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By Root 489 0

the guts to discuss hoarding before it was cool. Most important, thanks to my publisher, John Duff, for having the vision to see that a trash guy with a blackjack problem could help millions of people understand hoarding. The Secret Lives of Hoarders would not exist if John had not put his money and his mouth behind this project. I greatly appreciate his guidance, support, and wisdom.

I first understood the idea of opportunities showing themselves at any time after my father died, which prompted me to get involved in a bereavement camp for children called Comfort Zone Camp in Richmond, Virginia. Volunteering at this camp helped me not only to learn how to deal with grief—and help others do so—but to understand myself better and to literally find myself. I now have a business, a wife, and a son because of my time there. During his lifetime, my father taught me to work passionately and keep a wicked sense of humor. A big thank-you to Ed Paxton, who is missed every day.

Thanks especially to A&E Television Networks and specifically Andy Berg for giving me the opportunity to be on television and to help hoarders. Thanks to the entire staff at Screaming Flea Productions Inc. and the crew for encouraging me to be myself and for making Hoarders an incredible show. A special thanks to the amazing Dr. Suzanne Chabaud for adding to this book and for being an awesome travel companion. Thanks also to the Caplan family and to the Harrington family (especially Sean for letting me stay in his house while I figured out my entire life). And thank you to my Australian friends, Marcus and Thomas: I only understand half of what they say, but even half is enough to make a difference in my life.

I truly appreciate the support of my friends and family on this journey. I owe my uncle John for driving across the country on my first business adventure and teaching me the joy of figuring it out along the way. The women in my life pushed me to be the man I am today, and I love them all: Nanny, Be-Be, Jane, and Spiker. Be-Be taught me much more than she will ever know, and I appreciate the wonderfully eccentric lady that she is. My mom always believed in me even though she just wanted me to get a real job. I know that she is proud and that’s all I ever wanted. This book was born around the same time as my son, and I want to thank my wife, Sarah, for encouraging me to continue to work on the book and the show when I just wanted to stay home with her and Cooper. I love you both so much.

Finally, Colin, Woody, James, Cabell, and Page at Clutter Cleaner are all truly my brothers. From our very first house to whatever adventures lie ahead of us, I am proud of the men they have become. A special thanks to our clients, who have taught me so much by sharing their deepest thoughts and secrets with the crew and me. Their stories and lessons will live on in this book and help other families understand, heal, and grow.

INDEX

Page numbers in italics indicate photographs; those in bold indicate charts.

abuse and hoarding

acceptance of cleanup, importance of

accepting responsibility

accomplishing the cleanup

ADD/ADHD (attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder) and hoarding

addiction and hoarding

Adult Protective Services (APS)

advocate for the hoarder

Aimee’s case

ambush approach

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

American society and hoarding

animal control

animal hoarders

anxiety disorders and hoarding

anxiety (expressing) by hoarder

appraisers

APS (Adult Protective Services)

Asperger’s syndrome

assessing the cleanup

asthma

attachment to possessions

attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD) and hoarding

auctioneers

authorities and planning the cleanup

avoiding reality

backsliding

“beating the system,”

beginning cleanup. See where to begin

beginnings of hoarding

Behavior Research and Therapy

Ben’s (“pizza man”) case

Blondie (rock group)

books on hoarders

born-again mentality

boundaries

setting for staying clean

struggling with

Brad’s and Ellen’s case

building inspectors

cleanup

planning the