The setting:
Married for 30 years. Husband is a hoarder.
Move to the country. Close to MIL (Mother-In-Law is a hoarder)
MIL got sick.
Before we could bring MIL back into her home authorities required that the home be cleaned.
I cleaned MIL's home with little to no help. It took me 1 year to clean and organized her home.
MIL returned home. She was angry and confused, but she eventually accepted and learned to love her clean, organized home. She received a little therapy to help with the transition. She still has hoarding tendencies but for the most part, she has kept her home clean and organized. She has even learned to let go of things and has made many donations.

My husband is another story.

*Please keep in mind, as you read my story, that a hoarder's brain is wired differently. Actually all of our brains are wired differently. It is best to seek professional help and I am not recommending that anyone follow in my footsteps by reading this to solve their problems. I am simply one person that is sharing her unique journey.

This update is hard for me to share. But first a quick recap. It's been over 2 years (maybe 3) since I first came here to this website for any sort of support. I was desperate; REALLY REALLY desperate. Finding this site gave me a place to vent, which helped, but I quickly learned that hoarders have feelings too. Tender feelings. I wanted to be compassionate towards them. Because of this, I could no longer vent. I withdrew because the last thing I ever wanted was to hurt anyone's feelings. Then.

Then I had a nervous breakdown in late 2019. Shortly after, I came back to this website to posted encouragement for those whom are alone and struggling with a hoarder(s). Basically I advised getting help and to not fight the battle alone.like I had to.

I was "Stuck In the Middle" between two hoarders: my husband and my MIL.

If I can help just one soul out there whom is struggling alone like I was then my story is worth sharing. So here it goes.