JA,

Shameful is fitting, here.

Some individuals who hoard, have been left homeless after their seemingly, well-meaning families have "cleaned them out" of all their possessions, including the house.

After the clean out, the individual who hoards will ask for the return of their possessions and hear, "It is in the dump because that is where it belongs."

Family members, who have done clean-outs, state that the hoarding family member is a disgrace.

When pressed for more information, family members have justified these clean outs, as "he/she deserved it." Do you realize the shunning hoarders endure; it is both undeserved and injurious to their reputation.

Do you know a child of a hoarder; the whispers behind their back, the taunting to their face; the shame cast upon them by society?

Cleaning out a hoarder's home without permission is both harmful and traumatic. I call it stealing.

Sheryl
Adult child of a parent with late-onset hoarding disorder

Did I read this right?

Those who participate may enter into a raffle for a Target gift card. The information gathered from this study may help to improve therapies for OCD and hoarding.

This is pretty much like rewarding alcoholics in a survey with a fifth of bourbon. Is this a sick joke?

Did I read this right?

Those who participate may enter into a raffle for a Target gift card. The information gathered from this study may help to improve therapies for OCD and hoarding.

This is pretty much like rewarding alcoholics in a survey with a fifth of bourbon. Is this a sick joke?

Bill, you are dead on with that observation.

To Everyone Reading This Post:
We know that hoarding is embarrassing and shameful, but these studies are so important. You can remain anonymous, and the data collected in these studies,honestly helps us learn how to better help people suffering from this disorder, and all underlying causes. If you would please consider calling when people post studies on here and at least hear what they have to say, you really will be helping the professionals better understand you. We truly need your input or nothing is going to change. This is such a complex issue and each person is very unique so their input is extremely valuable! Please consider participating. Your name and other personal information will not be divulged and may not even be needed to participate. Thank you for reading this 🙂

Cory is absolutely right. In my studies, you can choose to enter your name and contact information in order to enter into a raffle or you can choose to remain anonymous. If you choose to enter your name and contact information, we separate it from your questionnaire responses so no one could connect you and your answers to questions. Confidentiality is extremely important.

Also, I am happy to report back what we learn from these studies. And finally, it is through doing more research that we also convince agencies of the need to devote money to various causes, such as improving therapies for hoarding. Your participation may help others like you, who struggle with hoarding.

Clearly you mean the opposite of what you say when you write that "hoarding is...shameful." Shameful means "deserving or bringing disgrace or shame," or "giving offense to moral sensibilities and injurious to reputation." Hoarding provokes shame, but it is not shameful.

Precise use of language is essential when misconstruing intent can be harmful.