1 00:00:08,660 --> 00:00:11,576 KERRYLEA: I had rooms overflowing. 2 00:00:11,620 --> 00:00:17,147 But the only way out in my mind was to buy another house. 3 00:00:17,191 --> 00:00:20,933 At this point, we have two mortgages on each house. 4 00:00:20,977 --> 00:00:22,935 Living paycheck to paycheck. 5 00:00:22,979 --> 00:00:27,549 I'm just hoping not see the sheriff at the door any day. 6 00:00:27,592 --> 00:00:29,333 LAUREN: This isn't weird to me. 7 00:00:29,377 --> 00:00:31,901 I couldn't walk through her living room. 8 00:00:31,944 --> 00:00:33,076 You know, this is normal. 9 00:00:34,556 --> 00:00:36,471 WILL: If I'm working all day and you don't have a job, 10 00:00:36,514 --> 00:00:39,343 then you should be able to tackle clutter. 11 00:00:39,387 --> 00:00:40,779 LIZ: We had a huge argument. 12 00:00:42,433 --> 00:00:45,306 LAUREN: It felt like somebody was just like baring my soul. 13 00:00:45,349 --> 00:00:48,396 [music playing] 14 00:01:01,191 --> 00:01:04,150 [music playing] 15 00:01:20,254 --> 00:01:21,385 KERRYLEA: My name is Kerrylea. 16 00:01:21,429 --> 00:01:24,954 And I'm 55 years old. 17 00:01:24,997 --> 00:01:26,521 So let's here. 18 00:01:26,564 --> 00:01:28,784 KERRYLEA: Dieting is difficult because you can't just 19 00:01:28,827 --> 00:01:29,785 stop eating. 20 00:01:29,828 --> 00:01:33,571 I think hoarding is like that too. 21 00:01:33,615 --> 00:01:37,227 I don't expect probably with any sort of treatment, 22 00:01:37,271 --> 00:01:39,273 short of a lobotomy or something, 23 00:01:39,316 --> 00:01:44,669 that I will ever be hoarding free. 24 00:01:44,713 --> 00:01:48,456 Every item represents a memory, an experience, 25 00:01:48,499 --> 00:01:51,807 a part of my history, of who I am, where I've been. 26 00:01:51,850 --> 00:01:55,202 It's all what makes up Kerrylea. 27 00:01:55,245 --> 00:01:58,770 If I can't see it, it doesn't exist. 28 00:01:58,814 --> 00:02:00,859 I need that visual. 29 00:02:00,903 --> 00:02:01,904 Otherwise, it's gone. 30 00:02:03,166 --> 00:02:07,431 It's like a puff of air, dust in the wind. 31 00:02:07,475 --> 00:02:10,520 My mother was a hoarder as well. 32 00:02:10,565 --> 00:02:15,047 So there was always a lot of clutter. 33 00:02:15,091 --> 00:02:20,662 I didn't think that I had a lot of the problems that my mother 34 00:02:20,705 --> 00:02:26,233 had, although when I started having children, 35 00:02:26,276 --> 00:02:29,845 the difficulty level of everything sort of increased 36 00:02:29,888 --> 00:02:31,760 geometrically. 37 00:02:31,803 --> 00:02:35,155 I found myself doing things like staying up 38 00:02:35,198 --> 00:02:39,202 till 3:00 in the morning trying to find all of the toys 39 00:02:39,246 --> 00:02:45,339 to put them back all neatly lined up against the wall. 40 00:02:45,382 --> 00:02:51,954 There was just a point where I kind of started giving up, 41 00:02:51,997 --> 00:02:54,913 when it started turning the other way. 42 00:02:54,957 --> 00:02:59,614 Once I started that, it was just the beginning of a long slide 43 00:02:59,657 --> 00:03:01,572 downward. 44 00:03:01,616 --> 00:03:05,707 And I never-- never was able to make the correction again. 45 00:03:18,023 --> 00:03:21,026 KERRYLEA: Being a hoarder, there's 46 00:03:21,070 --> 00:03:27,990 always the element in the back of my mind of protecting 47 00:03:28,033 --> 00:03:28,077 that secret. 48 00:03:33,387 --> 00:03:33,865 GEOFF: I'm Geoff. 49 00:03:34,649 --> 00:03:35,606 I'm Kerrylea's husband. 50 00:03:35,650 --> 00:03:37,478 We've been married since 1996. 51 00:03:37,521 --> 00:03:39,654 So that would be 13 years. 52 00:03:39,697 --> 00:03:46,748 I was able to keep the house and situation pretty much out 53 00:03:46,791 --> 00:03:50,055 of the picture for the longest time. 54 00:03:50,099 --> 00:03:55,147 But eventually, I brought him over and introduced him 55 00:03:55,191 --> 00:03:55,235 to the house. 56 00:03:58,412 --> 00:03:59,239 GEOFF: So I just assumed that, oh, well, 57 00:04:00,370 --> 00:04:02,154 Kerrylea just saves a lot of stuff. 58 00:04:02,198 --> 00:04:04,592 Well, yes, she does save a lot of stuff. 59 00:04:04,635 --> 00:04:07,029 But not so much because she's worried about a Depression, 60 00:04:07,072 --> 00:04:11,903 not so much because she hates to see things go to waste. 61 00:04:12,295 --> 00:04:13,514 This is just the disease. 62 00:04:15,167 --> 00:04:17,344 This is just the problem that you can't throw anything out. 63 00:04:23,611 --> 00:04:25,265 GEOFF: You know, I get frustrated sometimes. 64 00:04:25,308 --> 00:04:27,615 And then tempers can flare, like in anything. 65 00:04:27,658 --> 00:04:28,485 Throw that out. 66 00:04:28,529 --> 00:04:29,007 Well, I don't throw it out. 67 00:04:29,791 --> 00:04:31,532 This is valuable stuff. 68 00:04:31,575 --> 00:04:34,709 I mean, I haven't committed suicide over this obviously. 69 00:04:34,752 --> 00:04:36,276 I can live with it. 70 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:37,102 But it's just no fun. 71 00:04:41,455 --> 00:04:43,108 KERRYLEA: I didn't see a way out. 72 00:04:43,152 --> 00:04:50,464 The only way out in my mind was to buy another house. 73 00:04:50,507 --> 00:04:52,248 GEOFF: And I was against moving at first. 74 00:04:52,292 --> 00:04:54,729 And, well, we've got a house here, why do we have to move? 75 00:04:54,772 --> 00:04:56,426 But as time went on, I just realized 76 00:04:56,470 --> 00:04:58,428 that I don't think this house will get under control. 77 00:04:58,472 --> 00:05:00,865 The only way to do this is to move out, throw these things 78 00:05:00,909 --> 00:05:03,433 out once and for all, move into a new house. 79 00:05:03,477 --> 00:05:08,177 KERRYLEA: And then to ultimately end up with this house 80 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:10,048 empty and sell it. 81 00:05:16,403 --> 00:05:18,143 KERRYLEA: Well, the move to Vashon 82 00:05:18,187 --> 00:05:20,363 has been fraught with problems. 83 00:05:20,407 --> 00:05:22,365 GEOFF: We were having so many problems with the remodel 84 00:05:22,409 --> 00:05:27,544 of the house that the West Seattle house wasn't getting 85 00:05:27,588 --> 00:05:29,372 cleaned out. 86 00:05:29,416 --> 00:05:34,203 KERRYLEA: We ended up taking out another mortgage on the Vashon 87 00:05:34,246 --> 00:05:35,204 house. 88 00:05:35,247 --> 00:05:38,381 Eventually, that money ran out. 89 00:05:38,425 --> 00:05:40,905 And then we turned to our retirement. 90 00:05:40,949 --> 00:05:43,386 And that ran out. 91 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:45,040 It was obvious that the house in West Seattle 92 00:05:45,083 --> 00:05:48,304 wasn't going to get cleaned out anywhere in the near future. 93 00:05:48,348 --> 00:05:52,482 KERRYLEA: At this point we have two mortgages on each house. 94 00:05:52,526 --> 00:05:55,398 We're now living paycheck to paycheck, 95 00:05:55,442 --> 00:05:57,574 you know, close to losing one or both houses. 96 00:06:05,582 --> 00:06:08,411 KERRYLEA: They're telling us that if they don't have all 97 00:06:08,455 --> 00:06:11,414 their money by last Tuesday, the property 98 00:06:11,458 --> 00:06:14,199 is going into foreclosure. 99 00:06:14,243 --> 00:06:18,465 So I'm just, you know, hoping not see the sheriff 100 00:06:18,508 --> 00:06:19,335 at the door any day. 101 00:06:25,689 --> 00:06:27,648 LAUREN: My name is Lauren. 102 00:06:27,691 --> 00:06:29,389 And I am 28 years old. 103 00:06:29,432 --> 00:06:34,437 When I was growing up, I guess I was always considered messy, 104 00:06:34,481 --> 00:06:36,047 slob-- 105 00:06:36,091 --> 00:06:39,007 you know, choose your adjective-- 106 00:06:39,050 --> 00:06:40,443 and probably lazy. 107 00:06:42,619 --> 00:06:46,188 This isn't weird to me. 108 00:06:46,231 --> 00:06:48,582 You know, this is normal. 