I have great understanding, experience and knowledge in dealing with hoarding. What I fail to have is the same understanding, experience and knowledge in dealing with squalor syndrome. Very similar issues yet totally different conditions! I have to admit all compassion, love and understanding went out the window on this job! Because it was an eviction,...
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The Definition of Hoarding and Cluttering – The Mess Expert Weighs In
Did you know that Sigmund Freud and Roy Rogers were famous clutterers? How about yourself? Maybe you don’t exactly know the definition of hoarding and cluttering or simply not sure about the meaning of it. Whether you do or not, you need the sage advise of the “Mess Author.” ‘Mess’ author straightens out readers about...
Hoarding represents a fire hazard in most homes. Not only that, once a fire does start, it creates an obstacle for fire fighters who rush in to battle the blaze. In some homes, rooms have become disheveled storage spaces packed tight. Kitchens aren’t used for cooking, and no one can sleep in the bedrooms. Entryways...
Our client today was Judy, who needed help with her mother’s estate cleanout. Trapped by feeling of fear, quilt, memories and pain, Judy waited 3 years before deciding what to do with her mother’s things. Her mother died unexpectedly and the thought of getting rid of all of her personal belongings overwhelmed Judy. This was...
After four years of providing a service to seniors and hoarders who need to get rid of their clutter and junk, I’ve realized one of the most common problems these people face is loneliness. We are social beings and we are meant to spend time with others. Human touch and interaction are a necessity. We...
It is a summer Saturday night at dusk in Denver. A warm breeze is blowing, I have a beer in my hand and boots on my feet. The mountains are to the west and the energy of the crowd around is electric. Kenny Chesney is on stage and I see pictures of the ocean, the beach,...
I am all for helping the poor and providing services to those who are hungry and need food. But, what happens when these well meaning programs lack oversight or regulation? Well, the food doesn’t end up getting into the hands of the families who need it. Based on 5 of the last 6 of my...
One of the most stressful situations for those who have accumulated an excess amount of stuff is eviction. We have helped counsel and clean out a tremendous amount of clients who were faced with either getting rid of their stuff or getting rid of their home. To someone unfamiliar with the illness of hoarding this...
It was the absolute best shower I have EVER had. Even better than the shower you take after a week of camping. It was better than the first shower back after visiting Haiti one summer. Not only was I washing the grime from my body, I was trying to wash away what I witnessed a...
$49.95. That was how much I had in my bank account! I had no scheduled jobs and the bills were piling up. I’ll never forget that day. It was in March 2009. My stomach was in knots; my head is spinning with question marks. What should I do? What can I do? I need to...