>> DON'T INHALE. >> THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OFF PISS BOTTLES, AND IT SMELLS LIKE FERMENTED POOP. >> THIS IS MY MOM'S SMELL. >> [ RETCHING ] >> MY SON'S PUKING. >> THE ONLY EMOTION I'M FEELING WHEN I LOOK IN THAT HOUSE IS SHAME. WHY? WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? >> MAN, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? >> EVERYTHING LOOKS RUSTED AND BROKEN. >> THAT'S WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT. >> ARE YOU GONNA EAT OFF OF THIS, JAMES? >> WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?! >> HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN. HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE HURT. >> WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO? --<font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC --</font><font color="#00FFFF">
www.vitac.com</font> >> THAT'S NOT TRUE. >> IT IS TRUE. >> NO! >> MY MOM ALWAYS SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN TO ME WHENEVER I TALK TO HER ABOUT HOW I FEEL. >> I'M NOT LETTING HER SPIN HER [BLEEP] TALE. I'M NOT. I CAN'T. >> NO! YOU'RE STAYING! EVERYBODY WALKS OUT, THAT'S WHY THE HOUSE LOOKS LIKE THIS. IF YOU CONTINUE TO AVOID IT, IT'LL LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN. >> OH, WOW. >> LOOK AT THAT. >> MY NAME IS CARRIE, AND I'M A HOARDER. THIS HOUSE IS A DISASTER. WHEN I MAKE A MESS, I DON'T FOOL AROUND. >> MY NAME IS ELENA, AND I'VE BEEN A FRIEND OF CARRIE'S FOR 20 YEARS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A MESS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FILLED WITH JUST GARBAGE. >> AND I WOULD FILL PART OF IT AND THEN LIVE IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE HOUSE. IT KEPT GETTING FULL, AND I KEPT MOVING DOWN FURTHER AND FURTHER IN THE HOUSE. I HAVEN'T HAD HEAT FOR THREE YEARS. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY WATER FOR ALMOST AS LONG. >> I'M TRISH, AND I'M CARRIE'S DAUGHTER. IT'S DISGUSTING. THERE SEEMS LIKE THERE'S HUMAN FECES ALL OVER THE FLOOR... AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE COULD...DO THAT. >> THE CITY HAS DECIDED TO DEEM THE PROPERTY UNINHABITABLE, WHICH IS CORRECT. THEY TELL ME THAT IF I DON'T MAKE THE DIFFERENT REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR IT TO MEET CODE, I WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT A LIEN ON MY PROPERTY. IT COULD LEAD ME TO LOSE THE PROPERTY. I WAS ADOPTED AT 5 DAYS OLD. BOTH MY PARENTS HAD ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF VIOLENCE. WHEN I WAS IN, LIKE, THE 3rd GRADE, I WAS ATTACKED BY A BUNCH OF HIGH-SCHOOL BOYS AND RAPED. AND IT SET ME UP FOR A PATTERN OF ABUSE THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. >> NEVER TALKED TO MY MOTHER IN DEPTH ABOUT HER TRAUMA. SHE TOLD ME A COUPLE STORIES WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, AND THEY WERE PRETTY AWFUL. >> I WAS RAPED 13 TIMES STARTING WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD, AND IT DIDN'T GIVE ME MUCH SENSE OF SELF OR VALUE. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THAT WITH RELIGION AND A LOT OF THERAPY. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF ANGER, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PUT IT. I JUST STARTED TO TRY TO GET THE ANGER OUT OF MYSELF, AND I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS I DID IT WAS TO BE LITERALLY PUTTING IT OUT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE'S CRAZY, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S JUST A PSYCHOTIC EPISODE THAT'S LASTED FOR YEARS. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TRAUMA, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEING ABUSED. