Children of Hoarders

Unusual question but I’ve been trying to bring awareness to people about hoarders in particular. Do you have any clients who were children of hoarders that have trauma from that? If so, how common would you say this particular situation is amongst people? I’m hearing it’s more common that people think.

Hmmmmm. Honestly, I don't think I have any clients who hoard - or at least severely, to the point where it's coming up in sessions.

I think the significance we give to material things is very common. I think our tendency to become disorganized and indecisive when overwhelmed by stress and anxiety is very common too. And so I'm not surprised that there are a lot of people who find themselves in the grips of it after years of avoidance, one day looking up to find themselves drowning in piles of papers, and pictures, and trinkets, and knick knacks and toys scattered along the floors and walls in every direction.

I can't imagine how distressing it would be to live 10 minutes in it, let alone 10 years. Especially as a child. I applaud you for wanting to bring awareness to something personal to you, and not dismissing it. Sweeping the crazy under the rug is its own kind of hoarding, I think. Most of my job is helping people take a peek underneath and finally throw some things out.