Quote:
Originally Posted by volatile
My mother hoards everything.. I keep telling her she has OCD but she says she's not crazy (shows how much she knows about my problems let alone her own). I'm always trying desperately to teach her how to organize and throw stuff away or have a yard sale to get rid of junk but she just keeps it. keeps EVERYTHING. Trash is everywhere.
Is there any hope that I can some how change my mother's ways or is she going to be like this her whole life. It's so stressful on all of us having to live in clutter and junk. I've realized when a house is clean it feels like you can breath easy and relax.
Her main problem is paper clutter and magazines and news papers. she also keeps broken things thinking one day she'll fix them. I've also realized as she's been getting older she's been getting worse.
(I think I have OCD also but not with hoarding, anymore at least... I check things constantly and I have intrusive thoughts. My grandmother also used to hoard trash.)
Should I just ignore her issue with hoarding? It's just I know it's stressing us all out because there is so much junk but it's not interfering with our lives that much. We just lose things easily in the mess or trip over a large pile of news papers  |
I can associate with what you are going through. I AM A HOARDER... Even though I don't keep "trash", I don't like to throw anything away! I am Bipolar and this is usually a sign that by keeping things, you are missing something or someone in your life, and trying to compensate (maybe unconsciencely) for that, and this is definitely a medical condition. I think maybe you should ask your mother, or a family member may be better, if she can be evaluated, or at least talk to her and ask her if she wants help. Sometimes people don't realize they need or want help until they are asked. I hope she understands that you are only wanting to help her. If I can help, talk to me.