109 00:06:48,625 --> 00:06:52,586 It's weird to me if, you know, there wasn't anything out. 110 00:06:55,066 --> 00:06:58,069 It's weird to me, like, if I walk into a room 111 00:06:58,113 --> 00:07:02,944 and there's nothing there except for the pieces of furniture. 112 00:07:02,987 --> 00:07:04,424 My name is Kerry McNamara. 113 00:07:04,467 --> 00:07:07,078 I'm Lauren's dad. 114 00:07:07,122 --> 00:07:09,167 We always had a very good home life. 115 00:07:09,211 --> 00:07:12,954 The house was-- our house was always very orderly. 116 00:07:12,997 --> 00:07:16,740 My wife is a very neat person. 117 00:07:16,784 --> 00:07:18,481 My name is Liz McNamara. 118 00:07:18,525 --> 00:07:21,397 And I am Lauren's mother. 119 00:07:21,441 --> 00:07:25,662 I just thought that she was a pack rat, because 120 00:07:25,706 --> 00:07:29,274 in my generation that's what you call people that couldn't throw 121 00:07:29,318 --> 00:07:31,276 things away. 122 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,540 LAUREN: My mom wanted everything to be 123 00:07:33,583 --> 00:07:34,671 in a certain place and everything 124 00:07:34,715 --> 00:07:36,630 to be very neat and clean and tidy. 125 00:07:36,673 --> 00:07:40,068 And if I didn't do it, it always started an argument. 126 00:07:40,111 --> 00:07:42,940 And then it would usually end in me getting upset. 127 00:07:42,984 --> 00:07:46,204 And then she would just do it. 128 00:07:46,248 --> 00:07:51,601 I would just clean it, because it was my house. 129 00:07:51,645 --> 00:07:53,603 And that's-- you know, her room is part of the house. 130 00:07:53,647 --> 00:07:56,693 So I would just clean it. 131 00:07:56,737 --> 00:07:57,477 My name is Will Retzer. 132 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:01,481 I am 31 years old. 133 00:08:01,524 --> 00:08:05,572 Laura and I have been together for almost three years now. 134 00:08:05,615 --> 00:08:07,748 I guess I would call her my girlfriend, partner. 135 00:08:07,791 --> 00:08:09,837 We own a house together. 136 00:08:16,757 --> 00:08:19,977 We did have separate rooms for a while. 137 00:08:25,026 --> 00:08:28,943 I didn't mean to, but it just sort of-- 138 00:08:28,986 --> 00:08:32,511 stuff does follow me. 139 00:08:32,554 --> 00:08:35,253 LIZ: I couldn't believe he could live there. 140 00:08:35,297 --> 00:08:38,212 He didn't appear to be the type of person who would live 141 00:08:38,256 --> 00:08:40,171 in that kind of environment. 142 00:08:40,215 --> 00:08:44,654 WILL: I'm guilty of enabling in some ways. 143 00:08:44,698 --> 00:08:47,744 And I don't know at what point my enabling 144 00:08:47,788 --> 00:08:49,180 it has gone too far. 145 00:08:54,403 --> 00:08:57,624 WILL: We brought the mattress from upstairs downstairs. 146 00:08:57,667 --> 00:09:02,629 Lauren just wanted some time to herself. 147 00:09:02,672 --> 00:09:06,589 LIZ: She prefers to be alone. 148 00:09:06,633 --> 00:09:14,118 I think that the collecting of things is kind of her people. 149 00:09:14,162 --> 00:09:17,121 So she'll withdraw at any moment. 150 00:09:17,165 --> 00:09:19,471 And you don't know why or when that's going to happen. 151 00:09:25,521 --> 00:09:29,046 LIZ: So they were probably there for six months. 152 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:34,617 We came here, and I couldn't walk through her living room. 153 00:09:34,661 --> 00:09:36,619 And this was the brand new condo. 154 00:09:36,663 --> 00:09:39,448 You could not see the hardwood floor. 155 00:09:39,491 --> 00:09:44,453 And she said, no, I made my bed for you to sleep in the room. 156 00:09:44,496 --> 00:09:47,021 And I said, we can't sleep in here. 157 00:09:47,064 --> 00:09:48,588 I can't even get to the bed. 158 00:09:51,503 --> 00:09:56,378 And that's when I knew this was something big. 159 00:09:56,421 --> 00:09:57,597 This isn't normal behavior. 160 00:10:02,166 --> 00:10:06,606 So I guess I did what I thought I should do 161 00:10:06,649 --> 00:10:07,563 and I just cleaned it all. 162 00:10:10,305 --> 00:10:12,089 I spent the whole day there. 163 00:10:12,133 --> 00:10:13,003 I cleaned the whole thing. 164 00:10:15,876 --> 00:10:19,619 We had a huge argument. 165 00:10:19,662 --> 00:10:21,621 She was very upset with me. 166 00:10:28,062 --> 00:10:30,804 LAUREN: I felt like my privacy was being invaded. 167 00:10:30,847 --> 00:10:34,024 Somebody was just like baring my soul 168 00:10:34,068 --> 00:10:35,635 or like reading a diary or something like that, 169 00:10:35,678 --> 00:10:39,508 because it's my stuff. 170 00:10:45,688 --> 00:10:47,516 WILL: You know, this is a turning point. 171 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,693 Come March, I guess, Lauren will not 172 00:10:50,737 --> 00:10:57,657 have had full time employment for a year. 173 00:10:57,700 --> 00:10:59,615 I've definitely had the feelings before that 174 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:02,574 if I'm working all day and you don't have a job, 175 00:11:02,618 --> 00:11:07,710 then you should be able to tackle clutter. 176 00:11:07,754 --> 00:11:10,582 LIZ: Right now, she spends most of her time 177 00:11:10,626 --> 00:11:14,456 at home watching TV. 178 00:11:14,499 --> 00:11:16,545 [music playing] 179 00:11:26,207 --> 00:11:28,513 WILL: There's obviously a build up of frustration. 180 00:11:28,557 --> 00:11:34,998 More and more attempts and more and more failures. 181 00:11:35,042 --> 00:11:37,871 LAUREN: I can't really speak for him, 182 00:11:37,914 --> 00:11:45,313 but I would say that he has probably given up. 183 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:54,452 GEOFF: If you don't have the problem, 184 00:11:54,496 --> 00:11:58,935 then you just don't understand how difficult it is to get 185 00:11:58,979 --> 00:12:00,676 the problem under control. 186 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,071 You can clean the house out without their permission. 187 00:12:04,114 --> 00:12:08,249 That will solve the problem, but it will kill the patient. 188 00:12:08,292 --> 00:12:11,426 Your patient has to survive the treatment in order for you 189 00:12:11,469 --> 00:12:13,036 to call it a success. 190 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,038 And no one has a treatment for this yet. 191 00:12:15,082 --> 00:12:17,519 [music playing] 192 00:12:28,182 --> 00:12:32,708 An organizer will be coming to work with me. 193 00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:33,796 Hi, Kerrylea. 194 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:35,232 I'm Geralin. - You must be Geralin. 195 00:12:35,276 --> 00:12:36,059 I am. 196 00:12:36,103 --> 00:12:37,017 Nice to meet you. 197 00:12:37,060 --> 00:12:37,844 Nice to meet you too. 198 00:12:37,887 --> 00:12:39,541 Welcome. 199 00:12:39,584 --> 00:12:40,542 Come in-- if you can. 200 00:12:40,585 --> 00:12:41,630 Thank you. 201 00:12:41,673 --> 00:12:43,371 I'm Geralin Thomas. 202 00:12:43,414 --> 00:12:45,547 And I am a certified professional organizer, 203 00:12:45,590 --> 00:12:48,550 specializing in chronic disorganization. 204 00:12:48,593 --> 00:12:51,509 GERALIN: Tell me what your goals are. 205 00:12:51,553 --> 00:12:57,341 My goals are to get as much stuff out of this house as 206 00:12:57,385 --> 00:13:03,391 possible with as little personal sacrifice and heartache. 207 00:13:03,434 --> 00:13:04,392 as possible. 208 00:13:05,741 --> 00:13:08,831 Kerrylea is a typically chronically disorganized 209 00:13:08,875 --> 00:13:10,485 person. 