Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

[leoo24]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

i totally agree this woman suffers from some sort of mental disorder to live like that, but she must have some sort of perception of image, why else would she have an ironing board? which ofcourse implies that when outside she does care about her appearance?
there's arguements for every point of view, the most important thing i think to make note of is the lack of information. All we know about this woman is just that, that she is a 40 something woman. We don't know if she works, is on disability, has a family, if her family have tried helping, her friends etc etc.


sorry to hear about your brother Tommays

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

They call them Clutterers, Hoarders, Pack Rats, Messies, they suffer from what is called Messie-Syndrom, Compulsive hoarding, or Disposophobia, and they are everywhere here. These people have a mental disorder and there are many organization that will help, if the will accept it. Some don't want it and there is little you or I can do.

Some are just lazy and some are rental nomads. They move in do this, don't pay rent, and then move out, to repeat the process all over again in the next apartment. I think it has gotten so bad in Germany that there is at least one in ever large apartment building here.

I had one as a next door neighbor for awhile, college educated, nice family, no drug use, just a slob. His mom used to fly over with the family to visit twice a year from the States (German immigrants to America). The family would stay in a hotel around the corner, while she cleaned his apartment.

He finally found a girlfriend who would clean for him, and they moved out and got a new apartment together. He made really good money as a computer programmer. Use to say that it was his right to live as he wished, and if his future wife didn't like it she would have to clean it up. Anyone else should just mind their own business.

It smelled so bad that at one point the building manager called the police and said he thought there was a dead body in the apartment. He just hired a company to come clean it up after the police visit, but within months it was back to the condition it was in before.

Thank God he moved!

Lady across the hall ask me if I could help her on the weekend carry a very big plant to her apartment door. She works for a large international company across the street, drives a very clean, expensive new BMW auto. Has a nice new BMW motorcycle. Wears nice expensive business clothes.

Her apartment looked like it had never, ever been cleaned. Like a bomb had gone off at the city dump. I couldn't believe it, she has only lived here about half a year, and I don't think she has taken the trash out once. It was piled everywhere.

I didn't go in, I was afraid something would jump out, and bite me.

The building is for German standards a very nice apartment building.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

 

[captquest]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Thank you SnappingTurtle, that was informative and enlightning. I knew this had to be a compulsive mental disorder of some type. Too bad some people are not open minded or compassionate enough to try to understand mental illness over laziness.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Thank you SnappingTurtle, that was informative and enlightning. I knew this had to be a compulsive mental disorder of some type. Too bad some people are not open minded or compassionate enough to try to understand mental illness over laziness.

Well said Capt!

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

There are many variations to this disorder, and yes alcohol abuse and drug use, can, but is not always involved. It just aggravates the situation when it is.

It is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), or impulse control disorder (ICD). Those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also show many of these characteristics.

It also has little or nothing to do with money or the lack of. Many of these apartments are found after the person dies in Germany, and very often it comes out that these people were millionaires. I think most of you have heard the stories about Howard Hughes. He suffered from the direct opposite form of this disorder.

Animal hoarding is also a form and believe it or not, a former neighbors mother has over 70 cats and lives in a small townhouse in the city. The number of cats has led to a situation that resembles some of these apartments seen in the photos. They (the family) have tried for years to help her, but to this point have failed. She is a very active animal rights activist, and although it is counter productive to both her mental stability, and the health of the cats, she always receives support from these organizations, when the family tries to step in and get her help. They believe the system is out of touch with reality, and it is the others that are sick, and need help, not her.

This former neighbor is the one that supplied me with most of what I know about these people.

Then there are those that just don't really care, my other neighbor knew he was sloppy and lazy, and had always had someone that would sooner or latter clean up for him. His mom & sister had always done it, and as he said, when he married, so would his wife. He thought it was funny, and openly said so. We were sure he would never find a woman, but he did.

I have seen some dorm rooms and student apartments here that could be compared to these pictures. I don't think these students living with as many as ten to an apartment all suffered from a mental disorder.

It is not always easy to pass judgement on these situations, with little, or no background information.

Sometimes a little compassion is in order, sometimes not.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

I had a friend who I worked with for a couple years. I stopped by his house knowing that he was having trouble and feeling depressed. There was easily 200 beer bottles piled in one corner of his house. He hadn't been taking his meds and tried killing himself three days later. Luckily he didn't do a very good job, and now lives a normal life on meds.

Disgusting and horrendous yes, but don't be so quick to pass judgment when you don't know circumstances.

Having a filthy house does not compare to being an axe murderer either, this person was likely not a threat to anyone else.

Evan

EDIT; But it is impossible for me to imagine where someones mind may be that would allow them to live like this indeed.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Oh, did I mention I suffer from a maritime disorder.

