Ditto for me, I don't share anything with anybody outside of my small circle of supporters, most of whom are helping me with a variety of health issues. I fought all those battles for decades when I was in the mental health system, and have been too unwell for many years to engage in any relationships that do not support me. Isolation can be difficult, but it has been necessary for me.

Thanks so much for the replies. :)

Anonymoniker, sorry you had to go through it too. Don't ever read the comment section on the Hoarders show sites or any other public comment on a piece on the subject. I've seen some real poison spewed on those places. Now I know to be cautious even if I think I'm in a "safe place."

Tillie I wondered myself if some of them are in denial! At any rate the majority of the population in developed countries has more material possessions than they really need. And a lot of ordinary people I know are fighting their own clutter battles even if they don't call it a hoarding problem.

Hi :)

Clutter, hoarding and all sorts of squalor are really very common in America.
Many people really, really do not want their secret to get out.
In a group setting, if someone mentions they have or have had any problems with it
others will throw stones at them to try to keep that spotlight off of themselves.
Usually, the people who themselves have issues will be the first ones to attack you for bringing up a subject that they don't want brought up.
So what I am trying to say is...
when you feel attacked
just remember that the person attacking you probably has a lot of dirty laundry of their own.
At least you have been working hard physically and mentally and there is absolutely no shame in that.
(((HUGS)))

I dont think you are being overly sensitive at all! I actually did this exact same thing years ago, before i understood the stigma?! I was on a forum writing rhymes, as usual, and i said 'im on that border of being a cat hoarder' and i could instantly feel negaitive attitudes come my way! Not having tv, i hadnt watched the shows about it. Id heard the term, but didnt even understand the 'crazy cat lady'image in society, either...my cats are treated like royalty, but the ones on tv apparently are not! I dont think they understood that difference...it didnt dawn on me the impression they had till years later when i learned the attitude of the public....years ago hoarders were considered 'eccentric'....now the word eccentric has been replaced by a slew of 'disorders' ....i am much more guarded now....

I dont think you are being overly sensitive at all! I actually did this exact same thing years ago, before i understood the stigma?! I was on a forum writing rhymes, as usual, and i said 'im on that border of being a cat hoarder' and i could instantly feel negaitive attitudes come my way! Not having tv, i hadnt watched the shows about it. Id heard the term, but didnt even understand the 'crazy cat lady'image in society, either...my cats are treated like royalty, but the ones on tv apparently are not! I dont think they understood that difference...it didnt dawn on me the impression they had till years later when i learned the attitude of the public....years ago hoarders were considered 'eccentric'....now the word eccentric has been replaced by a slew of 'disorders' ....i am much more guarded now....

(hope this isn't a double post)

A day or two ago, I offhandedly mentioned in another Internet forum that I'm a recovering hoarder. Now this is a place where I and others generally get along fine, and nobody said anything nasty - but there was some teasing and some comments that made me realize that we are still regarded by most of the general public as an alien species.

So I guess I should've listened to that little voice in my head telling me "better not mention this, society's still not ready to deal with it and you may embarrass yourself . . ." I find that sad, though. I suppose it's true for any admission of weakness. And I'm sure no one meant to make me feel bad; I need to shake it off because I know I'm committed to beating this and that's all that matters. Still, I hope the day comes when people can say they're recovering from this and have others say "Good for you!" or something.

Sometimes it seems we hoarders are regarded as not too many rungs up on the character ladder from terrorists or child molesters. Or am I just being oversensitive?