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S LOW SELF-ESTEEM. >> I THINK I BURIED MYSELF IN GARBAGE 'CAUSE I FELT LIKE I'D BEEN DISCARDED IN MY LIFE. THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT FEELS A BIT LIKE TRASH... LIKE OSCAR IN HIS CAN. >> I THINK SHE'S BROKEN, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GOT BROKE. BUT GET OVER IT. YOU GOT A KID TO RAISE. [ MUSIC BOX PLAYING ] >> I WAS CERTAINLY ASHAMED OF THE HOARD. I FELT VERY VULNERABLE BEING JUDGED, AND I WAS PICKED ON IN SCHOOL. THERE WAS A GIRL THAT MADE FUN OF ME ON THE BUS ONCE FOR THE STATE OF MY MOM'S HOUSE, AND I COULDN'T HANDLE IT. I FELT LIKE I WAS HAVING A PANIC ATTACK. >> I'M ANDREW. I'M CARRIE'S NEPHEW. TRISH BEING BULLIED AFFECTED HER IN A LOT OF WAYS TO WHERE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH CARRIE. >> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND I WOULD GET IN FIGHTS WITH MY MOTHER ABOUT HOW WE LIVED, I WOULD THREATEN TO CALL THE POLICE ON HER, AND THEN I WOULD RUN AWAY. >> SHE WAS LIVING ON THE STREETS, GOING TO PARTIES AND JUST STYING THERE FOR DAYS AND WEEKS AT A TIME. >> WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I MAINLY LIVED AT FRIENDS' HOUSES AND WOULDN'T GO HOME VERY OFTEN. >> TRISH WANTED THE HOUSE TO BE CLEAN, CARRIE COULDN'T DO IT -- BLAMED IT ON ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY ELSE AND<i> ANYTHING</i> ELSE -- AND TRISH WAS JUST FED UP. >> I WENT TO C.P.S. WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, AND I SAT DOWN, AND I TRIED TO REPORT HER, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS GONNA BE TURNING 18 SOON ENOUGH ANYWAY AND AS LONG AS I HAD A ROOF OVER MY HEAD AND SOMEBODY FEEDING ME ON A REGULAR BASIS, I SHOULD BE THANKFUL. >> I DO FEEL LIKE CARRIE NEGLECTED HER. >> I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS SCARRED TRISH FOR LIFE. >> I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE IF I HAD A STABLE UPBRINGING AND A STRUCTURED HOME AND A RESPONSIBLE PARENT. >> OH, I FEEL TERRIBLE. ARE YOU KIDDING? SHE DREAMED OF A "FATHER KNOWS BEST" KIND OF LIFE, AND I COULDN'T GIVE HER THAT. >> CARRIE THINKS OF HERSELF AS A VICTIM. I THINK IT'S EXCUSES. I THINK A LOT OF IT, YOU KNOW, "OH, POOR ME." WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, SO WHAT? WE ALL HAVE TRAUMA IN OUR PAST. GET OVER IT. CLEAN YOUR [BLEEP] HOUSE. [ BIRDS CHIRPING ] >> I'M JAMES. I'M A RETIRED POLICEMAN. SOME OLD MEN GO TO CASINOS. SOME OLD MEN GO FISHING. MY ENJOYMENT IS GOING OUT TO YARD SALES AND SWAP MEETS. I SEE THIS THING OR THAT THING AND IT DON'T NEED TO BE GOING TO THE DUMP, AND SO I BRING IT HOME AND TINKER WITH IT, AND THAT'S WHY I GOT...STUFF LIKE THIS. EVERYTHING HAS A USE. YOU JUST GOT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. >> MY NAME IS MICHELLE, AND I'M JAMES' DAUGHTER. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A DEFINITION FOR A HOARDER, BUT IF THERE WAS, HE'D MOST DEFINITELY FALL INTO IT. HE BRINGS EVERYTHING IN, AND THEN NOTHING EVER GOES OUT AGAIN. >> MY NAME IS PHYLLIS, AND I'M JIMMY'S WIFE. THERE ARE HAMMERS, THERE'S AXLES, THERE'S HAY HOOKS. IF HE SEES A BEAUTIFUL TOOL, HE'LL PICK IT UP AND BRING IT HOME. >> MY NAME IS GINA. I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. THE ISSUE IS CUT AND DRY. JAMES' PROPERTY HAS BEEN DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE. IT JUST NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP. >> SOMEBODY ELSE WHO DOESN'T HAVE HIS TENDENCIES WOULD JUST SAY, "OH, SURE. YOU KNOW, I MADE I MESS. I'LL CLEAN IT UP." BUT HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST STUBBORN PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE. >> I LIVE IN AMERICA. YOU OWN PROPERTY. YOU PAY THE TAXES OVER IT. PEOPLE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE THERE AS THEY PLEASE. >> AFTER OVER THREE YEARS OF ALLOWING JAMES TO INFORMALLY TRY TO CLEAN UP HIS PROPERTY, THE CITY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS IN ITS BEST INTEREST TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO SPUR SOME KIND OF ACTUAL RESPONSE. JAMES WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COST TO CLEAN HIS PROPERTY REGARDLESS IF THE COST IS MORE OR LESS THAN THE VALUE OF HIS HOME AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. >> IF THEY WANTED TO PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT, PROBABLY MY ENTIRE PROPERTY IF GOING TO THE TRASH BIN. >> TO HIM IT'S NOT A MESS. TO HIM IT'S 10,000 TREASURES, IT'S MEMORIES OF WHERE HE WENT TO GET IT, IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW A MECHANICAL SOMETHING-OR-OTHER WORKS, IT'S HOPES AND DREAMS, IT'S AN ESCAPISM PLAYGROUND BACK THERE. >> I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D HAVE A LITTLE RESALE SHOP OR THRIFT STORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT NEVER SEEMED TO WORK OUT. >> HIS HOARDING AND HIS COLLECTING IS BECAUSE HE CAN'T DEAL WITH PEOPLE