'Hoarding: Buried Alive': Hoarder's House Makes Code Enforcement Officer Physically Sick (VIDEO)

Many viewers have probably wondered how anyone can enter some of the squalid, over-stuffed homes featured on "Hoarding: Buried Alive" (Sun., 9 p.m. EST on TLC) without vomiting or passing out.

If not the worst house so far on the show, Caryn's house was certainly up near the top of the list. Things had gotten so bad that the city was even threatening to tear it down, and her psychologist barely made it through the front door before she had to leave in search of a stronger face mask.

Code enforcement officers Jeff and Brian braved the smell to go in and assess the state of the property, but it all became too much for Jeff once they reached the bathroom.

The overwhelming stench coming from the mold, stagnant water and piles of trash piled up all around the house turned his stomach and he started retching violently.

Heading for the door he said, "I've got some paperwork to do outside" and left in search of fresh air. Brian, meanwhile, seemed pretty unfazed by the filth and smells and continued his inspection.

"Hoarding: Buried Alive" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on TLC.

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Comments

[oxjr]

01:00 AM on 02/14/2012

For anyone suffering from hoarding I just want to let you know - you can recover from your illness.
Accept the fact that you will be humiliated - that feeling will pass much sooner than you think.
You will mourn your 'things' - but once they are gone you will not miss them.
Memories are not in your things - you will still have them when the stuff goes.
You will learn tricks to get past your illness so you will not regress.

I am on my 5th year since asking for help. It took a long time to get better (three years) but I have lived clutter free in a beautiful apartment for the last two years. I have people over all the time, my floors, closets, and storage room glisten. I still get the occasional panic attack while cleaning but the coping tricks work every time.

I wish you all good luck.

[jlglaze]

09:27 PM on 02/13/2012

I am not a believer in hoarders. They are just too lazy to clean up their house ever now and again. It is sad when a house is condemned because of the filth that is piled to the ceiling. How anyone can live like that is not within reason and a little 'get up and go to work' on the house everyday would make a world of difference. These people will never change. How they can live in such filth tells you a lot about them. Get up off your duff and take care of you nastiness!

[oxjr]

12:35 AM on 02/14/2012

It is an actual disorder, a sub-group of OCD. Human beings are hardwired to gather 'supplies' and we organize what we gather with 'value'. Hoarding occurs when the brain no longer puts value on items in a logical way. This disorder can exist from birth, but usually it is triggered from a dramatic event can trigger.

I was laid off, and a few weeks later I was robbed (they even took my dishes and food). This triggered an obsession with replacing what I lost and I began being irrational about my things. When my mother died I went into a deep depression and my hoarding escalated. Outside of my home I was neat and tidy. At home, I had panic attacks and sob myself to sleep just because it took two hours to decide if a bottle cap goes into recycling or trash.

Like any mental illness - there is shame. You avoid asking for help and your home becomes a dungeon. Lucky for me - my family loves me unconditionally and they moved me home and we worked on my illness for three long years. Currently I live in a wonderful apartment that always sparkles. I still have panic attacks over the oddest things but have coping tools when they arise.

Comments like yours just adds to the stigma and prevents people from seeking help.

[TheAntiOkie]

07:47 PM on 02/15/2012

You are absolutely 100% wrong.

[hattie54]

08:00 PM on 02/13/2012

I've stayed at a few Motel 6's in the past and never saw roaches,whew.They really don't bother me that much.I do get a few on my deck when I put out bird food in the feeder.I see them more in the summer at night so quit putting bird feed out during the warmer months.

[ChickEpoo]

07:22 PM on 02/13/2012

There is not a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist that can convince
me that "trash and filth" are actually PART of the "hoarding illness".......

Nora...a senior lady that had her "stuff" contained in "containers" was
a hoarder.....and her house was relatively clean and you COULD get
around in it....... Another lady hoarded antiques and they were NOT
thrown together in piles..... NEITHER hoarded TRASH...... They
hoarded "stuff".....

Hoarding is a "pack rat mentality 'gone wild' "........But "trash and filth"
are SOMETHING ELSE and have NOTHING to do with "I have too much
stuff"........

Once they start walking on empty pizza boxes and styrofoam cups and
empty cans or have piles of "trash" in the corner......they have ceased
being "hoarders" and have turned into nothing more than "lazy slobs".....

[aaronshomeinspe]

06:56 PM on 02/13/2012

I am a home inspector and we inspectors have to go into these houses once or twice a year. We have mask that take care of the airborne stuff and a good wash at the laundry mat takes care of the rest. Because these people are mentally ill it is a real sad situation. What I want to say is I believe these situations could be helped if friends and/or relatives just took a little interest and helped people they know are having problems. What disgusts me is a family member who does not help in these situations not the person with the problem.

[Ty2010]

09:30 PM on 02/13/2012

Many times they don't know. They're embarrassed by it and become very adept at keeping others out. They come out the door just as you're pulling up, they'll "meet you there", etc.