210 00:13:10,528 --> 00:13:13,575 It's apparent that she has been hoarding for quite some time. 211 00:13:13,618 --> 00:13:15,446 I have some keepsake boxes here. 212 00:13:15,490 --> 00:13:18,449 I thought while we're doing the moving process, 213 00:13:18,493 --> 00:13:20,887 that if there are things that I see 214 00:13:20,930 --> 00:13:26,414 that evokes special memories, I will pop them in those boxes. 215 00:13:26,457 --> 00:13:30,722 With Kerrylea my plan is to push her a little bit. 216 00:13:30,766 --> 00:13:32,986 GERALIN: What's your most special or favorite thing 217 00:13:33,029 --> 00:13:34,857 in this room? 218 00:13:34,901 --> 00:13:35,858 That wreath. 219 00:13:35,902 --> 00:13:36,772 That wreath. 220 00:13:37,947 --> 00:13:39,296 And what's the story behind the wreath? 221 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:41,603 That wreath was from my very dear friend Carol. 222 00:13:41,646 --> 00:13:48,436 And she passed away unexpectedly about two weeks ago. 223 00:13:48,479 --> 00:13:49,524 I have a wreath box all ready for it. 224 00:13:51,004 --> 00:13:52,832 What would that feel like if you did get rid of that? 225 00:13:52,875 --> 00:13:56,357 Would that feel like your friendship has been terminated 226 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:57,662 as well as her passing? 227 00:13:59,186 --> 00:14:00,404 Or what does that signify to you letting the wreath go? 228 00:14:00,448 --> 00:14:04,060 GERALIN: Kerrylea said a couple things 229 00:14:04,104 --> 00:14:07,324 that you'll hear from hoarders again and again and again. 230 00:14:07,368 --> 00:14:09,587 Tell me about all the empty bottles. 231 00:14:09,631 --> 00:14:11,415 Are you saving them for-- 232 00:14:11,459 --> 00:14:16,464 She wants someone else to take care of these objects. 233 00:14:16,507 --> 00:14:17,857 Otherwise she can't release them. 234 00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:22,122 I don't know, I was just thinking I might give them 235 00:14:22,165 --> 00:14:25,125 to somebody who does beading or something like that. 236 00:14:25,168 --> 00:14:26,474 OK. 237 00:14:26,517 --> 00:14:28,171 GERALIN: And then the other flip side of that 238 00:14:28,215 --> 00:14:30,782 is that acquiring, that accumulating, 239 00:14:30,826 --> 00:14:35,091 the act of getting things, that usually feels really 240 00:14:35,135 --> 00:14:36,484 good for a hoarder. 241 00:14:36,527 --> 00:14:38,051 It's the reward. 242 00:14:38,094 --> 00:14:41,097 But once they have it, they don't know what to do with it. 243 00:14:41,141 --> 00:14:43,056 And then it becomes a burden. 244 00:14:43,099 --> 00:14:47,538 Clothes, I never quite know what to do with all the clothes 245 00:14:47,582 --> 00:14:50,933 that don't fit and the clothes that need mending. 246 00:14:50,977 --> 00:14:53,936 GERALIN: I know it's going to be very difficult for her. 247 00:14:53,980 --> 00:14:56,678 However, I know how to help her. 248 00:14:56,721 --> 00:15:00,943 But if she resists that help, I can only do so much. 249 00:15:00,987 --> 00:15:02,510 I don't want to damage her. 250 00:15:05,426 --> 00:15:09,734 GEOFF: Physically, it's going to be difficult, because the talk 251 00:15:09,778 --> 00:15:11,127 is we will start at 8:00 in the morning 252 00:15:11,171 --> 00:15:12,868 and quit at 6:00 in the evening, and she's usually 253 00:15:12,912 --> 00:15:14,565 good for about 2 and 1/2 hours of work. 254 00:15:14,609 --> 00:15:16,437 But she also knows the importance 255 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,092 of what's going to go on. 256 00:15:19,135 --> 00:15:22,051 KERRYLEA: I really have to pull out all the stops. 257 00:15:22,095 --> 00:15:24,140 I have to be very brave. 258 00:15:24,184 --> 00:15:25,881 I have to be very disciplined, very 259 00:15:25,925 --> 00:15:28,318 focused, to get enough out of this house 260 00:15:28,362 --> 00:15:31,582 to move on with our lives. 261 00:15:31,626 --> 00:15:36,370 If we don't make a big difference now, 262 00:15:36,413 --> 00:15:40,809 I don't know what will happen to either one of us. 263 00:15:40,852 --> 00:15:44,595 We really can't go on like this. 264 00:15:44,639 --> 00:15:47,033 [music playing] 265 00:15:52,647 --> 00:15:53,474 - Hi. - Hi, Lauren. 266 00:15:53,517 --> 00:15:55,171 Hi. Nice to meet you. 267 00:15:55,215 --> 00:15:55,519 Nice to meet you too. 268 00:16:04,093 --> 00:16:04,702 You ready for the tour? 269 00:16:04,746 --> 00:16:06,400 - Yeah. - Great. 270 00:16:06,443 --> 00:16:07,096 Come on in. 271 00:16:08,010 --> 00:16:08,837 RENAE: I'm Dr. Renae Reinardy. 272 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:09,881 I'm a clinical psychologist. 273 00:16:11,405 --> 00:16:13,059 Starting off right from the beginning, when I arrived, 274 00:16:13,102 --> 00:16:16,801 I know that Lauren was having a tough time just looking ahead 275 00:16:16,845 --> 00:16:18,586 into the weekend and all that she had to do 276 00:16:18,629 --> 00:16:20,022 and feeling quite overwhelmed. 277 00:16:20,066 --> 00:16:21,415 So this is the living room. 278 00:16:21,458 --> 00:16:22,503 Yes. 279 00:16:23,939 --> 00:16:25,201 Why don't you tell me a little bit about the types 280 00:16:25,245 --> 00:16:27,073 of possessions and how this room usually looks, 281 00:16:27,116 --> 00:16:29,640 if this is typical or not. 282 00:16:29,684 --> 00:16:32,426 This is probably a little bit better than it usually looks. 283 00:16:32,469 --> 00:16:36,038 Most of the older individuals who I work with 284 00:16:36,082 --> 00:16:39,563 have said that they started off hoarding in college or even 285 00:16:39,607 --> 00:16:40,477 as a child. 286 00:16:40,521 --> 00:16:41,913 Hoarding does tend to get worse. 287 00:16:41,957 --> 00:16:46,570 So I think that it's great that she's 28 years old 288 00:16:46,614 --> 00:16:48,224 and she's working on this now. 289 00:16:48,268 --> 00:16:50,792 I think it's going to save her a lot of difficulties 290 00:16:50,835 --> 00:16:54,926 over the next several years, decades really. 291 00:16:54,970 --> 00:16:57,712 When other people do it for me I feel like I can't do it. 292 00:16:57,755 --> 00:16:59,627 I want to feel like I can do it. 293 00:16:59,670 --> 00:17:00,976 Great. 294 00:17:02,630 --> 00:17:04,675 WILL: I would say that unless you tackle the white elephant 295 00:17:04,719 --> 00:17:07,548 in the room, so to speak, it's going 296 00:17:07,590 --> 00:17:09,289 to be hard to move forward. 297 00:17:12,596 --> 00:17:17,165 LAUREN: I'm trying not to really anticipate what's going on, 298 00:17:17,210 --> 00:17:19,733 because if somebody came into my house 299 00:17:19,777 --> 00:17:22,519 and just took stuff or cleaned it, 300 00:17:22,563 --> 00:17:27,611 that would be just totally devastating. 301 00:17:27,655 --> 00:17:30,571 RENAE: I think that Lauren is at a fork in the road. 302 00:17:30,614 --> 00:17:32,573 She can decide to keep things as they are 303 00:17:32,616 --> 00:17:37,404 or to say I think I can change this on my own. 304 00:17:37,447 --> 00:17:40,450 I don't need any help or I just can't do this. 305 00:17:40,494 --> 00:17:43,540 And I think that's going to lead her one direction that maybe is 306 00:17:43,584 --> 00:17:44,976 going to cause some additional suffering 307 00:17:45,020 --> 00:17:47,457 and failed attempts and things along those lines. 308 00:17:57,424 --> 00:18:01,254 KERRYLEA: Of course, I want to let go of stuff. 309 00:18:01,297 --> 00:18:02,864 I want space to get cleared. 