VERY WELL. HIS SEARCHING AND HIS SEEKING AND GOING TO GARAGE SALES AND KEEPING STUFF, I THINK THAT'S HIS COPING MECHANISM FOR STRESS AND FOR LIFE. >> AND THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO. I DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, WHICH, I GUESS, APPARENTLY, I NEED TO START DOING THAT. IT'S MY FUN IN LIFE! >> THE UNDERSTANDING THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION ISN'T TANGIBLE TO HIM NOW. THAT'S SCARY, AND IT HURTS, AND IT'S MOSTLY A FEELING OF HOPELESSNESS AND BEWILDERMENT. >> IF MY MOTHER DRAGS HER FEET, I'M GONNA PUSH HER BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T LISTEN TO LOGIC AND REASON A LOT. WHEN I BREAK DOWN AND CRY, SHE LISTENS. >> HI, CARRIE. I'M DR. GREEN. >> IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. >> IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. I'M DR. MELVA GREEN. I'M A BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST SPECIALIZING IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER AND HOARDING BEHAVIORS. >> DON'T INHALE. OKAY, NOW. THIS IS THE FARTHEST IT OPENS. >> OKAY. >> SO YOU HAVE TO SQUEEZE IN. >> IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO EVEN GET INTO THE FRONT DOOR. CARRIE, I ALREADY SMELL URINE, SO IS THAT WHAT'S IN THESE BOTTLES? >> YES. I HAVE NO PLUMBING. >> SO YOU URINATED IN THESE BOTTLES? >> YES. >> NO JUDGMENT, CARRIE, BUT I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS GOT TO BE LIKE THIS. >> I'VE HAD A LOT OF ABUSE IN MY LIFE, AND I THINK I THOUGHT I WAS PUTTING MY ANGER AND MY PAIN AND MY FEAR OUTSIDE SO IT WOULDN'T BE INSIDE. >> IT'S VERY FAMILIAR TO ME WOMEN WHO'VE BEEN RAPED, WHO'VE USED THE THINGS AROUND THEM TO CREATE SOME SORT OF COCOON OF PROTECTION. NOW, THE FACT THAT CARRIE IS HOARDING HER URINE, I THINK THAT'S JUST HER BEING LOST IN THE ABYSS OF ALL OF IT. >> OH, THIS IS JUST SORT OF THE ULTIMATE BREAKDOWN. I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAY IN THE MOMENT AND DETACH. MY PHILOSOPHICAL IDEA IS BUDDHISM. >> MM-HMM. AS A BUDDHIST, SHE ACCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDS THAT SUFFERING IS A PART OF LIFE, BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE PAST HER SUFFERING. HELPING CARRIE TO TAKE OUT HER EMOTIONAL GARBAGE IS GONNA BE A HUGE PROCESS. LET'S USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE. >> MY NAME'S MATT PAXTON. I'M AN EXTREME-CLEANING SPECIALIST. WE'RE HERE AT CARRIE'S HOUSE TO HELP HER OUT. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS HOME, AND I'VE GOT TO GET THE FAMILY IN THERE NOW SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND HOW BAD THIS REALLY IS. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE? >> OVER THREE YEARS. >> YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING EMOTIONAL BEFORE WE EVEN WALK IN THERE, OKAY, AND THAT'S OKAY. GUYS, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE, I KNOW. >> IT'S BEEN OVER 10 YEARS. >> 10 YEARS. LET'S GO. >> DO NOT STEP ON THESE BOTTLES. DON'T STEP ON THOSE BOTTLES. WALK ON THE CLOTHES. I WALKED IN THE DOOR, AND THE STENCH AND THE FILTH WAS JUST SO MUCH. >> THE HOUSE IS A COMPLETE DISASTER. THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF PISS BOTTLES, AND IT SMELLS LIKE FERMENTED POOP. [ GROANS ] >> [ RETCHING ] >> GO, GO OUTSIDE. GO OUTSIDE. >> [ COUGHS ] [ RETCHING ] >> PHYSICALLY, IT'S PRETTY BAD. BUT SMELL-WISE, IT'S HORRIFIC. >> [ COUGHING ] >> THAT DID NOT GO WELL. >> WHEW! >> HIS HOARDING AND HIS COLLECTING IS TAXING ON ME TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHERE MY WORRYING FOR HIM BEGINS AND WHERE IT ENDS. >> JAMES? >> HI. >> HI, I'M DR. ZASIO. NICE TO MEET YOU. >> NICE TO MEET YOU, DOCTOR. