Ep 9. Chris and Dale

Chris and Dale are two hoarders featured in episode 9 of season 1 of the popular TV show Hoarders. Chris is a 49-year-old Californian who hoards mostly food and paper products and has a lot of animals living in his home. Dale, on the other hand, is a 74-year-old retiree living in Oklahoma whose home is filled with all types of clutter, from clothes to newspapers and even cars.

The episode starts with Chris's house in complete disarray with piles of papers, boxes, and food containers covering almost every inch of his home. He brings the camera crew to various rooms in his house, showing them how he's been hoarding for years and that it's become increasingly difficult for him to live comfortably. It's evident from the dizziness he experiences while walking that the hoarding has taken a toll on his physical and mental health.

The next scene is in Oklahoma, where viewers are introduced to Dale, who is entirely different from Chris. Dale's clutter looks slower but is spread throughout his entire home and yard. His belongings include cars, old clothes, and stacks of papers, and like Chris, he's been hoarding for years. Dale's neighbor is concerned about the state of his property and calls the show to get help for him, hoping that it will help him live a more comfortable life.

The show begins with the cleanup of Chris's home, where hoarding remediation experts and psychotherapist Matt Paxton start the process of cleaning and helping Chris. Matt explains that hoarding is a complex disorder where a person has trouble letting go of things and is often tied to other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Chris's hoarding is a result of past traumas, including the loss of his mother.

Throughout the episode, viewers see Matt and his team work tirelessly to clean up the house, dispose of clutter, and construct shelving units to organize Chris's remaining belongings. The cleanup process also includes fumigating the home due to the infestation of pests such as cockroaches. Chris also receives counseling during the cleanup process to address the root causes of his hoarding.

Moving to Oklahoma, the same cleanup process takes place in Dale's home, and viewers see the realization of how long he's had an accumulation of clutter. There are many bedbugs in his home that make it uninhabitable. The team works to remove the clutter and deep clean the home, and provide counseling as well. Dale's hoarding is tied to the loss of his wife, who died from cancer.

The cleaning process is a slow but steady one, and viewers see the immense amount of work that goes into solving the problem. The show emphasizes how crucial it is to have the expertise of professionals like Matt on the task, and that recovery from hoarding is not a quick fix.

Throughout the episode, the show presents the hoarders' stories with sensitivity and aims to educate viewers about the disorder. It also highlights the emotional toll that hoarding can have on people's lives, including the hoarders themselves, their families, and their neighbors.

Ultimately, the episode shows that with the right support, hoarding can be resolved. Still, it is an ongoing battle that requires continual maintenance if addressed early on. The show hopes to raise awareness about hoarding and provide solace to those who have experienced it or know someone struggling with it.