310 00:18:02,907 --> 00:18:07,042 But I'm thinking that I'm not going to be up to the task. 311 00:18:07,086 --> 00:18:09,000 I'm going to fail. 312 00:18:09,044 --> 00:18:10,393 Or I'm going to blow it. 313 00:18:17,183 --> 00:18:18,880 GERALIN: Hi, Kerrylea, today's the day. 314 00:18:18,923 --> 00:18:18,967 How do you feel? 315 00:18:22,536 --> 00:18:26,279 Um-- let's do it. 316 00:18:26,322 --> 00:18:31,501 KERRYLEA: Well, this morning I felt a lot like I was on my way 317 00:18:31,545 --> 00:18:34,896 to the executioner just waiting for them to blindfold 318 00:18:34,939 --> 00:18:37,594 me and tie my hands behind my back or something. 319 00:18:37,638 --> 00:18:39,466 This is the homeowner, Kerrylea. 320 00:18:39,509 --> 00:18:42,295 And the main thing that I'm concerned with today 321 00:18:42,338 --> 00:18:45,559 is that absolutely nothing-- 322 00:18:45,602 --> 00:18:49,693 nothing-- can be put in a dumpster unless it has her OK. 323 00:18:49,737 --> 00:18:51,565 Again, please be respectful, OK? 324 00:18:51,608 --> 00:18:52,522 Absolutely. 325 00:18:52,566 --> 00:18:53,088 Thank you. 326 00:18:53,828 --> 00:18:54,568 Come on in, Kerrylea. 327 00:18:54,611 --> 00:18:56,918 Let's get started. 328 00:18:56,961 --> 00:18:58,441 CLEANER: We knew that we were getting ourselves 329 00:18:58,485 --> 00:18:59,834 into a big job. 330 00:19:01,531 --> 00:19:02,924 And it was described to us that this was a hoarding situation. 331 00:19:02,967 --> 00:19:06,536 But seeing it firsthand, seeing how these people live 332 00:19:06,580 --> 00:19:07,407 is shocking. 333 00:19:10,192 --> 00:19:11,672 Ultimately, going to be a huge job. 334 00:19:14,588 --> 00:19:16,851 GEOFF: As Kerrylea has said, she's been out of sight, out 335 00:19:16,894 --> 00:19:20,768 of mind person, that if she doesn't see this stuff, 336 00:19:20,811 --> 00:19:25,294 she forgets about it and it doesn't bother her. 337 00:19:25,338 --> 00:19:27,557 But what does bother her is the thought that something 338 00:19:27,601 --> 00:19:28,167 got thrown out. 339 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:30,343 Did something get thrown out? 340 00:19:30,386 --> 00:19:31,561 And that will eat away at her whether or not 341 00:19:31,605 --> 00:19:32,910 it got thrown out. 342 00:19:34,521 --> 00:19:36,305 So she needs some reassurances that we're paying attention 343 00:19:36,349 --> 00:19:37,611 to this stuff. 344 00:19:37,654 --> 00:19:39,613 And we are paying attention to this stuff. 345 00:19:39,656 --> 00:19:40,570 Be really careful with this stuff. 346 00:19:41,832 --> 00:19:46,054 All of this stuff is you lose it, you die. 347 00:19:48,839 --> 00:19:50,101 Not a good deal. 348 00:19:50,145 --> 00:19:51,059 You lose it and I die too. 349 00:19:51,102 --> 00:19:52,234 Oh, OK. 350 00:19:52,278 --> 00:19:53,366 That's one of the reasons why I-- 351 00:19:53,409 --> 00:19:54,889 See you the other side you have. 352 00:20:01,025 --> 00:20:02,070 GERALIN: How you feeling right now? 353 00:20:02,113 --> 00:20:03,724 Fine. 354 00:20:03,767 --> 00:20:04,638 GERALIN: Good. 355 00:20:04,681 --> 00:20:05,552 So far so good? - Yeah. 356 00:20:05,595 --> 00:20:06,683 GERALIN: Great. 357 00:20:06,727 --> 00:20:07,554 Kerrylea likes to tell a story that's 358 00:20:07,597 --> 00:20:09,512 really common with a hoarder. 359 00:20:09,556 --> 00:20:12,472 They have a story about every single thing they touch. 360 00:20:12,515 --> 00:20:15,039 Somebody had asked me if I had ever tried this medication. 361 00:20:15,083 --> 00:20:17,825 And I couldn't remember, I thought I might have. 362 00:20:17,868 --> 00:20:26,312 And so I wanted to be sure and record this with my doctors. 363 00:20:26,355 --> 00:20:29,010 And what year was that? 364 00:20:29,053 --> 00:20:30,229 Back in '95. 365 00:20:30,272 --> 00:20:33,667 OK, so you think you can let it go now? 366 00:20:33,710 --> 00:20:36,409 I am trying to sneak in a little tip 367 00:20:36,452 --> 00:20:38,759 here and there about not acquiring things and thinking 368 00:20:38,802 --> 00:20:42,589 about where these acquisitions are all going to go. 369 00:20:42,632 --> 00:20:44,765 OK, are you going to donate those or keep them? 370 00:20:44,808 --> 00:20:45,592 Keep them. 371 00:20:45,635 --> 00:20:46,375 Do you want to keep it? 372 00:20:46,419 --> 00:20:47,289 Donate it? 373 00:20:48,508 --> 00:20:49,639 I think I'm going to put it in my pocket. 374 00:20:49,683 --> 00:20:51,293 This is actually going to go right here. 375 00:20:51,337 --> 00:20:53,208 Do I want to keep one of these or both of them? 376 00:20:53,252 --> 00:20:55,993 [laughs] Perfect. 377 00:20:56,037 --> 00:20:56,646 Perfect. 378 00:21:02,435 --> 00:21:05,568 This can go. 379 00:21:05,612 --> 00:21:07,396 This is crazy. 380 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:11,095 It's half eaten by a rat. 381 00:21:11,139 --> 00:21:13,097 You better put those to the side and save. 382 00:21:13,141 --> 00:21:16,318 There might be keepsakes in there. 383 00:21:16,362 --> 00:21:19,408 I think she probably planned to throw it out, but save it. 384 00:21:19,452 --> 00:21:21,410 That's Kerrylea's to sort through. 385 00:21:21,454 --> 00:21:23,456 GEOFF: The guys are really getting gung ho, 386 00:21:23,499 --> 00:21:24,805 and I appreciate them for that. 387 00:21:26,415 --> 00:21:31,899 But they're moving a little bit faster than I can handle. 388 00:21:31,942 --> 00:21:34,467 I'll have Kerrylea pass judgment on that. 389 00:21:42,692 --> 00:21:44,520 GERALIN: How are you feeling right now? 390 00:21:44,564 --> 00:21:47,088 A little stressed out. 391 00:21:47,131 --> 00:21:50,483 OK, tell me tell me what you're stressing over. 392 00:21:50,526 --> 00:21:56,140 I'm stressing over some missing boxes downstairs. 393 00:21:56,184 --> 00:21:57,403 OK. 394 00:21:57,446 --> 00:22:01,058 KERRYLEA: I had five special keepsake boxes. 395 00:22:04,366 --> 00:22:06,063 No ifs, ands, or buts about it, 396 00:22:06,107 --> 00:22:08,631 she had instructions for those boxes were to remain intact 397 00:22:08,675 --> 00:22:11,504 and nobody was to disturb them. 398 00:22:11,547 --> 00:22:13,593 And I think what happened is they moved the boxes 399 00:22:13,636 --> 00:22:15,551 to a different corner. 400 00:22:15,595 --> 00:22:16,509 GERALIN: Well, we know that they're in the house though. 401 00:22:16,552 --> 00:22:18,772 That's a little bit reassuring. 402 00:22:18,815 --> 00:22:21,601 I'm just really have kind of constantly 403 00:22:21,644 --> 00:22:24,560 got that thing going in the pit of my stomach, 404 00:22:24,604 --> 00:22:26,170 where is that box? 405 00:22:26,214 --> 00:22:27,694 Are you OK to keep moving forward? 406 00:22:27,737 --> 00:22:28,564 Yeah. 407 00:22:28,608 --> 00:22:29,260 GERALIN: OK. 408 00:22:29,304 --> 00:22:29,957 All right. 409 00:22:32,176 --> 00:22:33,264 I think-- uh-- 410 00:22:33,308 --> 00:22:33,700 Clothing, you got it. 411 00:22:33,743 --> 00:22:33,787 Not sure. 412 00:22:39,009 --> 00:22:42,317 GERALIN: Let's go see what the guys are doing downstairs. 413 00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:44,363 Wow. 414 00:22:44,406 --> 00:22:46,060 What's your reaction? 415 00:22:46,103 --> 00:22:46,713 Yikes. 416 00:22:50,194 --> 00:22:51,979 GERALIN: You have space in your living room. 417 00:22:52,022 --> 00:22:57,637 Yeah, but I'm hyperventilating or just about too. 418 00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:58,681 OK. 419 00:22:58,725 --> 00:22:59,465 Breathe. 420 00:23:00,553 --> 00:23:02,032 Seriously, are you hyperventilating? 421 00:23:02,076 --> 00:23:05,514 My concern is I keep thinking how long can I hold out 422 00:23:05,558 --> 00:23:10,389 before I collapse or begin screaming or crying or frothing 423 00:23:10,432 --> 00:23:11,041 at the mouth? 424 00:23:17,613 --> 00:23:20,703 KERRYLEA: I'm really ashamed, embarrassed. 