Expert: John Date: 2/13/2004 Subject: a person who cannot throw away anything
Question I have a female friend, 65ish, bright, professional (psychotherapist) whose life has become almost unmanageable because of the stacks and stacks of stuff in her two houses, storage units and two cars(filled to the top)is currently driving and filling up a rental SUV. I believe she is in denial - is always stating that she has to "go through these papers" - never does. Stuff is not just paper, fast food wrappers, everything. Cannot have company, passenger in car, help when she was very ill with the flu recently (won't let anyone even come to the front door). Is this a form of OCD? Are there chat rooms where I can learn how to guide her to a physician who specializes in this (Dallas Area)? This is progressing and I am very concerned about her.
Answer OCDers fall into a few categories. There are washers, checkers, and hoarders. Hoarders cannot part with anything. They keep things that almost everyone woulkd toss out like wrappers, old jars, used plastic containers, they have too much of everything. She may very well have OCD. She may be unable to recognize it inherself or deny it. This is not going to get better. It is also hazardous to her health ad may involve a fire safety hazard depending upon what is kept. You can try to get her to see a physician since it does not sound like she is one herself. I sugggest you try to contact the chief of inpatient psychiatry at the nearest teaching hospital (one with a medical college) and see if he or she can see your friend. Getting your friend to go is another problem. You on your own might be able to get some literature about OCD and hoarding and read it with her to see if she will recognize it in herslf. people with OCD do not see themselves as having a problem or the think they can handle it themselves. Its much too big for that and too complicated. The chief of inpatient psychiatry if unable to see her may be able to recommend physicians in her area who are well versed in the latest research on OCD. This sounds like a problem of long standing. It is unusual for OCD to have its onset at such an advanced age . Practically unheard of. Chat roms are valueless and you wont get good advice there except for well meaning folks . She needs to see a psychiatrist who will diagnose her correctly hopefully and rule out any organic cause. He may then start her on some SSRI meds and perhaps some behavioral modification therapy. She may also need someone to help clean out her home and automobile ad keep a watchful eye on her and keep her under supervision. She needs to get help but i would hesitate to get any government people involved who will then seek to have her declared incompetent and seek to seize assets. Instead seek the medical route since she undoubtedly has health insurance or medicare at her age. Placing her in a nursing home will wipe out any savings she has as they will impoverish you in less than a year if you have a home and savings. If she has any children perhaps they will want to help. Cleaning out a house is a task that only can be accomplished by renting a roll off dumpster placed in the driveway or on the lawn for a week and spending a week making multiple trips out to it to dump unneeded items. If you go that route get trusted help and do not allow her to decide what to keep if its obvious junk. A dumpster can be rented for a week for less than $150 and in a weeks time they will pick it up and thats the last you will see of the trash thats in it. If possible enlist the help of a few neigborhood young men to carry the trash out of her home. Again social services type people are the worst type of people to call on for help. They are likely to preciptate a health crisis in her. Its best to handle it low key and get some relatives involved or friends.
