t describe to others and making sense of why my siblings and I are still struggling to this day.

[VictoriaJParis]

It is so refreshing to know what I am going through now has an explanation that I can help solve and help others who have gone through it to get the help they need and deserve. Thank you for sharing this.

[mutinlupa]

My dad was the dude with the van that would pickup a free TV or Couch off the sidewalk. My dad died and it took 8 debris boxes to dump his worthless crap. Less is more.

[Itsrichardash]

I grew up in a hoarded home, we never had anyone over, even once. All of this is true

[blue.orangeade]

Oh my God... the doorbell dread phenomena is real... I've always been embarassed of my home and my family was incredulous when I confessed that I was... Like cmon. You think I'd wanna invite ANYONE over to this house?? They don't even let me spend MY OWN MONEY on MY OWN ROOM to put important systems in place. The only proper change I've been able to make is to buy 4 laundry baskets, 2 for each room, and even that my mom thinks is too much. No, it's just normal!!! I still love her and want to solve this with her.

[Darth_Vader]

My Filipino Mom is a hoarder, she doesn't want to throw trash in the house. Now our house is like a TRASH bin.

[gabrielcodina]

I feel better that I’m not the only person with this issue. Before I graduate, I’m going to get my own apartment because this is getting to be too much.

[deebieg]

Hoarders destro their families. They won't change or get help. Young people should be warned to avoid getting into relationships with hoarders, drug users and alcoholics. They may have a nice side but they rarely change. At least, warn those who ge involved with them of the fact that
Iife will be a living hell for their children and the "experts" who treat them will blame the family for not accommodating the hoarder in their addiction to stuff.

[dreambeliever]

That’s really beautiful. That’s my wife. Doorbell dread. 😞. I cannot do it anymore. Poor kids too

[YellowPineappleHoyas]

Is there anything a concerned neighbour can do when they see a baby living in a dangerous hoarding situation, without involving child services?
The parents will not except help, hid their behaviour by isolating themselves, and make constant excuses for why the place is in such a state. Not only are they violating many apartment laws, but they are putting their baby’s mental and physical health a risk. It’s very sad to watch.

[hmuqgkx]

Nowadays I catch myself leaving things in places they seriously don't belong, leaving garbage where it doesn't belong, living with shame, never being able to throw things that are detrimental to me...

[rabidsminions]

My dad passed away, mum is in nursing home. Dad was a hoarder. 4 skips and 6 council collections to clean it up. The house was also in bad condition as it was not maintained. Everything has fallen on me to

[leeboriack]

My belated mother’s home reflected her depression and anxiety. It was embarrassing to have other kids over.

[TaKyraMoonlight]

I in a way am able to forgive my mom for the things I went through as a kid but it’s harder to do now that she’s taking care of 4 more kids in the same kind of home. We were homeless 3 times for this reason and she’s repeating the cycle, I’ve moved out… but here we are 15 years later (since I first started experiencing the stress of living in a messy home) and she’s telling me how she has an inspection coming up….. which means, while I’m trying to live my life I’m filled with guilt that my baby siblings might end up getting kicked out again, then what do I do??? Ugh… it’s making the “forgive your parents” talk impossible for me right now.

It HURTS me that she’s living this way but I can only do so much but it also hurts me that my younger siblings are going through it. Ignoring it feels selfish.

[Peaches-ii]

It destroyed my entire social life as a kid on top of my narcissistic parents never wanting me to be exposed to other kids.

[MangoPanic]

I'm forever grateful that my family never owned a house because if it wasn't for house inspections every few months, our house would have been so much worse. I have zero interest in owning a place of my own either, because I fear that without those inspections I'll just never clean and things will pile up.

[sireyn]

Thanks to my hoarder father, now i live as a happy minimalist 😊 just understand your parents have a trauma or difficult situation when he was young. Just understand them and trying to throw their unuseful things without their permission 😂 I'm sorry dad i just love you

[SarahSmith-nrwj]

What do u do if you have a hoarding lodger? Who becomes aggressive when you ask them to move their stuff?