Have you ever walked into your house and felt paralyzed by the mess? The dishes are piling up in the sink, the kidâs toys are spread out all over the living room, piles of papers cover the countertopsâeverywhere you look, thereâs a mess not even Marie Kondo can fix. This week on The Mom Confidential, Jenn Morris and Rebecca Reidy join me in the studio, along with the amazing Helen Raymond from the Hoarding Connection to get into the nitty-gritty of clutter queens, pack rats and those suffering from a compulsive hoarding disorder. Marie Kondo, are you there? Itâs The Mom Confidentialâsend Windex!
We All Have Our Quirks
Bobby thinks I have a hoarding problem, but Iâm just really sentimental, okay? The ladies and I swap stories on our quirks around the house. Whether itâs holding onto letters or pictures (even if they arenât of your âgood sideâ), using your kitchen as an office, or developing a standoff with âthe pileâ in your house, weâve all had our fair share of messy tendencies. We also chat about the woman who kept her deceased cats in the freezer…all 100 of them. So, you know, itâs all about balance.
The Life of a Hoarder
We had the privilege to speak with Helen Raymond, who works with Hoarding Connection in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to hear first hand about hoarding disorder. She shares insight into how hoarding usually starts in childhood and develops more seriously into adulthood. How messy do you need to be to be a hoarder? Helen says itâs not cut and dry, but there will be warning signs you should be aware of. She also discusses the common misconceptions about hoarding, often on the rise due to popular TV shows that may not always portray the disorder accurately. In short? Itâs not as easy a solution as having âkeepâ and âgive awayâ piles; as a mental disorder, itâs important to seek help for yourself or for a loved one.
Am I a Hoarder?
We know why you really are listening to this episode! I came clean on all of my bad habits around the house to hear what Helen really has to say. Am I a hoarder? Well, turns out Iâve got some hoarding tendencies, especially when it comes to my closetâsorry, Bobby! When someone came to help me clean it out, I may or may not have stored some clothes under my bed to hide from her…and Bobby…and maybe myself. Oops.