[oxjr]

12:44 AM on 02/14/2012

You get very talented at hiding your illness from casual friends. And close family and friends usually are drawn into the denial process long before it escalates.

[tz1030]

06:30 PM on 02/13/2012

These people aren't "hoarders". My neighbor was a hoarder - he had boxes of old clothes, board games, glass vases, etc - but there was no garbage laying around, dishes were loaded into the sink, you could walk through the house. These people are just plain filthy and too lazy to clean up after themselves.

[Ty2010]

09:32 PM on 02/13/2012

Were hoarders but now are also afflicted with mental and/or physical disability.

[redrdstr]

05:55 PM on 02/13/2012

Get the people out, alert the authorities, spread some accelerant, and set it on fire.

[jemanolis]

05:54 PM on 02/13/2012

Reminds me of my College days........

[Ty2010]

09:32 PM on 02/13/2012

I think you may have rented from me.

[wickedtwisted2]

05:51 PM on 02/13/2012

gosh... I just recalled after reading the post lower about the woman that found the elderly woman abandoned by her family... many years ago, I ran an personnel agency and received a call from a hotel about one of its residents. Turns out, this was a world famous author (I'll respect her privacy). I was SHOCKED when I entered her room as she was a CLASSIC hoarder like what you would see on this show. I did not believe her, initially, when she claimed to be who she said she was. Then, I came across documents that proved that she was, in fact, who she stated she was and I could NOT understand how so one so famous could end up like this. Unfortunately, she did just what so many on these shows do... absolutely REFUSED to give up even a single piece of paper, knick knack, ANYTHING. I did my best to ORGANIZE the stacks and stacks of stuff (paid out of my own pocket for boxes, plastic bins) to help her as I felt sorry for her. But, I was not able to do what the hotel wanted me to do and that was to clear out the mess. Turns out, you have to be very careful about assisting and I guarantee you that these tv shows have these people sign all kinds of releases before they do anything.

[blackdragon471]

05:27 PM on 02/13/2012

Typical of human nature.

[wickedtwisted2]

05:21 PM on 02/13/2012

I don't understand why PEOPLE do not understand that this is a sign of mental illness. It varies in degrees with people and probably starts small with some clutter and then progresses to a point that the person, literally, cannot deal with it. It's like a switch goes off in their brain. It sure seems to be part of a compulsive disorder, doesn't it? Even though they don't want to live like this, it's like they are possessed. The filth, though, is a whole new level. Then there is the shame. It's a cycle, it just seems obvious to the outsider. I've only seen a couple of these types shows and can't watch as it's just so sad.
I find myself hoarding paper (receipts, mainly)... drives me nuts but I just KNOW the second I throw them out... sure enough... there comes that tax audit or something else.

[yvp]

05:51 PM on 02/13/2012

I think peole absolutely know this is a mental illness, but I think it can be a secret problem for many, and they do not realize it. If they don't see a problem and seek help, it is out of control by the time an outsider can help.

[jlglaze]

09:30 PM on 02/13/2012

I don't believe this is a mental illness. It is plain laziness. When a person won't even take out their own garbage tells you what kind of person they are. Don't let things like that pile up and it won't smell so bad until you are afraid to touch it.

[Ferrariqx]

05:16 PM on 02/13/2012

My business often requires that I meet with people in their homes. I can say absolutely that these hoarding conditions are commonplace. I'd estimate that 5% of the homes I enter are hoarder homes. Surprisingly, these people come from all walks of life. Teachers, executives, businesspeople, etc. I recall being in homes so nasty, I didn't want the bottom of my shoes touching their floor. And "no thank you, I don't want to have a seat."

NEXT!

[66readerwriter]

05:16 PM on 02/13/2012

There was a serial killer a few years ago whose entire family lived like that. When police went to investigate about complaints of missing women, they thought the stench of decay came from animal carcasses in the house. They never searched further or they'd have found the women rotting in the attic. I still get sick thinking about how people can live like that and not seem to notice the odors.

[djracertt03]

05:05 PM on 02/13/2012

There was one episode where the hoarders had literally "ruined" the hose they were renting. You really felt bad for the landlords, who stopped by during the episode, because you know the damage far out-weighed the security deposit. The landlord just walked around the property shaking his head in disbelief.

[sallypeters1959]

05:04 PM on 02/13/2012

this is not hoarding. just plain filth & laziness.

[jlglaze]

09:31 PM on 02/13/2012

I agree with you 110%.

[TheAntiOkie]

07:53 PM on 02/15/2012

And that would make you WRONG.

[TheAntiOkie]

07:53 PM on 02/15/2012

You are wrong and all of the mental health specialists will affirm that as FACT.

[sallypeters1959]

06:31 PM on 02/16/2012

That doesn't mean I can't disagree. I know people who hoard but their houses do not look like that!