A&E's Hoaders

I have recently been watching a new show on A&E called Hoarders. It is produced by the same creators Intervention, so it has that reality-crisis type feel to it. It is sad, disgusting, and fascinating all at the same time. It is not easy to watch, but like Intervention, it can be a tool for learning from the mistakes of others. These are some messed up folks! However, it is sad because, they don't want to be the way they are and they are embarrassed over how bad their hoarding has gotten.

The concept is that the show provides help to a person or family in crisis. The crisis has arisen from the person's compulsive hoarding. Homes stacked from floor to ceiling with clothes, keepsakes, trash, decaying food, and even (in one episode) soiled adult diapers! Help comes in the form of professional organizers, house cleaners, and usually a psychologist. But, there is not always a happy ending.

These people have a mental illness and you just want to shake them and say wake up! Get rid of this junk and live your life! However, before I judge them to harshly, I need to examine my own life. Do I have a drawer, a closet, a garage that has junk in it? Yep.

Now the folks profiled on this show have a serious mental problem and their hoarding is extreme and far more than a cluttered closet or junk drawer, but it had to start somewhere, right?

Hope you are ready trash-man, cause I'm going to be kicking some junk to the curb! I've been scared straight. Who's with me?

The show comes on at 9pm central time on A&E.