I have “Multi-Boat-Syndrome” (MBS).

Not everyone understands this condition, but for those that do, I ask for a little compassion & understanding.

If you fall a little out of the norm, you may be judged to be sick, or a danger to yourself or others.

Does having "MBS" make me dangerous?

 

[captquest]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Thanks again ST, yes there was a lady in my nieghborhood that had over 30 cats the health dept. had to intervene.

Does having "MBS" make me dangerous?

Dangerous? No. Obnoxiuous? Yes especially to those of us who can only afford one boat. LOL

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Thanks again ST, yes there was a lady in my nieghborhood that had over 30 cats the health dept. had to intervene.

Does having "MBS" make me dangerous?

Dangerous? No. Obnoxiuous? Yes especially to those of us who can only afford one boat. LOL

LOL!!!!

Obnoxious? LOL!!!

Have you seen my fleet of boats?

LOL!!!

I know people with remote control toy boats that cost more than all of mine put together.

 

[Pony]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Thank you SnappingTurtle, that was informative and enlightning. I knew this had to be a compulsive mental disorder of some type. Too bad some people are not open minded or compassionate enough to try to understand mental illness over laziness.

I agree 100%.

I'm not really suprised at the comments in the thread......many people are quick to judge anything that they don't understand.......often making false assumptions. (drugs, income level).

Obviously this person needs help......the fact that the stuff was somewhat categorized or organized (cups, cigs, cig cartons, fast food bags) says to me that there is something mental going on in this scenerio.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

I have MBS... wait until you can't walk in your garage because of the plywood and fiberglass scraps, jugs of epoxy, empty corona bottles, and used rubber gloves.


Seriously, this sort of thing can be caused by drug use, but a lot of the time it's a mental thing.

I'm currently helping my neighbors clean out their place... they had a three car garage stacked 7 feet high with stuff. Not garbage, useful stuff, but only if you have a particular use. Examples: Tires from a 72 buick, new. A case of 20W50 oil. Three large bar umbrellas. Three typewriters. Four boxes of playboy magazines. Two outboard motors. Furniture. A large box of flat magnetic signs. Five air compressors.

The guy grew up right after the depression, and had to make his own toys. He never wanted to throw anything out, and it got so his whole garage, basement, and the five cars in his driveway (he collects them, too) were full of stuff.

He's a great guy, just kinda forgot about the limits he should set to keep himself out from under the pile.

His wife's the real problem... she had up to 15 cats, loved raising them. But she couldn't keep enough litterbox space for 'em, and they started using everywhere as a litter box. Once a cat pees somewhere, the husband stops using that part of the house, and pretty soon the whole place is a health risk. So she's being forced to cut down to three cats, he's being forced to clean the garage out, and they're both complaining all the way.

But I think once the dust settles, they're both going to be happier.

Erik

 

[Splat]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

At least Iboats wasn't up on the computer screen

Bill

 

[ajhoude77]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

This kind of hoarding can be a symptom of Alzheimer's disease as well. My friend's mom died from Picks disease, which is sort of like a very agressive Alzheimer's. He and his wife moved into her house after she passed away, and he spent about two years cleaning out all of the stuff she had collected. They still haven't finished everything, but they can live in the place now. They found money, diamonds, jewelry, etc. stuffed into pockets of shirts, pants, and all the nooks and crannies in the place. The basement had an 18" wide path to walk through to get outside, otherwise it was stacked from floor to ceiling with full shelves. An amazing sight to behold.

Those pics make me feel ill, and they also make me want to go clean up my house!

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

What about someone like me that is totally the opposite. I can't stand having anything in my house. I got my tv, a couple beds, computer, some living room furniture and the kitchen stuff and that is it. I hate things on the wall and would never even consider a 'nic-nak' or even good smelling candle on the coffee table. Is this wrong? Let me add that I am a 40 year old single male and have been this way all my life. Because of this issue could be why I am 40 and single or someday when I meet the right lady I might find myself having to adjust to a house full of 'nic-naks'.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Impossible to imagine how anyone can live like this??

Adjuster.
I wouldn't consider you the opposite....probably the practical man...if you don't need it, why have it.
Is the over-all decor of your home quite pleasant tho?
Is it clean and tidy...that's what trips a lot of men up.
I would believe the opposite to the situation above is the person who cleans their house continually....one of those compulsive disorders.

Cheers
Phillip



Here is something interesting.....a family we are friends with (kid same age as Hayden).....mothers got something about washing her hands...when they are out, it is really strange....you sort of don't notice it at first...but she says to the daughter, 'wash your hands C, you better do it too Hayden', and this dosn't happen once...it never stops.....real strange. She is a lawyer of 35yrs....and her hands are always really red. Seems to be getting worse as she gets older.