Ep 5. Ben and Robin / Kevin

Ben and Robin / Kevin is the fifth episode of the eighth season of the popular television series, Hoarders. The episode features two separate stories of individuals, Ben and Robin and Kevin, both dealing with severe hoarding disorders.

The first story focuses on Ben and Robin, a married couple living in a two-story home in Pennsylvania. The house is filled with clutter, trash and piles of belongings that have accumulated over the years. Ben and Robin have a hard time navigating through their home, with only narrow paths leading to their bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Their two children are now grown and have moved out, leaving Ben and Robin alone to deal with their hoard.

The clutter throughout the home has created an unsanitary living environment, attracting mice, rats and other vermin. The family has also had several plumbing issues due to the excessive hoarding, with pipes bursting under the weight of all the belongings. Despite the potential health risks, Ben and Robin are reluctant to part with any of their belongings and have even resorted to dumpster diving to bring more items into their home.

The Hoarders team arrives to help Ben and Robin and is met with resistance at first. The couple is attached to their belongings and defensive at the thought of getting rid of them. However, with the help of therapists and professional organizers, the couple begins to let go of some of their clutter. They begin to see the benefits of a cleaner, less cluttered home, and are finally able to make progress towards a better living space.

The second story follows the life of Kevin, a man suffering from extreme hoarding and a complicated past. Kevin had a difficult upbringing, as he was removed from his home as a child due to his parents' drug abuse. Since then, he's dealt with several personal tragedies, including the passing of his son and several close friends. He uses his hoarding as a way to cope with his emotional pain.

Kevin's home is so cluttered that he has to sleep sitting up in a tiny chair, as his bed is completely buried underneath his hoard. The Hoarders team quickly realizes that Kevin's hoarding is not just physical, but also emotional. He has a hard time letting go of his belongings, as they hold significant sentimental value.

To help Kevin, the team enlists the help of trauma therapist Dr. Robin Zasio, who has previous experience working with hoarders. Together, they work towards helping Kevin confront his emotional pain and understand how his hoarding is affecting his life. With Dr. Zasio's help, Kevin slowly begins to let go of some of his belongings and make progress towards a clutter-free life.

Throughout the episode, we see the emotional struggles that Ben, Robin and Kevin face as they try to overcome their hoarding disorders. We also see the physical and mental toll that hoarding takes on a person's life and the lives of those around them. With the help of the Hoarders team and other professionals, these individuals are able to take the first steps towards a healthier, happier life.