OCD Action

Unregistered

Hi everyone
I would like to be able to offer some help to someone who came to our Awareness day with a very bad hoarding problem - can hardly get into his home now and has to sleep on the floor because the bedroom has become inaccessible. Hence meals and activities have transferred to the pub, result sinking into debt and alcohol abuse - and all due to OCD undiagnosed and unrecognised until he heard me on the radio and the penny dropped. Can anyone offer advice please as I don't even know where to start. I fear there will be reluctance to go down the medical route. Joyce

Thu Feb 25 2010 12:03:09 #
Unregistered

PS I feel stuck between disclosing confidentiality and trying to find out positive ways of helping. Any advice on this too please?

Thu Feb 25 2010 12:06:10 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Joyce,

I have some advice on this but can I get back to you after- you've guessed sorted some of my washing as it's taking longer not being able to bend two fingers due to massive split and consequent swelling I just didn't want you to be ignored.

Back soon

Trudy

Thu Feb 25 2010 12:47:37 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Joyce,

I'm back.

Firstly I don't think that you have broken any confidentiality as you have only disclosed the problem.

Secondly although the person understandably possibly doesn't want to go down the medical route they do need to seek help or the situation is going to deteriorate further. Help is needed before it gets to the point where environmental health are forced to intervene. Perhaps they should be encouraged to speak to their GP for referral for help from the local MHT, another possibility is social services or even help from friends. Also could they not be encouraged to contact the OCD Action help line to see if they have any suggestions as to how to proceed.
Speaking from experience they need to know why they are hoarding and also get to the point where they will accept help. If they wont accept help there's not a lot that other people can do to help.
In all honesty it's no way to live and being in a complete mess just makes the OCD worse.

I'm by no means an expert but I hope this at least gives food for thought.

Trudy

Thu Feb 25 2010 13:38:34 #