425 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,841 I'm-- you know, I just feel like hiding under the bed and crying 426 00:23:27,884 --> 00:23:33,629 and never being seen or heard from again. 427 00:23:33,673 --> 00:23:35,501 GERALIN: Here, what are you doing with that? 428 00:23:35,544 --> 00:23:36,545 You're putting that right back. 429 00:23:36,589 --> 00:23:40,201 Well, kind of because-- 430 00:23:45,511 --> 00:23:48,775 I don't know. 431 00:23:48,818 --> 00:23:51,604 [music playing] 432 00:23:57,131 --> 00:23:59,002 Hey. 433 00:23:59,046 --> 00:23:59,655 Come in. 434 00:24:02,615 --> 00:24:03,267 Welcome. 435 00:24:03,311 --> 00:24:05,487 Mother. 436 00:24:05,531 --> 00:24:08,534 LAUREN: I have a vision of how I want things to be. 437 00:24:08,577 --> 00:24:12,886 And that vision is just-- 438 00:24:12,929 --> 00:24:14,975 it seems like a dream. 439 00:24:21,721 --> 00:24:24,158 RENAE: What we're doing is we're kind of taking it one target 440 00:24:24,201 --> 00:24:27,378 area at a time, going through the house, 441 00:24:27,422 --> 00:24:28,292 working on de-cluttering. 442 00:24:29,511 --> 00:24:30,947 But what's most important in this process 443 00:24:30,991 --> 00:24:33,776 is changing thinking patterns and behavioral patterns. 444 00:24:33,820 --> 00:24:36,605 One of the things I think you guys know about me is like I'll 445 00:24:36,649 --> 00:24:38,520 start doing something, going through a box, 446 00:24:38,564 --> 00:24:40,522 and then, oh, this goes up in the bathroom. 447 00:24:40,566 --> 00:24:42,393 I go up in the bathroom, and then I'm in the bathroom. 448 00:24:42,437 --> 00:24:42,872 And then I hear phone ring. 449 00:24:43,656 --> 00:24:43,699 And then the dog barks. 450 00:24:44,091 --> 00:24:45,396 And-- 451 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:46,615 KERRY: You know, in one weekend, we could-- 452 00:24:46,659 --> 00:24:49,096 this house could look mint. 453 00:24:49,139 --> 00:24:52,534 Is she going to want that? 454 00:24:52,578 --> 00:24:54,014 I don't know those answers right now. 455 00:24:54,057 --> 00:24:58,714 LAUREN: So this water container had a leak in it. 456 00:24:58,758 --> 00:25:00,803 There's like no water left in here. 457 00:25:00,847 --> 00:25:05,373 But I saved it, because I wanted to save it. 458 00:25:05,416 --> 00:25:06,635 RENAE: So what's your decision with it? 459 00:25:08,289 --> 00:25:08,594 KERRYLEA: So my decision with it now is that I do not need it. 460 00:25:11,292 --> 00:25:14,469 LIZ: As she's looking through some of the things, 461 00:25:14,513 --> 00:25:19,430 I thought, that is a no-brainer just throw it away. 462 00:25:19,474 --> 00:25:21,998 Um-- this is a nail repair kit. 463 00:25:22,042 --> 00:25:23,434 I don't have long nails. 464 00:25:23,478 --> 00:25:24,392 They don't have to be repaired. 465 00:25:27,482 --> 00:25:28,962 KERRY: Now, those are 4-second answers. 466 00:25:29,005 --> 00:25:30,572 LAUREN: Yeah, but that could be a donate. 467 00:25:30,616 --> 00:25:32,139 To me? LAUREN: Yes. 468 00:25:32,182 --> 00:25:32,966 You have nails. 469 00:25:33,009 --> 00:25:34,620 I know, but I wouldn't-- 470 00:25:34,663 --> 00:25:35,446 LAUREN: Repair them? 471 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:36,709 No. 472 00:25:38,362 --> 00:25:39,581 LIZ: You shouldn't have to think about a bottle of nail polish 473 00:25:39,625 --> 00:25:40,974 that deeply. 474 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,851 You want me to tell you the dates on any of those shoes. 475 00:25:48,895 --> 00:25:50,200 I can help you with that. 476 00:25:50,244 --> 00:25:51,593 I know shoes is your thing. 477 00:25:51,637 --> 00:25:54,422 You can match shoes. 478 00:25:54,465 --> 00:25:55,597 - I can match them? - Yeah. 479 00:25:55,641 --> 00:25:56,555 You want-- 480 00:25:57,730 --> 00:25:57,773 Then what are you going to do with them? 481 00:25:58,600 --> 00:25:59,514 Well, then we can decide-- 482 00:25:59,558 --> 00:26:00,036 - Oh-- - Where they're going. 483 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:00,820 I can match. 484 00:26:02,169 --> 00:26:03,170 LIZ: If you just wait till she asks for help, 485 00:26:03,213 --> 00:26:03,997 then you're better off. 486 00:26:06,652 --> 00:26:08,567 LAUREN: Little things-- 487 00:26:08,610 --> 00:26:11,091 Want some shoes? 488 00:26:11,134 --> 00:26:12,571 LAUREN: Those are my lawn mowing the lawn shoes. 489 00:26:12,614 --> 00:26:14,573 I see that now. 490 00:26:14,616 --> 00:26:16,313 KERRY: Why are you trying to find a match to something 491 00:26:16,357 --> 00:26:18,664 that's no good anyway? 492 00:26:18,707 --> 00:26:20,143 LAUREN: We're just matching. 493 00:26:20,187 --> 00:26:21,057 We're not deciding. 494 00:26:22,276 --> 00:26:23,494 The process, Kerry, is to get the match 495 00:26:23,538 --> 00:26:26,106 and then have Lauren decide whether or not 496 00:26:26,149 --> 00:26:28,456 she wants to part with her mother's old sneakers 497 00:26:28,499 --> 00:26:31,459 from 10 years ago. 498 00:26:31,502 --> 00:26:35,506 You can see if we can find a matching shoe box. 499 00:26:41,904 --> 00:26:44,994 LIZ: That's an easy decision. 500 00:26:45,038 --> 00:26:46,953 My assumption was that it's one-- 501 00:26:46,996 --> 00:26:47,910 one shoe deal-- 502 00:26:47,954 --> 00:26:49,912 Yeah, because it's a-- 503 00:26:49,956 --> 00:26:51,871 but it goes alternate. 504 00:26:51,914 --> 00:26:53,612 It's not for shoes. 505 00:26:53,655 --> 00:26:56,179 This is like a-- 506 00:26:56,223 --> 00:26:57,093 Yeah. 507 00:26:57,137 --> 00:26:59,008 And this costs like $50. 508 00:26:59,052 --> 00:27:00,140 So if I have a foot problem again, I want to keep it. 509 00:27:04,535 --> 00:27:05,449 LIZ: They give you those for free at the hospital. 510 00:27:05,493 --> 00:27:07,538 LAUREN: They don't. 511 00:27:07,582 --> 00:27:08,452 This cost $50. 512 00:27:09,671 --> 00:27:11,673 I had to go to the medical supply store. 513 00:27:11,717 --> 00:27:13,588 They gave a prescription for it. 514 00:27:13,632 --> 00:27:14,067 All right. 515 00:27:14,850 --> 00:27:14,894 Where's the keep it pile? 516 00:27:15,677 --> 00:27:17,505 Where's the keep it pile? 517 00:27:17,548 --> 00:27:19,681 LAUREN: I think that my relationship with my parents 518 00:27:19,725 --> 00:27:22,466 has been strained because of this. 519 00:27:22,510 --> 00:27:26,514 I don't have a lot of hope that all of a sudden everything 520 00:27:26,557 --> 00:27:29,560 will be OK and they want to be supportive. 521 00:27:29,604 --> 00:27:33,564 But there's, you know, there's only so much that they can do. 522 00:27:33,608 --> 00:27:38,091 LIZ: We came down here because we were hoping that she comes 523 00:27:38,134 --> 00:27:41,660 out of that excuse mode and start learning 524 00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:44,358 certain behaviors all over again, because they think she's 525 00:27:44,401 --> 00:27:47,013 blocked them all out. 526 00:27:47,056 --> 00:27:48,623 Everything she's learned, I think she's totally blocked it 527 00:27:48,667 --> 00:27:49,232 out. 528 00:27:59,155 --> 00:27:59,895 GERALIN: We're having a bumpy road this morning. 529 00:28:08,469 --> 00:28:10,645 GERALIN: Kerrylea, her husband greeted me 530 00:28:10,689 --> 00:28:13,648 at the door this morning and told me she was really upset. 531 00:28:13,692 --> 00:28:15,258 And I said, how upset? 532 00:28:15,302 --> 00:28:17,260 And he said, really upset. 533 00:28:20,655 --> 00:28:22,744 I thought we'd start this morning with a meeting. 534 00:28:22,788 --> 00:28:27,575 Kerrylea and Geoff have asked me to talk on their behalf 535 00:28:27,618 --> 00:28:28,707 for several reasons. 536 00:28:30,099 --> 00:28:32,885 She was just not able to concentrate on anything 537 00:28:32,928 --> 00:28:34,930 except what transpired yesterday. 