Minutus

Has anyone ever treated someone with “hoarding” disorder? We have two households (used to have three; one person died) in our neighborhood where the people suffer from it, in one case severely, and I have another friend whose hoarding disorder is extreme. On Wikipedia they have a few pictures; what I know from the three houses I have been in is much worse than that! “Goat paths” from room to room; no place to sit down, etc. Hoarded items can be the cause of fatal fires apparently.
Wikipedia mentions using Paxil et al. in an attempt to treat. Surely there is better—should my friend decide to get help… BTW I’m not asking for rubrics, as I am not a practitioner. Just wondering whether a homeopath on Minutus has ever tackled it successfully. Teresa (Northern VA)

Hi Teresa,

I don't have any experience treating this, but from the nature of what it is, I wouldn't expected it to be a "quick fix"; I'd expect it to take time, and could well be "bumps" on the road, with e.g. re-tracing the past health issues. That's not a prediction, just an assumption I'd start with, given that it is a deep mental level disorder, which in most cases has been developing over many years. (Many people have it to *some* degree, tho.)

But on the other hand, if the homeopath is skillful and attentive and the patient has the needed support, I would expect that a LOT of help could be given, with the hoarding over time at least made manageable. But I would expect that by the time a person has reached that degree of obsession ("goat paths" etc.), it could take *quite* a lot of support and encouragement to actually get them even into treatment, not to mention help shepherd them through it.

I'm very interested to hear others' experience or thoughts, but figured I will send my thoughts in the meantime.

Best wishes!
Shannon

I can well imagine that it would not be a quick fix. On the other hand, whatever remedies would cure the hoarding problem would also help physical conditions, I would think. Would be a two-fer… And what I am talking about is not what many people have. It is way beyond that. Teresa (Northern VA)
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shannon Nelson
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 11:00 AM
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] Success treating "hoarding" disorder?
Hi Teresa,
I don't have any experience treating this, but from the nature of what it is, I wouldn't expected it to be a "quick fix"; I'd expect it to take time, and could well be "bumps" on the road, with e.g. re-tracing the past health issues. That's not a prediction, just an assumption I'd start with, given that it is a deep mental level disorder, which in most cases has been developing over many years. (Many people have it to *some* degree, tho.)
But on the other hand, if the homeopath is skillful and attentive and the patient has the needed support, I would expect that a LOT of help could be given, with the hoarding over time at least made manageable. But I would expect that by the time a person has reached that degree of obsession ("goat paths" etc.), it could take *quite* a lot of support and encouragement to actually get them even into treatment, not to mention help shepherd them through it.
I'm very interested to hear others' experience or thoughts, but figured I will send my thoughts in the meantime.
Best wishes!

Shannon
Has anyone ever treated someone with “hoarding” disorder? We have two households (used to have three; one person died) in our neighborhood where the people suffer from it, in one case severely, and I have another friend whose hoarding disorder is extreme. On Wikipedia they have a few pictures; what I know from the three houses I have been in is much worse than that! “Goat paths” from room to room; no place to sit down, etc. Hoarded items can be the cause of fatal fires apparently.
Wikipedia mentions using Paxil et al. in an attempt to treat. Surely there is better—should my friend decide to get help… BTW I’m not asking for rubrics, as I am not a practitioner. Just wondering whether a homeopath on Minutus has ever tackled it successfully. Teresa (Northern VA)

Hi Shannon,

I treated a lady for Meniere's disease a long time ago. When I went to confirm my remedy choice with the daughter, who had sent her to me, I found she was also a "hoarder which nailed the Arsenicum portion,, but she was hot all the time so it was Ars iod that she needed. Complely removed the Meniere's but I don't know about the mountains of stuff she owned, I lost track of her. A three car garage packed full, no telling what what house looked like !

Sue

Oh absolutely. It could only be approached from a "full case" perspective! And any remedy that successfully addresses his hoarding, will certainly be addressing physical issues too--tho what's addressed first and what path it follows, there could be a lot of wrinkles.

Shannon

Oh golly, it would be wonderful to hear that follow-up!!!

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "Teresa Kramer" wrote:
-----------

Hi Teresa,

Establishing new habits maybe helpful.

OVERWHELMED? DISORGANIZED? LIVING IN CHAOS? The FlyLady's Simple FLYing Lessons Will Show You How to Get Your Home and Your Life in Order--and It all Starts ...
www.flylady.net

Leilanae

Oh, Leilanae--spoken like someone who's never "been there"!!!
The Flylady lessons are neat, but they're for people who are *disorganized*, not those who are compulsive hoarders. At least that is my opinion.
/

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Shannon Nelson wrote:

Hi Shannon,

I do seem to remember a Flylady video about Flylady making a "house call"
to a hoarder's over flowing, path thru the living room home.

Leilanae

Teresa,

I believe Homeopathy can be very helpful for someone with a hoarding disorder. Like many diagnoses or disorders the individuals experience is the most important, there are many reasons why individuals hoard. I do believe the most common reason is a desire to keep past memories alive, fear of change and dealing with painful emotions. I have a client who I have helped who has severe anxiety,and has hoarding tendencies. I have never been to her home but from what she has told me the apt. manager does frequent checks to make sure there is a path open in case of a fire. She has told me there are so many memories in those boxes and she can't even imagine going thru them (most striking is the fact she had a failed relationship and there are many cards from him in these boxes). She has finally decided to seek some help from friends to help her go thru some of these boxes. Homeopathy can act as a catalyst for positive changes.

good luck to you and your neighbors & kudos to you to inquire about other options

Lora Roberts