Another side of obsessive compulsive disorder you might not have known
If you’ve happened to flip through the A&E or Lifetime networks on TV, you’ve likely come across the long-running reality show Hoarders. Each episode focuses on a person suffering from compulsive hoarding, interviewed alongside family and friends. For a few days, a cleanup crew and licensed therapist come to organize the home and address some of the underlying issues behind the hoarding behaviors.
Now in its twelfth season, Hoarders is an intriguing window into the lives of the up to 19 million Americans who have compulsive hoarding disorder. At times, it’s morbidly fascinating – people hoard anything from toys to clothes and food to animals. On a more vulnerable level, I personally feel invested because I have had family members who suffered from hoarding and have been part of the cleaning process. That said, I’m eager to discuss this mental health condition as well as its implications on the show.
Why I care
My paternal grandparents were refugees of World War II, but survived to live long, full lives. Undeniably shaped by this experience, they saved everything they could – but the family of nine (my dad is the youngest of seven siblings!) wasn’t always well-to-do.
Later in life, my grandma kept a veritable collection of empty vitamin containers as planters, while one of my aunties brought home scores of recyclables. The family was very poor when they immigrated, and the brunt of it fell to this particular aunt to help make ends meet. Sadly, years of stockpiling led to significant issues with accessibility and sanitation – as well as head- and heartache for fellow family members.
In early 2022, my grandpa passed and my grandma suffered a stroke shortly thereafter. My dad and I visited from Los Angeles and I assisted in clearing the kitchen. I can never forget the volume of expired foods thrown out nor the cockroaches in the drawers. It was a very humbling experience, and I have so much sympathy for the individuals who allow cameras into their homes and strangers to help clean up.
What is hoarding disorder?
Interestingly, hoarding is a type of obsessive compulsive behavior where someone gathers excessive possessions or has difficulty parting with them because of a perceived need to save items (American Psychiatric Association). People with this disorder may also exhibit behaviors such as indecision, procrastination, and distraction. These can further compound the challenges of navigating risky living conditions and especially social relationships.
Hoarding disorder can often be brought on by a traumatic event, impoverishment, or senescence. Most research to date has found that hoarding occurs at about the same frequency between men and women, but incidences can increase for people over age 60. There may also be a correlation between diagnoses of anxiety and depression. A possible genetic predisposition is still undergoing study.
Often on the show, families express concern for physical safety and the threat of getting evicted by the city. Simultaneously, the organization process can bring up painful situations that are difficult to confront, such as the memories associated with particular belongings or the passing of someone close.
Real talk
I recently stumbled across some older episodes of Hoarders on YouTube. A couple things struck me.
One – and this is nothing new – the comments are brutal! So many are along the lines of, “Why are we continuing to let these people spend money like that?” or “It’s amazing their family hasn’t left them with all that trash.” It’s discouraging to see how the public doesn’t have more sympathy or fully understand what can cause hoarding. While hoarding isn’t necessarily a character defect, it certainly exasperates underlying conditions. Oftentimes, families and close friends aren’t readily equipped to address the situations firsthand.
My second observation is how culture tends to make light of obsessive compulsive behaviors. How many times have we heard someone saying they’re OCD about fill in the blank? Are we unconsciously glorifying unhealthy patterns when we make such remarks? Other obsessive behaviors and compulsive hoarding are in fact two sides of the same coin. Are we helping or hurting in the way we approach the conversation?
The reality of reality TV
Truthfully, many of the individuals dealing with hoarding need personalized therapy and long-term treatment. There are deeper issues that a two-day cleanup is not able to resolve. I learned that in addition to the massive cleanup, the show offers six months of voluntary treatment post-filming (Reacting to my mom’s episode of ‘Hoarders’). To their credit, the editors are also very respectful to not include footage family or friends aren’t comfortable showing.
However, this segues us to a concern many viewers have expressed: Hoarders is actually staged. From my own experience, having a script for a reality show is common practice. Years ago, I had the chance to participate in a Gordon Ramsay show (sadly yours truly didn’t make the final cut). Before filming began, I saw Chef Ramsay reviewing his lines – he’s a genuine professional because what aired was nearly identical to what we filmed.
But back to the Hoarders show – just because something is scripted or loosely staged does not mean the work completed isn’t real. Houses and properties are cleared and many participants opt for counseling afterward. There are update episodes, which in full transparency I have not seen, but believe follow the more long-term aspects of treating compulsive hoarding. It may be that the true measure of how effective cleanup and treatment are vary on a case-by-case basis.
I’ll leave you with a couple of the more inspiring episodes I recently saw:
Too Many Unfinished Projects Turns Man’s Home into a Junkyard
Beautiful Home Hidden Under 6 TONS of Trash (S12)
Have you seen any episodes of Hoarders? If so, what are your impressions?
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Why write a series on how mental health is portrayed in film and television? Born and raised in Los Angeles, I (Evelyn) have always been a stone’s throw away from Hollywood, the origin of some of our most beloved movies and shows. A good story often presents curious perspectives or teaches us valuable life lessons. In the case of mental health, I believe such depictions can destigmatize uncomfortable topics from social anxiety to depression and substance abuse to grief.
My hope is that this opinion column will inspire conversations around meaningful issues in our personal lives and relationships. Without further ado – grab your popcorn and soft drinks and let’s get watching!