I am a hoarder. Thank God I don't know any pastors!

I am a hoarder. Thank. God I don't know any pastors! ! ! !

If you want to completely destroy any trust or faith your friend has had in you, then that's the way to go.

Please do read up a lot on hoarding and on how to interact with hoarders. No one can be forced or shamed into taking action or even recognizing that they are a hoarder. It is a marathon process not a sprint.

Do lots of reading on this board and check out the books. You will, as a pastor, encounter this problem more than once in your congregation or friends or neighbors. For me it took years to realize I was even one! And I would have been terrified if someone came in and took control without my consent or cooperation.

Sometimes a person will accept help in cleaning up, period. (In other words, not decluttering necessarily but actual cleaning.) It might be becoming too difficult for the person to do daily chores or she may have just emotionally given up.

I confronted my friend about her hoardering. She hasn't spoke to me since. Now, I am contemplating filing a complaint with the Department of health at least to go evaluate her house for safety. Any thoughts about me doing or not doing this?

Thank you Tilly

Hi Deanna :)

A really good book for you to read is
"Digging Out".
It is for people who have a hoarding person in their life.
It is very common for a hoarding person to get upset whenever confronted about their stuff.
Try to learn as much as possible about the hoarding disorder so next time you will know how hoarders think and feel about their stuff.
Click around here to read more, there are a lot of great links right on this site.
Good luck & best wishes. :)

My name is Deanna. I am pastor in Dallas, Texas. I am single and so is my friend. I have a friend whom I love very much in Louisiana. She is hoarder and I confronted her about it. She didn't receive it well and cut off all contact with me. Thanksgiving , we couldn't even eat in her house. We had to eat in her camper in the driveway because the house was unfunctional. I am pastor. I believe that I did the right thing but I feel bad because we are no longer talking. Is this a common thing to happen? what should I do next if anything dealing with a hoarder?