Understanding Why People Hoard

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:46 am Post subject: Understanding Why People Hoard

Understanding Why People Hoard
Reported by: Chris Grogan
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 @08:40pm CST

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=47901

(Pleasant Hope, MO) -- We're getting our first look inside that Polk County compound. It's the place where a large family and 363 animals lived among trash and filth.

Rescuers say the smell on that property was something they've never experienced before. A lot of that came from piles of trash, feces and animal carcases found there.

Now, we want to take you behind the scenes with what those rescuers found and how the conditions may have gotten so bad with several people living there.

Neighbors say that property is where so many strays ended up. It's 80 acres just outside of Pleasant Hope, where dogs can be seen almost everywhere, many just skin and bones.

Inside the dozen or so trailers on the property, debris is piled to the ceiling. Authorities say each time one trailer would fill up, family members would just bring in another trailer to live in.

"Often times, it will start slowly and then just build." explains Dr. Kristina Burton.

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

From the article:

[Psychologists say while many of the animals may heal from their physical wounds, children of hoarders often need extensive counseling, especially since hoarding may be a genetic condition.

"The children may hoard later themselves, because that's what they know to do. Or maybe because that's genetically what's going on with them." says Burton.

The court will determine the fate of those animals at a hearing on September 2 in Bolivar. Until then, the Humane Society of Missouri says it will care for the animals in Union, Missouri and at the headquarters in St. Louis. ]

And who will determine the fate of the children? They don't address it other than to say the mother is being cited for child neglect.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:

Hi Lisa,

I'm not sure if I agree with the genetic component of horading. If it is truely genetic, then why aren't ALL children of hoarders, clutter-bugs themselves? If it is genetic, then therapy wouldn't work. Medications could/would help because they change the chemestry of the brain, that might superceed a genetic 'disorder'

Interesting discussion though. What do other people think?

Sally-Sue

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

Not all childern become hoarders just like all childern born into a family might not have blue eyes , or blond hair like the rest of the family.
I am a great example, I look like my Moms side of the family and my siblings all favor my fathers side, unless......?????

Active Member Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 495

As a parent I see so many strong personality traits that my daughter showed since birth! I think the brain predisposes one toward behavior traits, but trauma can exacerbate the disorder. We use our brain to figure out how to cope and react to stress, and every brain will respond differently to the same situation in levels of emotion.

My Dad once commented that each of us would respond to an accident emergency differently. The oldest would run around screaming, the second would be fascinated and want a closer look, the third would faint, and I would run outside to escape. I too wonder how we had the same genetics, parents, and environment.