538 00:28:34,974 --> 00:28:38,586 Some keepsakes that were clearly marked, 539 00:28:38,629 --> 00:28:40,980 her daughter's name Charity, are gone missing now. 540 00:28:41,023 --> 00:28:42,242 We can't find them. 541 00:28:43,722 --> 00:28:46,028 Basically, I felt like I communicated that really well. 542 00:28:46,072 --> 00:28:50,424 And that-- those things, you can't replace. 543 00:28:50,467 --> 00:28:52,687 I mean, it doesn't matter how much money I have 544 00:28:52,731 --> 00:28:55,646 or how much time if they all got carted off because they looked 545 00:28:55,690 --> 00:28:58,780 like garbage or something. 546 00:28:58,824 --> 00:29:01,783 So the priority of the morning is I would like one of you 547 00:29:01,827 --> 00:29:05,787 to go through that stuff and before we haul it out 548 00:29:05,831 --> 00:29:09,530 to the pod, see if you can help her locate what she's looking 549 00:29:09,573 --> 00:29:10,618 for. 550 00:29:10,661 --> 00:29:12,838 One is a panda blanket and a tutu. 551 00:29:12,881 --> 00:29:15,144 It's either a green tutu with white trim or the other way 552 00:29:15,188 --> 00:29:16,667 around, a tutu anyway. 553 00:29:16,711 --> 00:29:18,191 Be on the lookout for that. 554 00:29:18,234 --> 00:29:20,106 All right, let's go ahead and get going, because we have 555 00:29:20,149 --> 00:29:21,455 a very long day ahead of us. 556 00:29:21,498 --> 00:29:21,760 OK? 557 00:29:22,325 --> 00:29:23,500 Thank you, guys. 558 00:29:23,544 --> 00:29:26,852 I appreciate you understanding and listening. 559 00:29:26,895 --> 00:29:30,551 Well, I always like lettering. 560 00:29:30,594 --> 00:29:31,639 All right, good. 561 00:29:31,682 --> 00:29:32,945 Literally, like a piece of tape 562 00:29:34,642 --> 00:29:37,297 and write in marker, Kerrylea's private section, do not touch. 563 00:29:37,340 --> 00:29:37,776 One of those kind of things. 564 00:29:38,559 --> 00:29:39,560 All right, sounds good. 565 00:29:39,603 --> 00:29:41,518 Then maybe even mark it up there. 566 00:29:41,562 --> 00:29:44,695 Caleb's just found the panda and the green tutu. 567 00:29:44,739 --> 00:29:46,132 GERALIN: No way. 568 00:29:46,175 --> 00:29:47,394 Thank you. 569 00:29:48,917 --> 00:29:50,353 It was in this box over here marked towels and blankets 570 00:29:50,397 --> 00:29:52,442 and sheets. 571 00:29:52,486 --> 00:29:55,445 So they must have just got organized, but not thrown away. 572 00:29:55,489 --> 00:29:57,708 How do you feel right now? 573 00:29:57,752 --> 00:29:58,448 Better. 574 00:29:58,492 --> 00:29:59,928 Better. 575 00:29:59,972 --> 00:30:01,451 Hoarders have a unique set of challenges when they're 576 00:30:01,495 --> 00:30:03,453 decluttering. 577 00:30:03,497 --> 00:30:06,456 They focus on minutia. 578 00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:09,808 And in Kerrylea's case it's that she has 579 00:30:09,851 --> 00:30:12,506 to touch every single thing. 580 00:30:12,549 --> 00:30:13,594 No, no. 581 00:30:13,637 --> 00:30:15,030 The idea is for me to go through it. 582 00:30:15,074 --> 00:30:15,683 Sorry. 583 00:30:15,726 --> 00:30:16,553 Sorry about that. 584 00:30:16,597 --> 00:30:17,859 You want to save these? 585 00:30:17,903 --> 00:30:19,078 Yeah. 586 00:30:19,121 --> 00:30:20,427 That's good. 587 00:30:20,470 --> 00:30:23,038 I think all that can go. 588 00:30:23,082 --> 00:30:24,431 You want to save that? 589 00:30:24,474 --> 00:30:25,649 Well, no, I didn't say anything. 590 00:30:25,693 --> 00:30:27,869 I haven't looked in this box yet. 591 00:30:27,913 --> 00:30:28,609 OK. 592 00:30:29,610 --> 00:30:30,393 KERRYLEA: I don't know what to do. 593 00:30:30,437 --> 00:30:30,872 Is there anything in here. 594 00:30:35,921 --> 00:30:39,185 KERRYLEA: You know that little half moon desk 595 00:30:39,228 --> 00:30:41,143 that was by the front door. 596 00:30:41,187 --> 00:30:45,408 On it, I kept a little piece of tile. 597 00:30:45,452 --> 00:30:48,063 I don't know if you've noticed, right by the front door, 598 00:30:48,107 --> 00:30:50,718 there's a broken Italian tile. 599 00:30:50,761 --> 00:30:53,503 They're like four broken tile pieces. 600 00:30:53,547 --> 00:30:55,201 And I've got three of them. 601 00:30:55,244 --> 00:30:57,159 They fit together perfectly. 602 00:30:57,203 --> 00:31:01,685 And you know, we were going to be able to glue them together. 603 00:31:01,729 --> 00:31:05,515 But we're missing that one piece. 604 00:31:05,559 --> 00:31:08,214 Did anybody see it? 605 00:31:08,257 --> 00:31:09,171 No. 606 00:31:09,215 --> 00:31:10,433 No? 607 00:31:10,477 --> 00:31:13,610 Apparently, three of them are still here. 608 00:31:13,654 --> 00:31:14,568 One of them is missing. 609 00:31:16,091 --> 00:31:19,138 And so now we have the case of the missing tile, which 610 00:31:19,181 --> 00:31:19,790 is important to her. 611 00:31:20,661 --> 00:31:21,792 So hopefully we can find it. 612 00:31:21,836 --> 00:31:23,098 - It was moved today. - Yeah. 613 00:31:24,665 --> 00:31:25,535 It was moved today when we moved everything out of there. 614 00:31:25,579 --> 00:31:26,580 We'll look around on the ground. 615 00:31:26,623 --> 00:31:28,930 You might want to check the vacuum. 616 00:31:28,974 --> 00:31:31,933 I don't know, they might have vacuumed it up possibly. 617 00:31:31,977 --> 00:31:35,719 We probably would have just mistaken that for rubbish, 618 00:31:35,763 --> 00:31:37,547 because it was-- 619 00:31:37,591 --> 00:31:41,421 it was a broken tile. 620 00:31:41,464 --> 00:31:42,901 [vacuuming] 621 00:31:59,787 --> 00:32:01,832 GERALIN: You're not putting stuff in a trash bag, right? 622 00:32:01,876 --> 00:32:02,746 OK. 623 00:32:02,790 --> 00:32:05,967 Do you understand? 624 00:32:06,011 --> 00:32:08,622 Yeah, nothing gets thrown out without the owner's rubbish. 625 00:32:08,665 --> 00:32:10,145 Where's that bag? 626 00:32:14,933 --> 00:32:17,848 Let me-- let me just go get her to proof it, OK? 627 00:32:17,892 --> 00:32:23,071 I have a little hiccup in our plan 628 00:32:23,115 --> 00:32:26,596 is that the people doing the cleaning 629 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,773 didn't know not to touch everything on the bathroom 630 00:32:29,817 --> 00:32:30,949 floor. 631 00:32:32,472 --> 00:32:33,690 So they went ahead and put some things in the trash bag 632 00:32:33,734 --> 00:32:34,865 while I wasn't here and you weren't here. 633 00:32:34,909 --> 00:32:37,477 So if you want to, let's grab some gloves 634 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,393 and just make sure that it's still-- 635 00:32:40,436 --> 00:32:41,698 that it's trash. 636 00:32:41,742 --> 00:32:42,743 That's there's nothing special in there. 637 00:32:42,786 --> 00:32:44,919 Just for a second, while don't I 638 00:32:44,963 --> 00:32:45,964 threw everything on the floor. 639 00:32:51,447 --> 00:32:55,451 None of this stuff, did I-- 640 00:32:55,495 --> 00:32:57,845 OK, this is all jewelry boxes. 641 00:32:57,888 --> 00:33:01,762 The question is, where is the jewelry that was in them? 642 00:33:01,805 --> 00:33:04,765 GERALIN: Are you positive there was jewelry in there? 643 00:33:04,808 --> 00:33:08,769 KERRYLEA: Uh, I'm positive that at one time 644 00:33:08,812 --> 00:33:10,336 there was jewelry in there. 645 00:33:10,379 --> 00:33:12,294 I was going so great gun. 646 00:33:12,338 --> 00:33:16,124 I was feeling really good, communicating, moving around, 647 00:33:16,168 --> 00:33:17,473 different things were happening. 648 00:33:17,517 --> 00:33:19,127 Everything's going to go great. 649 00:33:19,171 --> 00:33:20,868 We're going to make great progress. 650 00:33:20,911 --> 00:33:22,870 High-high hopes. 