Ep 3. Althia

Althia is a heart-wrenching episode of Hoarders that delves into the life of a woman struggling with a severe hoarding disorder. The episode opens with Althia's daughter and granddaughter visiting her cluttered home, choking back tears as they reveal their concerns about her safety and well-being. It's immediately clear that Althia's home has become unlivable, with piles of trash, clothes, and other household items piled high on every surface. The stench of rotting food and garbage permeates the air, and the clutter is so dense that it's difficult to move around the house.

As the episode unfolds, we learn more about Althia's troubled past and how her hoarding disorder has affected her life. Althia grew up in a large family in rural Texas, and her mother was an alcoholic who struggled to provide for her children. Althia herself has also struggled with addiction and mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Her hoarding disorder seems to have developed as a coping mechanism for dealing with her emotional pain, and the clutter has only worsened as she's aged.

Throughout the episode, we see various teams of professionals working to help Althia confront her hoarding disorder and begin the process of cleaning up her home. One team is tasked with sorting through the clutter and identifying items that can be discarded or donated. Another team focuses on cleaning and sanitizing the home, which has been infested with rodents due to the abundance of food waste. Althia's family members are also involved in the process, offering emotional support and encouragement as she begins to make progress.

One of the most powerful moments of the episode comes when Althia finally opens up about her emotional pain and the root causes of her hoarding disorder. She tearfully reveals that she feels like a failure as a mother and a person, and that she's been using her clutter as a shield to protect herself from the pain of her past and present. Her therapist, who has been working with her throughout the filming of the episode, is able to offer her a therapeutic intervention that helps her begin to break down these mental barriers and confront her underlying emotional pain.

As the episode draws to a close, we see Althia's home transformed from a cluttered, dangerous environment to a clean, livable space. Her family members express their relief and gratitude as they see the progress she's made, and Althia herself seems to be in a better place emotionally. It's clear that the therapy and support she's received throughout the process have helped her to confront the root causes of her hoarding disorder and begin the path to recovery.

Overall, Althia is a moving and powerful episode of Hoarders that sheds light on the devastating effects of hoarding disorder and the long road to recovery. It's a reminder that with the right support and resources, even the most severe cases of hoarding disorder can be overcome, and that there is hope for those struggling with this debilitating condition.