“Hoarders” has returned for a second season on A&E, and the series is more disturbing than ever.
Each episode focuses on the sad world of extreme hoarding, and cameras document the process hoarders go through as they deal with their obsessive compulsion to collect unneeded things that have little value.
The hoarders’ problems spiral out of control because they can’t part with any of their possessions, which sets up very serious health and safety issues in their homes.
The hoarding mental disorder often results in divorce, eviction, or family dissolution. And despite facing dire consequences if they don’t clean out their homes, hoarders are often unwilling to let experts help.
In one episode we meet Augustine, whose son Jason was removed from her home by Child Protective Services 14 years ago, because of her hoarding.
Augustine was never able to clean up enough to have him return. But now Augustine is in real trouble – her hoarding has gotten so out of control that’s she’s living with no heat, gas, or water. She bathes at her sister’s house once a week. And she’s received a court order to either clean everything up or her house will be condemned by the city.
So Jason comes home from across the country to help, but it’s clear that he’s angry and resentful about his upbringing. He pushes his feelings aside though, and you can see that he’s determined to get his mother to finally clean up.
Even with the help of experts, it becomes clear that Jason’s mother will never let anything be thrown out of her house.
“Hoarders” is a painful series to watch, but it’s also incredibly fascinating.
