YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

27 year-old Michelle F shares about being raised by a shopaholic mom and a father (and grandparents) who hoarded.

See more at: http://mentalpod.com/Raised-by-Hoarders ... oAeDN.dpuf

everyone of my brothers and I struggle with this ...
after my parents death, we were cleaning out the house and I found my complete baseball uniform from when I was 12 (30 years ago) in a closet. The socks were even there, the hat, buried behind the kimono my dad brought home from korea in 1954 ... My brother has 150 reel to reel tape decks ... I sold 20 pieces of music gear and still have more than I can count left ... working on dealing with emotions as they come instead of distracting my brain with things ... and stuff ....

I can relate to this. I'm not at the level of hoarding, but I definitely have way more stuff than I need. I have a very hard time getting rid of things, especially if I think they might be useful one day. My husband and I have been trying to purge, but it's an uphill battle. I know I get it from my mother. She's big time packrat. Our house was cluttered and totally not uninhabitable, but the attic is a bit scary. She's beginning a purge since she retired recently. But she and I both have a hard time letting go. I have the hardest time with my craft supplies...like Paul said with the woodworking tools, when I get into an activity, I pretty much go out and immediately buy ALL THE THINGS. My husband is starting to lose his usual patience with me.

Also, I can relate to the having problems making friends with girls thing. For me, I have a very specific reason (bullying), and I've gotten way better since then, but I hadn't heard anyone else talking about that particular issue.

Also I got my "Happy Moments" survey read! I heard my pseudonym and was like

Another fantastic episode which gave me a glimpse into the sometimes astounding similarities (as well as differences) of growing up in disordered families. While my own family doesn't hoard, I very much relate to both the weird gift-giving she described as well as her not wanting to have her picture taken because her dad would often surreptitiously photograph her.

I also know from personal experience that thing with "infusing" inanimate objects with life, although I've always prevailed against that inner voice when it came to throwing away things. But after throwing something away I often have to go through a phase of intense guilt where I imagine that old thing sitting in my trashcan crying for help. :/

Wow, I never expected it, but this episode was like looking into a mirror! One thing I would add is that as an artist, I'm constantly finding new uses for things, and hate when something is thrown out when it could potentially be repurposed later. The problem is I never get around to actually doing it, so I'm in a dump filled with potential ideas that never see the light of day.