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS DR. ROBIN ZASIO. I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, AND I SPECIALIZE IN OCD AND COMPULSIVE HOARDING. WHEN YOU WALK UP TO THE PROPERTY, YOU SEE THAT IT'S COVERED WITH STUFF EVERYWHERE. THERE'S METAL, THERE'S BIKES, THERE'S SEWING MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINERY THAT HE HAS THESE GRAND IDEAS TO REBUILD. SO, JAMES, LET'S STOP HERE FOR A SECOND. TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS BUILDING HERE. >> IT ORIGINALLY WAS A TRUCK REPAIR SHOP, AND IT TURNED INTO A TAXIDERMY SHOP. >> OKAY. >> MY IDEA WAS THAT I'D HAVE IT FOR COMMERCIAL RESALE. >> JAMES HAD A GRAND PLAN. THE PROBLEM IS HE NEVER GOT TO FIXING UP THE SHOP OR TO REBUILDING THE STUFF THAT HE WANTED TO SELL. QUITE HONESTLY, EVERYTHING LOOKS RUSTED AND BROKEN AND DILAPIDATED. >> THAT'S WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT. >> WHAT, THAT IT'S BROKEN, DILAPIDATED, AND RUSTED? >> I'M AN OLD MAN. IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO WORK WITH, SOMETHING TO PIDDLE WITH, AND SOMETHING TO CLEAN OUT. >> JAMES, NO OFFENSE, BUT THIS STUFF IS NOT FIXABLE. >> NOW, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT. HOW ABOUT THAT BAG THERE, THAT PUNCHING BAG? >> YEAH. ALL RIGHT. >> ALL IT NEEDS IS A LITTLE MORE TAPE. >> YOU ACTUALLY FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY WOULD WANT. >> OR MAYBE I WOULD. >> YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU CAN BARELY WALK NOW -- ARE YOU GONNA HANG THIS PUNCHING BAG AND GO IN THE BACKYARD? >> [ MUMBLES ] >> OH, JAMES. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME WORK, HUH? >> GIVE ME HOPE. >> YOU'RE GONNA REALLY MAKE ME WORK. >> GIVE A ME LITTLE HOPE, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M GONNA GET MY HEALTH BACK AND BE ABLE TO... >> PUNCH THE BAG? WHAT? TALK TO ME, JAMES. WHAT JUST CAME UP FOR YOU? >> [ CRYING ] >> TALK TO ME. >> JUST GETTING OLD. >> YEAH. >> I WAS A BOXER. I WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS. >> THAT PUNCHING BAG REPRESENTED WHAT HE COULD NO LONGER DO, WHICH WAS BOX. AND IT WAS A REMINDER THAT HIS HEALTH IS FAILING, AND HE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS. JAMES, WE ALL NEED TO HAVE HOPE. WE ALL NEED TO HAVE HOPE. >> [ Crying ] JUST TRYING TO LOVE LIFE. THAT'S ALL. >> AND HE'S ALSO SEEING THAT IN GIVING UP ALL THIS STUFF, HE'S GIVING UP ALL FUTURE HOPES AND DREAMS OF WHAT HE HAD HOPED HE COULD ACCOMPLISH. >> LET'S JUST TRY AND SIT. >> [ Crying ] OH, MY GOD. MY SON'S PUKING. >> ARE YOU OKAY? >> I CAN'T EVEN BREATHE RIGHT HERE. CAN I GET PAST YOU? I CAN'T BREATHE BY THIS DOOR. >> WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE LITTLE SPACE? >> I COULDN'T DIG IT, MAN. FREAKING MADE ME THROW UP. IT'S HORRIBLE. >> I STARTED PUKING. IT'S DISGUSTING. THIS IS MENTAL ILLNESS AT ITS WORST. HOW SOMEBODY CAN DO THIS TO THEMSELVES AND HATE THEMSELVES SO MUCH, I CAN'T EVEN SEE THIS. I-I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY. [ CRYING ] >> I CAN SMELL IT. IT'S JUST... YOU KNOW HOW CERTAIN SMELLS TRIGGER MEMORIES? >> YEAH. >> AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OH, THAT'S MY MEMORY OF HOME." >> JUST LIKE MUSIC. >> LIKE YOUR MOM'S PERFUME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS MY MOM'S PERFUME. >> OKAY, SO THIS IS THE SMELL YOU KNOW. >> THIS IS THE SMELL I KNOW. THIS IS MY MOM'S SMELL. >> SO, IS YOUR MIND -- RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU BLOCKING STUFF OUT OR ARE YOU JUST LETTING IT FLOW? >> PROBABLY BLOCKING, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I CAN SEE IT, AND I CAN SEE HOW MUCH THERE IS OF IT AND HOW AWFUL IT IS, BUT I'M NOT PROCESSING IT AT ALL. I'M JUST LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO CLEAN." >> CARRIE. >> WHAT? >> DO YOU KNOW WHY I WANTED YOU TO COME IN HERE? >> WELL, YEAH, BECAUSE I'M SITTING ON MY BUTT AND NOT PITCHING IN. >> NO, NO. THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL. >> NO, CAN I JUST DO SOMETHING? >> [ LAUGHS ] NOT A CHANCE. YOU GOT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> BECAUSE AVOIDANCE IS HOW WE GOT HERE, RIGHT? AVOIDING PAIN, THE TRAUMA, THE HURT, THE DISAPPOINTMENT. AND IF YOU'RE GONNA START NEW LIKE YOU SAY YOU WANT TO, I DO WANT YOU TO EXPERIENCE THIS. I DO WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT. >> WE KNOW SHE'S HAD TRAUMA. WE KNOW SHE'S GOT LOSSES, BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE PAST HER SUFFERING. SO, SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT IT VERY OPENLY, BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GROW FROM IT. HEY, CARRIE. CARRIE? CARRIE? >> I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT EASY FOR ME, AND BECAUSE I DON'T SHOW YOU WHAT I'M FEELING, IT'S BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO HIDE MY FEELINGS SINCE I WAS A CHILD. >> DID YOU HEAR THAT? >> NO, I'M