Elaine and I recently met a physician in Boston - let’s call him David - who approached Elaine because he has concerns about the large collection of books, printed matter, medical journal editions, periodicals, etc. that he has amassed over the years. In addition to his own books, David is ...
Author Archives: Suzanne Cronkwright
Ottawa pilot project to tackle hoarding disorder
Ottawa pilot project to tackle hoarding disorder
Hoarders: Prime Targets for Manipulators
Andrea Estes reported in the March 19, 2016 issue of the Boston Globe about the sad case of Morris Stern, a lonely bachelor who died in 2012. His family and friends were shocked to find out that Morris had allegedly sold several properties valued at approximately $4.5 million to Brian ...
Questions abound after dead hoarder found buried in debris
As reported by a CBC online article last week, investigators are trying to determine how a man wound up dead and buried under several feet of hoarded debris inside his downtown Vancouver home. This case represents a sad ending to a life when the person suffers from unresolved Hoarding Disorder. ...
Hoarding and the Holidays
The holiday season can be a difficult time for those who suffer from Hoarding disorder. Television commercials, movies, and shopping advertisements build up the holiday season as a wonderful time to gather with your loved ones, sharing an abundance of food and gifts, in exquisitely decorated homes. But in reality, ...
The Recycling Dilemma: Strategies for the Environmentally-Conscious Hoarder
In honor of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris last week, I thought it might be appropriate to write about two of the TOP TEN HOARDED ITEMS:
- Excessive recycling materials that don’t get recycled
- Plastic bags
While it is wonderful to applaud individuals who ...
Should I Bring it Home? : 7 Questions to Ask Yourself
When Elaine is called in to help people who hoard, and are OVERWHELMED, she often finds that they cope by acquiring and saving things to soothe themselves and fill a void in their lives. The “things” have become their primary positive focus and a source of comfort, security, and stability. ...
Safety at Home: Top 5 Risks in a Hoarded Environment
Excessive accumulation and a failure to “let go” often creates safety concerns, both for the inhabitants of the hoarded environment, and those who live in adjoining properties, especially if the properties are close or attached.
If a crisis (malfunctioning of electrical, gas, or heat producing appliance) occurs in a hoarded ...
Why Can’t I Get Started?
I planned to write this blog article on Friday, but now it is Monday, and I am finally getting to it. Why is it that sometimes we are unable to accomplish a task that seems so simple? Whether it is finishing a project for school or work, accomplishing some job ...
QUIZ: Are You a Hoarder in the Making?
Do you think you might be a hoarder, or do you suspect a loved one is hoarding?
FIVE RED FLAGS YOU MIGHT BE A HOARDER
Ask yourself the following questions to see if hoarding is becoming a problem:
- Are there areas of your home that can’t be used for ...