651 00:33:22,913 --> 00:33:25,307 And then something like that, it's like-- 652 00:33:25,351 --> 00:33:26,743 I don't know how to explain it. 653 00:33:26,787 --> 00:33:30,791 It's like somebody punched me in the stomach, hit me 654 00:33:30,834 --> 00:33:32,053 with a baseball bat. 655 00:33:32,097 --> 00:33:32,706 Why? 656 00:33:36,666 --> 00:33:37,841 KERRYLEA: We're just out of time. 657 00:33:39,408 --> 00:33:41,497 And now I have to basically go through every piece that 658 00:33:41,541 --> 00:33:44,500 was in that bag. 659 00:33:44,544 --> 00:33:48,330 And that just completely demoralized me, deflated me, 660 00:33:48,374 --> 00:33:50,419 de-energized me, de-everything. 661 00:33:50,463 --> 00:33:53,161 So it's like right now I feel like sitting on the floor 662 00:33:53,205 --> 00:33:56,121 and crying and giving up and going home. 663 00:34:07,306 --> 00:34:10,351 RENAE: Day 2 of going through this process, 664 00:34:10,396 --> 00:34:13,399 learning new patterns of behavior and thinking, right? 665 00:34:13,442 --> 00:34:13,485 Mm, hm. 666 00:34:20,623 --> 00:34:22,234 LAUREN: You want to grab the box that's upstairs. 667 00:34:22,277 --> 00:34:24,627 WILL: Do you know where it is upstairs? 668 00:34:24,670 --> 00:34:26,194 Nope. 669 00:34:26,237 --> 00:34:28,717 I think it's in my room. 670 00:34:28,762 --> 00:34:29,371 Can you just get it, please? 671 00:34:29,415 --> 00:34:31,547 Yeah. 672 00:34:31,591 --> 00:34:34,681 Relationship issues are really important in any problem 673 00:34:34,724 --> 00:34:36,639 that people struggle with. 674 00:34:36,683 --> 00:34:38,380 But I see it especially in hoarding. 675 00:34:38,424 --> 00:34:42,384 And what happens is this dynamic gets created where the partner 676 00:34:42,428 --> 00:34:45,605 becomes afraid oftentimes to say or do anything, 677 00:34:45,648 --> 00:34:47,128 because there's such a strong emotional reaction. 678 00:34:47,172 --> 00:34:49,522 Just you don't need to have it in a bin. 679 00:34:49,565 --> 00:34:50,391 I don't want it in the bin. 680 00:34:50,436 --> 00:34:51,610 Just like a pile. 681 00:34:51,654 --> 00:34:54,353 Not with other things, please, William. 682 00:34:54,396 --> 00:34:57,573 LAUREN: I'm sure he'll tell you that there's a lot of times 683 00:34:57,617 --> 00:35:00,620 that he just feels like I'm just bossing him 684 00:35:00,663 --> 00:35:02,622 around all the time. 685 00:35:02,665 --> 00:35:03,536 Uh, weak. 686 00:35:04,754 --> 00:35:06,278 You said just clear it out a little bit. 687 00:35:06,321 --> 00:35:08,280 Yeah, but, like there's some crap on the bottom. 688 00:35:08,323 --> 00:35:10,108 Ah, well, come on now. 689 00:35:10,151 --> 00:35:12,066 If you're in a relationship with a hoarder, 690 00:35:12,110 --> 00:35:14,242 my advice to you is to let go. 691 00:35:14,286 --> 00:35:16,723 Can that not go in a pile of stuff? 692 00:35:16,766 --> 00:35:18,507 Can that go separately, please? 693 00:35:18,551 --> 00:35:19,465 Both of these boxes? 694 00:35:19,508 --> 00:35:21,249 Both of those boxes. 695 00:35:21,293 --> 00:35:22,337 They have-- 696 00:35:23,730 --> 00:35:24,992 LAUREN: Like I like having that power or whatever 697 00:35:25,035 --> 00:35:26,167 and I like that he doesn't because you end up 698 00:35:26,211 --> 00:35:27,386 totally controlling somebody. 699 00:35:28,865 --> 00:35:30,345 And then I think they end up just succumbing to that. 700 00:35:30,389 --> 00:35:35,307 And then either they wake up and leave, or they, you know, 701 00:35:35,350 --> 00:35:37,831 just become your robot because they don't know what else 702 00:35:37,874 --> 00:35:38,484 to do. 703 00:35:44,707 --> 00:35:46,579 KERRYLEA: You want to do some of your stuff there. 704 00:35:46,622 --> 00:35:47,188 WILL: Sure. 705 00:35:48,102 --> 00:35:48,146 Think a good place to put it? 706 00:35:49,059 --> 00:35:50,104 Well, just put it in the box. 707 00:35:54,674 --> 00:35:57,894 Getting tired. 708 00:35:57,938 --> 00:35:59,853 Just not getting my 12 hours. 709 00:36:09,384 --> 00:36:10,211 Excuse me. 710 00:36:15,216 --> 00:36:17,305 OK, maybe can we take five first? 711 00:36:17,349 --> 00:36:18,176 RENAE: Yep, we can take-- 712 00:36:18,219 --> 00:36:18,959 So I can stop yawning. 713 00:36:20,047 --> 00:36:20,090 RENAE: Five- minute coffee break. 714 00:36:21,309 --> 00:36:24,486 Intelligence-wise, like it's not difficult. 715 00:36:24,530 --> 00:36:28,577 But emotionally it's difficult. And you know, 716 00:36:28,621 --> 00:36:33,234 you have to sort of open yourself up to being able 717 00:36:33,278 --> 00:36:37,282 to change and doing that on your own time and at your own pace. 718 00:36:45,594 --> 00:36:49,381 I always tell my clients I'm just a tour guide. 719 00:36:49,424 --> 00:36:51,948 So look over here, here's something over there. 720 00:36:51,992 --> 00:36:54,168 You can choose to look, not look, continue with the tour, 721 00:36:54,212 --> 00:36:56,344 stop in the tour, take a break. 722 00:36:56,388 --> 00:36:59,521 Any of those things are possibilities. 723 00:36:59,565 --> 00:37:02,742 Yeah, then you're not here tomorrow. 724 00:37:02,785 --> 00:37:05,266 Well, but I'm still available. 725 00:37:05,310 --> 00:37:05,875 OK? 726 00:37:10,445 --> 00:37:11,968 LAUREN: I just feel like there's obstacles. 727 00:37:12,012 --> 00:37:12,708 Yeah. 728 00:37:16,321 --> 00:37:20,107 LAUREN: Because there's not enough space in the hallway. 729 00:37:20,150 --> 00:37:22,414 And there's not enough space anywhere 730 00:37:22,457 --> 00:37:24,285 except for like the stairs. 731 00:37:24,329 --> 00:37:26,940 The closets are blocked to the office. 732 00:37:26,983 --> 00:37:31,553 And then I go up there, it just feels like that's opening up 733 00:37:31,597 --> 00:37:33,555 a whole other can of worms. 734 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:46,829 She's resting. 735 00:37:46,873 --> 00:37:49,441 And she wants to do that for right now. 736 00:37:57,449 --> 00:38:01,409 She just-- she wanted me to let everybody know that. 737 00:38:01,453 --> 00:38:02,715 Well, how about five minutes. 738 00:38:02,758 --> 00:38:05,544 Then I'll go up and chat with her a little bit 739 00:38:05,587 --> 00:38:08,111 and see what she wants to do the rest of the afternoon, how she 740 00:38:08,155 --> 00:38:09,635 wants to spend the time. 741 00:38:09,678 --> 00:38:12,377 I don't want to just leave and not have a chance to-- 742 00:38:12,420 --> 00:38:13,334 WILL: Absolutely-- 743 00:38:14,596 --> 00:38:14,640 Talk about what we did, what we processed. 744 00:38:14,988 --> 00:38:16,250 So-- 745 00:38:16,294 --> 00:38:18,731 I'm-- her choice is the one that's going to-- 746 00:38:18,774 --> 00:38:19,297 - Uh, huh. - Yeah. 747 00:38:19,340 --> 00:38:21,342 Of course. 748 00:38:21,386 --> 00:38:23,779 So let's do five minutes, and then I'll go and talk to her 749 00:38:23,823 --> 00:38:24,737 and just see what she wants to do. 750 00:38:24,780 --> 00:38:25,433 And we'll from there. - OK. 751 00:38:26,391 --> 00:38:27,479 - Sound good? - Sounds good. 752 00:38:27,522 --> 00:38:28,523 - All right. - All right. 753 00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:30,046 Thanks, Will. 754 00:38:30,090 --> 00:38:31,265 It's been tiring. 755 00:38:33,223 --> 00:38:35,878 Yeah, ready for some rest. 756 00:38:35,922 --> 00:38:39,491 [music playing] 757 00:38:51,459 --> 00:38:52,199 [knocking] 758 00:38:52,242 --> 00:38:55,158 RENAE: Hey, Lauren. 759 00:38:55,202 --> 00:38:57,204 It's Renae. 760 00:38:57,247 --> 00:38:59,337 How are you doing? 761 00:38:59,380 --> 00:39:00,686 Sleepy? 762 00:39:00,729 --> 00:39:04,646 Yeah, I know, you're working hard. 763 00:39:04,690 --> 00:39:06,605 What do you feel like you're up to doing? 