NOT DOING IT. >> THIS IS THE THERAPY THAT YOU NEED TO GET BETTER. >> CARRIE... >> I'M NOT LETTING HER SPIN HER [BLEEP] TALE. I'M NOT. I CAN'T. >> IT'S HARD TO WATCH MY MOM SHUT DOWN AND NOT REALLY DEAL. I REALLY WANT HER TO PROCESS THROUGH AND REALIZE WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. >> THE THERAPY IS WHAT THIS FAMILY HAS TO DO. THE CLEANUP IS EASY. I CAN CLEAN THE REST OF THIS -- NO, YOU'RE STAYING. EVERYBODY WALKS OUT. THAT'S WHY THE HOUSE LOOKS LIKE THIS. IF YOU GUYS AVOID IT -- STOP! HEY! YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS. IF YOU CONTINUE TO AVOID IT, IT'LL LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN. >> SO, THE POINT OF THIS IS MY DAD WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AGAIN, AND TO RETURN TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF LIFE, AND HEALTH, AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. >> All: GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME'S CORY CHALMERS, AND I'M AN EXTREME HOARDING CLEANUP SPECIALIST. WE'RE ALL GATHERED TODAY TO HELP JAMES WHO'S FACING A VERY SERIOUS CRISIS. THE CITY'S COMING DOWN ON YOU. THEY'VE GIVEN YOU A DEADLINE IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THIS STUFF HAS TO BE REMOVED. SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES COMING TO HELP YOU. TO CLEAN UP JAMES PROPERTY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A 60-YARD BIN DELIVERED, AND THAT'S JUST GONNA BE FOR ALL THE SCRAP METAL. WE'RE GONNA HAVE FOUR JUNK TRUNKS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAULING AWAY ABOUT 2,000 POUNDS EACH EVERY TIME WE FILL IT. THIS IS GONNA BE A HUGE UNDERTAKING. ALL RIGHT, SO YOU GUYS ALL READY TO DO THIS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET STARTED. >> WE GOT STARTED THIS MORNING. AND RIGHT OFF THE TOP, JAMES SAYS, "EVERYTHING CAN GO." JAMES, IS THERE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP? >> NAH. I'M SURE. >> SO FAR, HE'S SHOWN NO EMOTION ABOUT GETTING RID OF HIS STUFF. DOES IT BOTHER YOU SEEING ALL THIS STUFF ON THE TRUCK? NO? HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN. HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE HURT. AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS. SO, HE KEEPS DEFLECTING BY NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, SINGING... >> ♪ RED RIVER VALLEY ♪ >> HE DOESN'T WANT TO FACE HIS EMOTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, SO HE GETS FUNNY. >> ♪ LET IT GO ♪ ♪ LET IT BE ♪ >> JAMES, HOW IS IT THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LET ANYBODY TAKE -- >> ♪ OLD MARY SAID TO ME ♪ [ LAUGHS ] >> JAMES, YOU'RE KILLING ME. >> JAMES, I'M WORRYING THAT YOU'RE SHUTTING ALL THIS EMOTION DOWN, AND IN A FEW DAYS, IT'S GONNA COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE -- I REALLY AM. WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER. >> NO, NO. IT'S NOT GONNA COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. >> YOU BELIEVE HIM, PHYLLIS? 'CAUSE I DON'T. >> I THINK HE'S -- YOU'RE RIGHT. >> ABOUT WHAT? >> ABOUT TAKING EVERYTHING. THIS IS VERY HARD FOR JIMMY TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HE LOVES THAT HE KNOWS HE HAS TO GET RID OF. >> THEY WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS, SO THEY CAN HELP YOU CHANGE IT. >> I'LL WORK ON IT TOMORROW, MAYBE. >> YOU CAN'T WORK ON EVERYTHING TOMORROW. THEN NOTHING GETS DONE. MY FATHER -- HE'S IN DENIAL. ABSOLUTELY. I'M HOPING, AT SOME POINT, THE FLOOD GATE WILL OPEN, AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK THE BEAST IN THE FACE AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR HE CAN JUST TURN A BLIND EYE AND NOT DEAL WITH IT. >> I'M DONE. YOU GUYS DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. >> SORRY TO HEAR THAT. >> THIS. I'VE JUST HAD ENOUGH. >> THIS, YOU RUNNING OUT, IS WHY YOUR HOUSE IS FULL OF [BLEEP] LOOK AT ME. IF YOU DON'T DEAL WITH THE MENTAL, YOU'RE HOUSE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN IN FOUR YEARS. AND GUESS WHAT. NOBODY'S GONNA BE HERE TO HELP YOU. THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE HERE TO DO. DO THE THERAPY. >> NO. I'M NOT GLAD. I DIDN'T WANT ANY OF YOU TO EVER HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT BURNING THE [BLEEP] DOWN. >> WERE YOU GONNA SET YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE? >> YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. THAT'S NOT TRUE. >> IT IS TRUE. >> NO! >> CARRIE AND TRISH -- THEY'VE BOTH BEEN TRAUMATIZED. THEY BOTH HAVE SO MUCH EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EVEN COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY. >> ELENA HAD TO COME AND CLEAN WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. >> I DIDN'T MEET ELENA UNTIL AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, AND I WENT INTO SEVERE DEPRESSION. >> I WAS 7 YEARS OLD WHEN THAT HAPPENED. >> I KNOW. >> I WAS A LITTLE KID. MY MOM TOTALLY SEEMS SHUT DOWN TO ME WHENEVER I TALK TO HER ABOUT HOW I FEEL. AND I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE SHE EITHER DISMISSES OR DEFLECTS WHATEVER I SAY. >> I REALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS PRODUCTIVE. I DON'T. AND I DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE IN IT ANYMORE. >> TRISH, TELL YOUR MOM WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING FROM YOUR HEART, NOT YOUR HEAD. >> WELL, THE ONLY EMOTION I'M FEELING WHEN I LOOK IN THAT HOUSE IS SHAME. >> BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SHAME 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THAT AT ALL. >> IT MAKES ME FEEL... LIKE WHITE TRASH. >> TRISH, IT'S NOT YOUR STORY. >> I GREW UP IN THAT. >> LET HER FINISH, CARRIE. LET HER FINISH. >> SHE DIDN'T GROW UP IN IT THE WAY IT IS NOW. >> I KNOW, BUT I GREW UP IN IT WHEN IT WAS PRETTY BAD, AND I GOT CALLED THAT. >> I KNOW. >> YOU GOT CALLED WHAT? >> WHITE TRASH. >> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. TRISH SEEMS TO THINK THAT SHE WAS TO COME HERE AND FIX HER MOM AND HELP CLEAR OUT THE HOUSE AND SORT OF SAVE THE DAY. BUT THE REALITY IS TRISH IS COMING TO TERMS THAT SHE'S GOT TO DEAL WITH HER OWN ISSUES. >> IT BREAKS MY HEART TO GO IN THERE AND SEE THAT AND SEE THESE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF AND WONDERING WHAT PIECES ARE BURIED IN ALL OF THAT THAT WERE SOMETHING THAT MEANT SOMETHING. WHAT MEMORIES ARE BEING THROWN AWAY, WHAT -- WHAT... AND WHY? WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME? >> CARRIE, I FEEL YOU CLOSING UP. IS THIS TOO MUCH EMOTION FOR YOU? I MEAN, SHE'S BEING HONEST WITH YOU. >> NO, I HEAR HER HONESTY AND HER PAIN. I DO. I TOTALLY DO. BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE WHY. I DON'T. >> I KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOT OF WOUNDS FROM GROWING UP AND HAVING A MOTHER WHO DOES THIS. AND I WORKED REALLY HARD TO DEAL WITH IT THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MEANS, BUT, I MEAN, IT'S A HARROWING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. SO, WHEN YOU GO, AND YOU SEE IT, AND YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL OVER AGAIN, IT JUST KIND OF REOPENS EVERYTHING. >> THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN HERE. >> I KNOW. >> THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PAIN HERE. >> YEP. >> WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO, THEN DO IT, YOU KNOW. >> I'M TRYING TO. I NEED YOU ENGAGED. >> IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. >> JAMES DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS -- NOT ONE. WHAT HE DOES IS HE TELLS EVERYBODY JUST TO TAKE HIS STUFF SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. WE NEED TO HAVE THE COMPULSIVE HOARDER BE THOUGHTFUL IN LETTING GO OF THE STUFF. SO, THERAPEUTICALLY, WHAT WE WANT TO START SEEING IS THAT, JAMES, YOU CAN PICK UP THE ITEMS AND MAKE DECISIONS AND THROW THEM AWAY. YOU'VE GOT A TRASH CAN HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA LEAVE YOU TO START WORKING ON YOUR OWN. >> [ Sighing ] OH. >> RIGHT? BECAUSE ONCE WE LEAVE, YOU'RE GONNA BE ON YOUR OWN. >> CAN YOU DO THAT, JAMES? >> ARE YOU OKAY DOING THAT, JAMES? >> NO, NOT REALLY. >> OKAY, WHY NOT? >> I JUST HURT. >> WELL, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT. >> HURTING IN MY STOMACH, HURTING IN MY BACK, HURTING IN MY HIP. >> BUT YOU'RE GONNA BECOME A STRONGER PERSON IF YOU CAN START MAKING DECISIONS ON YOUR OWN. >> [ SIGHS ] >> THIS IS PROBABLY THE HEART OF LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH COMPULSIVE HOARDING -- IS BEING ABLE TO PICK THE STUFF UP AND MAKE