Ep 5. Joanne/Kristy

In the fifth episode of the fifth season of Hoarders, we are introduced to Joanne and Kristy, two different women who share the same struggle of hoarding.

Joanne is a former nurse living in California, who suffers from a compulsive hoarding disorder that has caused her to hoard an overwhelming amount of items over the years. She claims to have never thrown away anything, which has led her to accumulate an enormous amount of items that take up every inch of her home. The clutter in Joanne's house has become so severe that it is now affecting her health, as she is unable to move around freely and is at high risk of falling or injuring herself.

The Hoarders team, led by therapist Dr. Robin Zasio and professional organizer Cory Chalmers, arrive at Joanne's home and are immediately struck by the sheer amount of items packed into every nook and cranny. As they begin the clean-up process, they uncover a troubling history of loss and trauma in Joanne's past that may be contributing to her hoarding behavior. With the help of Dr. Zasio, Joanne confronts these issues head-on and begins to make progress towards a healthier, less cluttered life.

Meanwhile, in Nevada, Kristy is struggling with a hoarding disorder that has caused her to lose custody of her daughter. Kristy finds herself unable to part with even the smallest of items, including broken appliances and clothing that no longer fits her, and as a result, her home has become uninhabitable.

The Hoarders team arrives at Kristy's home and is immediately confronted by the unsafe and unsanitary conditions in which she lives. With the help of Cory Chalmers and his team of professional organizers, they begin the arduous process of clearing out Kristy's home, despite her extreme reluctance to part with any of her possessions.

As the clean-up process continues, the Hoarders team uncovers a troubling history of addiction and trauma in Kristy's past that may be contributing to her hoarding behavior. Dr. Zasio works with Kristy to help her confront these difficult memories and begin to break free from her hoarding habits.

Throughout both stories, we see the emotional toll that hoarding can take on individuals, physically and emotionally. We witness the joy and relief that both Joanne and Kristy feel as they make progress towards a healthier and happier life. We are also reminded that hoarding is a complex and difficult disorder that requires compassion, patience, and understanding from others.

Overall, episode five of Hoarders season five is a poignant and powerful reminder of the challenges that those with hoarding disorder face, and the importance of seeking help and support from trained professionals.