764 00:39:12,219 --> 00:39:15,396 RENAE: Yeah, it's not easy for sure. 765 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:17,006 And you know what, most importantly, 766 00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:18,834 right now you have to be selfish and help yourself. 767 00:39:18,878 --> 00:39:19,444 OK? 768 00:39:22,751 --> 00:39:23,404 RENAE: You're not used to that. 769 00:39:26,538 --> 00:39:30,411 RENAE: It's important to change those concepts. 770 00:39:30,455 --> 00:39:35,111 And best to do it now when you're young. 771 00:39:35,155 --> 00:39:38,463 [music playing] 772 00:39:46,427 --> 00:39:49,387 RENAE: This is not an easy thing to do. 773 00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:51,737 So I would hope that she would continue with what we've 774 00:39:51,780 --> 00:39:54,392 started. 775 00:39:54,435 --> 00:39:55,654 Some things went really well. 776 00:39:55,697 --> 00:39:58,396 Some times were really challenging for you. 777 00:39:58,439 --> 00:40:00,485 And that's totally normal process. 778 00:40:00,528 --> 00:40:03,488 And I think it's something that people can't expect anything 779 00:40:03,531 --> 00:40:04,576 different. 780 00:40:05,925 --> 00:40:08,101 Because this is things how things really work. 781 00:40:08,144 --> 00:40:09,450 Right? 782 00:40:09,494 --> 00:40:11,147 LAUREN: If somebody were to walk in off the street 783 00:40:11,191 --> 00:40:12,627 and say, oh, what did you do exactly? 784 00:40:12,671 --> 00:40:14,934 Like, oh, I see a couple of corners, you know, 785 00:40:14,977 --> 00:40:18,590 but other than that, it doesn't really look all that different. 786 00:40:22,202 --> 00:40:24,465 You have all these great intentions, 787 00:40:24,509 --> 00:40:25,684 and you want to get things done quickly, or you know, 788 00:40:27,337 --> 00:40:29,557 other people want to help you because they can do it better 789 00:40:29,601 --> 00:40:30,384 or whatever, but I have to learn for myself 790 00:40:31,429 --> 00:40:32,691 and I have to do it at my own pace. 791 00:40:38,566 --> 00:40:40,960 Ask the owner if she wants to leave it. 792 00:40:41,003 --> 00:40:43,179 Yeah. 793 00:40:43,223 --> 00:40:44,485 If she can just give us some direction on this stuff, 794 00:40:44,529 --> 00:40:45,443 we'd be in good shape. 795 00:40:51,797 --> 00:40:53,451 GERALIN: I'm just-- 796 00:40:53,494 --> 00:40:56,628 I want to point out that we are really getting to crunch time 797 00:40:56,671 --> 00:40:57,629 now, OK? 798 00:40:58,934 --> 00:41:01,502 So do you think that you're in a frame of mind 799 00:41:01,546 --> 00:41:06,028 to focus on the big picture? 800 00:41:06,072 --> 00:41:08,553 The really big picture, which is in the next two hours 801 00:41:08,596 --> 00:41:12,600 we have to get this packed, and I 802 00:41:12,644 --> 00:41:14,689 want to know what are you going to do for plan B 803 00:41:14,733 --> 00:41:16,996 if it doesn't get done today. 804 00:41:23,872 --> 00:41:28,050 KERRYLEA: What I'd like to do is get the brown roll top-- 805 00:41:28,094 --> 00:41:31,271 there's no way to get to it. 806 00:41:31,314 --> 00:41:34,404 Could we get to the brown roll top desk in computer room 807 00:41:34,448 --> 00:41:35,710 and get that-- 808 00:41:35,754 --> 00:41:37,407 You have us for another hour and 15 minutes. 809 00:41:37,451 --> 00:41:38,452 So you just show us what you want removed 810 00:41:38,496 --> 00:41:40,541 and we're going to do it right now. 811 00:41:40,585 --> 00:41:42,978 OK. 812 00:41:43,022 --> 00:41:43,501 OK. 813 00:41:43,544 --> 00:41:44,763 Let's go. 814 00:41:44,806 --> 00:41:45,415 OK. 815 00:41:45,459 --> 00:41:47,417 Let's go. 816 00:41:47,461 --> 00:41:50,986 The only thing we're coming in here for is this roll top desk. 817 00:41:51,030 --> 00:41:52,118 Nothing on it. 818 00:41:52,161 --> 00:41:54,207 But it stays in the room. 819 00:41:54,250 --> 00:41:56,035 Can we open that door all the way? 820 00:41:56,078 --> 00:41:57,427 Doorknob. 821 00:41:57,471 --> 00:41:58,298 It smells. 822 00:41:58,341 --> 00:41:58,733 Pull the desk apart. 823 00:41:59,473 --> 00:42:01,214 Pull that top leg off. 824 00:42:01,257 --> 00:42:01,693 I don't want to break it. 825 00:42:01,736 --> 00:42:02,824 That's OK. 826 00:42:02,868 --> 00:42:04,522 It's OK to break it there. 827 00:42:09,222 --> 00:42:10,179 Bring it in the truck, guys. 828 00:42:14,532 --> 00:42:17,317 All right, good job. 829 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:18,405 We've got a few more things inside. 830 00:42:22,757 --> 00:42:24,542 CLEANER: Towards the end of today, 831 00:42:24,585 --> 00:42:28,371 Geoff and Kerrylea were finally letting us throw things away, 832 00:42:28,415 --> 00:42:31,287 probably more so Geoff. 833 00:42:31,331 --> 00:42:34,421 He was even kind of sneaking some stuff, 834 00:42:34,464 --> 00:42:35,770 trying to hurry up and put it in the truck 835 00:42:35,814 --> 00:42:36,597 before his wife would see it. 836 00:42:49,915 --> 00:42:53,266 GEOFF: Now, there's a mattress in Charity's room, we want to-- 837 00:42:53,309 --> 00:42:54,354 Sure-- 838 00:42:54,397 --> 00:42:55,268 Take that to the rubbish truck. 839 00:42:55,311 --> 00:42:56,182 So-- 840 00:42:56,225 --> 00:42:58,576 KERRYLEA: What's that? 841 00:42:58,619 --> 00:42:59,098 What's what? 842 00:42:59,141 --> 00:43:01,622 That. 843 00:43:01,666 --> 00:43:02,492 That? 844 00:43:02,536 --> 00:43:03,319 KERRYLEA: Yeah. 845 00:43:04,451 --> 00:43:05,060 That's the-- what do you call those-- 846 00:43:05,104 --> 00:43:05,800 CLEANER: Roll top. 847 00:43:07,019 --> 00:43:08,411 The roll top desk from the computer room. 848 00:43:08,455 --> 00:43:12,546 I wanted it to go in there or in the garage. 849 00:43:12,590 --> 00:43:14,766 It's been kind of torn up. 850 00:43:14,809 --> 00:43:17,377 I thought you wanted it thrown away. 851 00:43:17,420 --> 00:43:20,641 No, I didn't. 852 00:43:20,685 --> 00:43:22,512 It's-- it's broken. 853 00:43:22,556 --> 00:43:24,514 Kerrylea, remember, we had that conversation 854 00:43:24,558 --> 00:43:28,040 at the top of the stairs about that desk specifically. 855 00:43:28,083 --> 00:43:28,997 What about it? 856 00:43:30,259 --> 00:43:31,652 We went in there with Geoff with the crew 857 00:43:31,696 --> 00:43:34,046 and removed that desk upon you asking us to do that. 858 00:43:34,089 --> 00:43:34,786 Remember that? 859 00:43:35,830 --> 00:43:36,091 Right, that I remember for real. 860 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:38,528 We had that conversation at the top of the stairs. 861 00:43:38,572 --> 00:43:39,529 That's the desk that you asked us-- 862 00:43:39,573 --> 00:43:41,575 Yeah, I wanted to get out-- 863 00:43:41,619 --> 00:43:43,882 I wanted to get it out to put it in here. 864 00:43:43,925 --> 00:43:45,753 Not to put it in the garbage. 865 00:43:45,797 --> 00:43:46,536 I told them to put it in there, because I thought 866 00:43:46,580 --> 00:43:48,843 you wanted it as garbage. 867 00:43:48,887 --> 00:43:50,279 Yeah, because you don't listen. 868 00:43:53,587 --> 00:43:54,936 Well-- whatever. 869 00:44:00,725 --> 00:44:03,641 [music playing] 870 00:44:14,913 --> 00:44:18,046 CLEANER: They really wanted to be helped. 871 00:44:18,090 --> 00:44:22,007 But I think they had a hard time accepting our help because they 872 00:44:22,050 --> 00:44:24,749 continue to want to hoard what they had. 873 00:44:24,792 --> 00:44:26,707 And the problem was is there was so much to go through 874 00:44:26,751 --> 00:44:30,668 to get to what actually did matter, Kerrylea, 875 00:44:30,711 --> 00:44:32,452 she didn't want to let go. 876 00:44:32,495 --> 00:44:35,934 [music playing]