DECISIONS. THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO KEEP? >> MM-HMM. >> ARE YOU GONNA EAT OFF OF THIS, JAMES? >> WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE? >> WELL, WHY ARE YOU HOLDING ONTO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT USABLE? -- IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. >> IT'S USABLE. >> HOW SO? >> I TAKE ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, PAINT LITTLE PICTURES IN THEM, AND DO ALL KINDS OF FUNNY STUFF WITH THEM. >> EXCEPT THIS ONE WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO PAINT A PICTURE IN BECAUSE -- >> OH, HORSE [BLEEP] >> THERE'S A WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF IT. >> HORSE [BLEEP] >> YOU'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT THE USE COULD BE, AND NOT WHAT IT IS. >> WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? >> BECAUSE -- >> WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?! >> BECAUSE ALL OF THIS CAN BE OR COULD BE, BUT IT'S NOT AND IT WON'T. >> SO, WHAT? HOW DO YOU KNOW? >> BECAUSE IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN 30 YEARS. >> WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?! [ COUGHS, SNIFFS ] >> THIS LITTLE EXERCISE GOT TO YOU SOMEHOW. WHY IS THAT? >> WHAT THE HELL DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? >> WHEN JAMES WAS CHALLENGED TO NOT ONLY MAKE DECISIONS BUT TO PICK THE STUFF UP HIMSELF, HE BEGAN TO GET ANGRY, BELLIGERENT, AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE HE'S JUST NOT LETTING GO OF THE STUFF. >> WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE DOWN THERE AT CITY HALL LEAVE ME ALONE? >> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE TEARY. >> [ SNIFFS ] I GUESS I JUST WANT THIS TO BE OVER. [ CHUCKLES ] >> DO YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE WAY SHE WANTS TO LIVE, JAMES? >> MAYBE NOT. >> MICHELLE, WHAT'S GOING ON? >> [ Voice breaking ] IT'S JUST SO SAD. AND I WANT TO HELP, BUT I CAN'T TAKE OVER HIS LIFE, AND I CAN'T LOSE MY JOB TO KEEP HELPING HIM. >> YEAH. >> BUT IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO LEARN ANYTHING DIFFERENT, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO. [ SNIFFLES ] >> I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE I SAW PHYLLIS CRYING, AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH SHE DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE THIS WAY. THEN I THOUGHT, HOW WOULD I FEEL IF I HAD SOMEBODY THAT I WAS IN LOVE WITH WHO WAS DOING THIS TO ME? IT'S PRETTY TRAGIC. >> IMMEDIATELY UPON STEPPING INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, I WAS OVERWHELMED. IT WAS FILLED WITH TRASH AND ROTTING FOOD. >> OH, GOD! >> OH, MY GOSH! THAT'S A CANTALOUPE THAT HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR LORD KNOWS HOW LONG, AND YOUR REFRIGERATOR'S FILLED WITH MAGGOTS. >> [BLEEP] OH, PHYLLIS. >> THERE WERE COBWEBS AND SPIDERS AND OTHER VERMIN THAT HAD CLEARLY BEEN RUNNING AROUND AND DEFECATING. YOU CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW ITS VERY HARD FOR YOU TO ASSERT YOURSELF AND TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP YOUR HOME ARE BEING UNDERMINED, IT'S TIME TO GET SOME OUTSIDE SUPPORT. AT THIS POINT, CLEANING OUT THE HOUSE IS WAY TOO BIG A JOB FOR US TO DO WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE LEFT, SO WE'RE GOING TO ARRANGE FOR AFTERCARE SERVICES TO HAVE A CREW COME BACK AND HELP THEM CLEAN OUT THE INSIDE OF THEIR HOME. >> AND WHAT ABOUT THIS? IT'S AN OLD MITT. >> ALL IT NEEDS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OIL -- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? -- NEATSFOOT OIL ON IT. IT'D BE FIXED UP JUST PERFECTLY. THAT'S A NICE MITT. >> IT'S A CHILD'S SIZE. >> SO? >> SO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN ANYMORE. GOOD JOB. WHAT ABOUT THIS CAULKING GUN? >> THROW IT AWAY. [ THUD ] TOSS IT. >> SO, FINALLY, JAMES IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. HE'S ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO PICK THE STUFF UP AND MAKE DECISIONS. >> THROW IT AWAY. >> BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO ON THE BACKYARD. WELL, WE HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP AND JUST GET RID OF IT ALL SO THE CITY WILL BE SATISFIED. >> KNOCK HER DOWN. >> WE'RE DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING THAT JAMES HAD HOPED AND DREAMED WOULD BE A RETAIL SHOP. I LOOK DOWN AT HIM. HE'S GOT A SMILE ON HIS FACE. I'M REALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THIS BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, HE WAS IN TEARS THINKING ABOUT LETTING GO OF ALL OF HIS STUFF, ALL OF HIS HOPES AND DREAMS. WHAT ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW, JAMES? >> YOU GOT TO LET GO. YOU GOT TO LET GO OF THINGS. >> ARE YOU FEELING SAD? >> FEELING MORE FUTURISTIC ABOUT WHAT I'M GONNA DO AFTER THIS, YOU KNOW? AND WHAT THINGS ARE GONNA BE LIKE AFTER IT'S DONE. >> WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. WE'VE REMOVED EIGHT DUMP TRUCKS FULL OF STUFF, AVERAGING ABOUT 2,000 POUNDS EACH, AND WE'VE REMOVED TWO RECYCLING BINS OVER 60 YARDS, PROBABLY SEVEN TONS EACH. >> I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL THIS STUFF GONE AWAY FROM HERE SO WE CAN GO OUT IN THE YARD AND HAVE A BARBECUE. [ LAUGHS ] >> HOPEFULLY, AT THIS POINT, THE CITY'S OFF HIS BACK, AND THAT PRESSURE'S OFF HIM, AND HE'LL FIND HIS WILL TO LIVE AGAIN. AND IF HE FINDS THAT, THEN I FEEL LIKE, "JOB WELL DONE. JOB ACCOMPLISHED." >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS, MAN. >> THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PAIN HERE. >> YEP. [ SNIFFLES ] >> YOU'VE BEEN CARRYING THIS FOR 27 YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN CARRYING IT FOR 62 YEARS. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY. >> [ SNIFFLES ] >> BUT IT'S GOT TO FEEL UGLY. >> [ SIGHS ] IT FEELS VERY UGLY. >> IT'S GOT TO FEEL UGLY. IT'S GOT TO HURT BEFORE IT STARTS TO FEEL BETTER. IT'S JUST PART OF THE PROCESS. EVEN THOUGH IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS CRISIS WAS MOTIVATED BY FEAR, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT IT HAD TO TRANSFORM, TO NOW BE MOTIVATED BY LOVE. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO HUG YOUR DAUGHTER. >> I DO. I DON'T THINK SHE'D LET ME [Chuckling] RIGHT NOW. >> I'LL LET YOU HUG ME. >> I DON'T THINK SHE'D DENY YOU. >> [ GRUNTS ] [ SIGHS ] HERE, YOU DIDN'T LET ME THROW AWAY MY OTHER SHOE. >> HERE! >> OH, GOOD JOB! >> YAY! >> YAY! >> THIS IS AN EMPTY BAG. FILL IT UP. >> [ LAUGHS ] [ POWER TOOL WHIRRING ] >> DO WE HAVE A COUPLE BAGS READY? >> CARRIE LET GO OF 55,000 POUNDS OF STUFF. I MEAN, SHE'S READY. SHE'S READY TO CHANGE. SHE'S READY TO MOVE ON AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE. [ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ] >> THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF PLUMBING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND THE STRUCTURE'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES. >> I THOUGHT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS GOING TO BE SO EXTENSIVE THAT SHE HAD NO OPTIONS, AND THERE ARE OPTIONS, AND THAT'S GREAT. >> THIS FAMILY STAYED RELENTLESS. THEY NEVER LEFT. THAT'S HOW YOU HELP A HOARDER -- UNCONDITIONAL LOVE -- AND THEY WERE AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF THAT. >> COME IN OVER HERE. >> OH, WOW. >> LOOK AT THAT. >> WHOA. >> THIS IS AMAZING. >> [ CHUCKLES ] >> HOW DOES THIS FEEL? >> IT FEELS WONDERFUL. >> THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE. I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFORM THIS ROOM FOR CARRIE. I THINK IT'S GONNA GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT HER LIFE CAN BE LIKE -- THAT SHE'S ACTUALLY DESERVING AND WORTHY OF HAVING A SPACE WHERE SHE CAN REALLY GET BACK TO THE ROOTS OF HER SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION. >> THIS IS<i> YOUR</i> JOURNEY. >> NO, BUT THIS IS ALSO YOUR BEGINNING, TOO. >> OKAY, GO AHEAD. >> [ Chanting ] NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO. NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO. >> THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOM AND ME NOW, IT'S GETTING BETTER, AND I HOPE NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, WE CAN COME BACK TOGETHER AND BE A FAMILY AGAIN. >> I FEEL ALIVE. I FEEL A FUTURE. I FEEL A DREAM THAT I HAVEN'T FELT FOR A VERY LONG TIME COMING BACK -- AND A SECOND CHANCE. AND I'LL MAKE THE MOST OF IT. NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO. NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO. O0 C1
